Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-16

y
.tctors are ready and the audience Is
eager, but the curtain refuses to
Dudge." the dispatch says
If the curtain rose prematurely,
,he dispatch concludes, wouio
hrow the glare of the footiights on
! ne fact that even among the nve
great powers there exist sharp and
not diminishing discords.
Paris Is Mystified.
PARIS. Wednesday, January 15--No
arc outside of the delegates to the
ss,eace congress knows anything about
she discussion which preceded today's
decision to keep proceedings OF the
CONGRESS secret and to limit informa-
sors divulged to official statements.
This decision will preclude the
american delegates. even Mr. wIson
himself, from discussing the 1orHiai
announcements that are ISSUED. ~
will likewise stop the practice OF
Premier Lloyd George OF areat
Britain of discussing AFFAIRS win
pose of guiding them IN iorhhihs
public opinion in England
1t has been believed here by per
sons close to President wilson ,hat
he would contend for open sessions as
the same way is the opinion sehefaiS
expressed here last night.
Curiosly enough the qnestloh OF
whether deliberations were to De open
or secret had reached a stage before
today's decisions where some autnorl-
tatiye statement on the subject was
sought. Just before todays meet.hs
Secretary of State Robert Lansihs
authorized the following as MS view
Secretary Lansing's Statement.
THE American policy is that fullest
publicity consistent with the rapioiE
and satisfactory discharge OF Nh-
portant business which must come
before the peace congress shouid DE
accorded 1t is possible that sessions
should be open when business is az
vanced to a point where 1t can De
regarded as ready for final acton; III
NAV be- however, that in the carrier
stage. when subjects are being dis
cussed between groups or in commit
tees or in meetings of all the dele
gates with purpose OF reaching
agreements on controversial phases,
ii would be inadvisable to conduct
these discussions openly. There might
never be an agreement otherwise
That would not be secret diplomacy
in any sense, however, for no agree
ment so arranged could be effective
until approved by all the delegates
in open session"
Oppose "Gentleman's Agreement"
The complaints which the British
correspondents have made to Mr..
Lloyd George, and which the Ameri-
cans have submitted to Mr.. Wilson.
>concede that 1t may be Incompatible
with public interest to disclose GER
tain phases of controversial questions
while they are being discussed, but
protest against the "gentlemen's
agreement" which forbids any one
of the delegates from giving infor-
nation whatever. outside of the Off
ciRl statement on which public opin-
iop may be formed and guided.
Official circles in Paris are not dis
ctfssing peace nor terms tonight. At
tebtion is occupied with the question
whether there will be reconsidera-
d4n of the action of today.
President Receives Greeks.
President Wilson received Premier
V}niSelos. Greek premier. and Lam
hlSrs A. Coromilas. Greek minister to
Italy, today. During a long CONVEX 4
zion the Greek premier presented
arguments In support of Hellenic
claims in the war settlement, which
M venizelos said were baed on the
p4nciples laid down by the president
himself.
II was recalled by the premier that
~ the beginning of the war the en-
te6te powers demanded that Greece
VNSuPy AOItACEu IpiIuSs Win the un-
Outstanding that il at the end Of the
war the occupation of Aviona by
italy WaAseounrmed the occupation
IT northefn Epfrus by Greece should
secome definite. There was also an
adltionaas Understanding. it was said,
outh Of Aviona should not exceed the
limits Of northern Epirus.
Regarding Thrace. NJ venixelos said
hat It's Hellenic character was fully
omitted. even by the Bulgarians. He
saaid this was demonstrated in 1912
then Greece and Bulgaria collaborat-
sd against the program Of the COM
mfttee OF union and progress in Tur-
Key. Under that agreement, 1t was
spofntedtcu the interests of Greece in
Thrsce we're fixed at six times those
Of Bulgaria
Languages at Conference.
Fhe TEMPS inc,ines to the ha,,e, .,o,
TIE discussion Of the interallied confer
zence VIII be carried on in both English
and French. but remarks that the ex-
istence OF two authentic texts for the
treaty, one in English and one in
French. might involve serious incon-
veniences. as a literal translation is
generally impossible. 1t hopes that
french alone viii be used in the text
OF the treaty. as has been done since the
treaty OF Westphalia.
Betting Ceremonies
Arranged for Opening
of Peace Conference
{ By the Associated Press
PARIS. January 1s--The inaugura-
ton Of the peace congress on satur-
Day will be carried out with cere-
monies betting such an. occasion. A
detachment of troops will pay honors
70 the arriving delegates. and Stephen