The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-01-18
official Communication
From The Peace Enjoys

PARIS. Jan. 1S.-The following OF
Il sial communication dealing with tn
peace conference was issued Jas
night:
The President Of the United
States. the prime ministers and
foreign ministers of the allied
great powers. assisted by the
Japanese ambassadors in Paris
and London, met at the Quai
d'Orsay today, in the morning
from. 1880 a. m. to 1890 p. M.
and in the afternoon from . p. m.
10 $50 D. m.
THE French president OF the
council read out the terms Of the
renewal OF the armistice.
The meeting decided to give
Belgium and Serbia three dele
gates each at the conference. II
was decided also that the King
Of the Hedjas should be repre-
sented by two delegates The
question of the number OF dele.
gates for the various powers thus
was finally established.
The program for the opening
conference, which will take place
st the foreign office tomorrow at
; o'clock. in the afternoon. was
afterward arranged.
Examines Publicity QHeStIOn.
The meeting. finally examined
into the question of the publicity
TO be given to the discussions OF
the conference and unanimously
approved the following text TO be
handed to the press in the name
of the five great powers:
The representatives Of the
allied and associated powers
have given earnest consideration
10 the question OF publicity for
the proceedings of the peace con-
ference. They are anxious that
the public. through the press.
should have the fullest informa-
tion compatible with the safe
guarding OF tho supreme Interest
Of all. which - that a just and
honorable settlement should bc
arrived n with the minimum Of
delay
Like Cabinet Meeting.
1t is. however. obvious that
publicity with regard to the pro
liminary conversations now pro-
ceedinE must be subject 20 the
limitations necessarily imposed
by the difficult and delicate ma
;ure of their object. The pro-
CeediHSs or peace conference
arc far more analogous to the
meetings 81 4 cabinet than 10
those OF legislature Nobody
has ever suggested that cabinet
meetings should be held in pub
lie, and n they were 50 held tho
work OF government would be-
come imposs HE.
One reason why cabinets are
held IN privaic H. in order iha;
differences may be recouciled and Q
agreements reached before tho
Stage OF publicity is begun The
essence OF the democratic method
IS not that the deliberations OF a
government he conducted in MN
lie. bit that ~ conclusions be
subject 20 The consideration or
popular chamber and To free and
open discussion Oh the platform
and b. ihe press
Not Decided Is, WnIorIi, Vote.
Representative "r the allied
and ssSucla ted powers are holding
GO0"gTS:lLi N order to solve
questions Whlch infect the vital
interests OF many nations and
upon which they may at present
Hold many diverse Views These
deliberations cannot p-Uread hv
the method Of ma iori;y vote. No
nation can be committed c,,rUt
by the free vote OF us own dele.
gates. The conclusions arrived ~
In these consul,a atoms therefore
can only he formed by the dIffi-
cult process Of reaching an agree
urcnt among al.
This vital process would only
b. hindeTcd II the discussion Of
every disputed question were
opened by public declaration by
each delegation Of is own ua-
tiOnal point OF view. Such u dec
IaTation would in many cases he
followed by premature public con
tTOycrsA.
"'This would be serious enough
II II were confined TO controversy
between pa rites within each State