The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-17
Senator Lewis Says 1t VIII
Mean Another World War.
Democratic Whip Declares Tor
an Open Conference.
SENATOR BORAH ALSO TALKS
Says There Can Be No Doubt as
to Wilson Point.
Not a Peace Conference but
Has Left Suspicious.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 17.-Secrecy IN !
the peace conference means another
world war. Senator Lewis, Illinois,
Democratic whip, today declared IN
the senate. Lewis echoed criticism OF
the reported "bottling up" of the peace
conference voiced by Senator Borah-
Idaho. who declared with Lewis that
continuation of secret diplomacy
means that the dream of world peace
will not come true.
secret diplomacy in any form was
also assailed today in the senate py
senator Borah. Idaho. He declared
the senate should let the American
peace delegation know that the great
aioritv of the American people are
dead against secret sessions Of the
peace conference, or anything bottlng
Up the news from Versailles
After reading dispatches from Paris
telling of the apparent decision to
rlost. The conference to newspaper cor
tesnondents. Borah said he had been
informed the subject had been re
cneued with some prospect OF hloul-
fication of the secrecy order.
"For this reason" said Borah, 'the
senate should go on record as sup
porting emphatically the view or the
american delegation on open sessions
No Doubt as to Point.
There can be no doubt from Presl-
dent Winson's language on January o.
that the first of his fourteen peace
terms meant open session OF the peace
congress. He was careful TO say thdt
peace treaties should not only be open
but they should be openly arrived at;
secret diplomacy has left tran
Of war all thru history. If allowed TO
continue. it will lengthen this trail and
the great conference called TO END the
war forever will fail.
There has not been Il single peace
congress but has left suspicion and
prejudfces-those things which result
from secret proceedings added Borah
1T we are proposing step toward
permanent peace. the people VINO
fought and won the war. must know
the conditions upon which it is set
tied. There will be distinct discour-
arement to the American people and
to the people Of the world IF at the
first a practice of the old absolute
governments be adopted"
1t is not too much to add that
i'm view of the sacrifices made that
the world at large should know its
proceedings and that the doors be
opened to the warld," Borah con-
cluded
Senator Williams Heard.
Declaring that he agreed with Bo-
rah in principle, Senator Williams,
Mississippi. said some degree of char
ity should be exercised toward ''the
non English speaking nations, some of
whom have not learned TO trust their
people"
The movement to defeat the pres
ident in this is the first proof of en-
nifty OF those who oppose him on his
other peace principles" Senator Lewis
declared.
Wilson Will Keep Faith.
We will not allow European COM
missioners or any one else to prevent
the presidents keeping faith with his
own people," said Lewis. He has
told the American people here and IN
speeches abroad that he will keep
them informed, that there shall be no
censorship. If anybody tries to make
him false to that covenant, we shall
not let any delicacy growing out OF
associations with our allies keep us
silent. We will disclose the person
responsible for this failure of the
president if he sharl fail.
such a failure would awaken sus-
picion among the American people
concerning the presidents ability to
fulfill the mission in their behalf.
which he has gone abroad to per-
form. lie knows that"
League Has Il Kick.
New York, Jan. 1.-THE league of
free nations association, of which
Norman Hapgood is president, today
sent the following cablegram to Presi-
dent Wilson:
League of free nations association
vigorously protests against announced
restriction of publicity regarding
America greatly outweighs any pos
sible advantage"
Hold the Rule Up.
(By the Associated Press)
Paris Jan. 17.-At the instance of
President Wilson the supreme inter
allied council decided to hold in abey-
ance the proposed rule for virtual Sc
crecy regarding its deliberations, be-
yond information given in official
statements II was also decided to
request representatives of the British.
American and Italian press to present
some plan for reporting the meeting
1t was said in American circles here
that the stir caused by the action was
not at all unwelCOme to the British
and American officials who were will
ing to work for broader rule which
would open the proceedings to the
public view to some extent at least.
British correspondents held a meeting
and adopted resolution asking that
one British press representative be ad-
mltted to the sitting of the congress
American correspondents also adopted
n resolution declaring they would be
satisfied with nothing less than access
to all deliberations.
These resolutions were brought be-
fore a meeting at which were present
representatives of the press from all
the nations associated in the wal
against Germany. A committee was
appointed to report tomorrow a pIar
of reporting the deliberations which
Continued on Page 'TwoJ