Daily Kennebec journal., 1919-01-18
OFFICIAL REPORT
(cantinuad from Pare 0ne)

London. met at the Quai D Orsay to-
day in the morning from 1890 A. NJ.
10 1880 r. NJ. and in the afternoon
from r. NJ. to $50 P. NJ. The French
president Of the council read out the
terms Of the renewal Of the armi-
stice. the meeting decided to give
Belgium and Serbia three delegates
each at the conference. 1t was de-
cided also that the King of the He'd
Jas also should be represented by
two delegates. The question OF the
number Of delegates for the various
powers thus. was finally established.
The program for the opening confer
ence which will take place at the for
eisn Office tomorrow at 3 o'clock in
the afternoon was afterwards ar
ranged.
The meeting finally examined in
10 the question of the publicity to be
given To the discussions Of the con-
ference and unanimously approved
the foreign 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 to the
question OF publicity for the pro-
ceedings of the peace conference.
They are anxious that the public
through the press should have the
fullest information compatible with
the safeguarding Of the supreme in
terest of all. which is that just an
honorable settlement should be ar
rived at with the minimum Of delay.
1t is however, obvious that pub
licity with regard to the preliminary
conventions now proceeding must be
subject TO the limitations necessarily
imposed by the difficult and delicate
nature Of their object. The proceed
ings Of a peace conference are far
more naIagous to the meetings Of
cabinet that to those Of a legislature.
Nobody has ever suggested that cabi-
net meetings should be held in public
and if they were SO held the work of
government would become impossi-
bic One reason why cabinets are
held in private is in order that dlf-
ferences may be reconciled and
agreements reached before the stage
Of publicity is begun. The essence OF
the democratic method is not that the
OCAlOrt dtlcIio Va a S'' 'SA AAhANA1S w wa
Quoted in public. but that its con-
clusions be subject to the considera-
tion Of a popular chamber and TO
free and open discussion on the plat
form and by the press.
Representatives Of the allied and
associated powers are holding con-
versations in order to solve Ques-
tions which affect the vital interests
of many nations and upon which they
may at present hold diverse views.
The deliberati tions cannot proceed eX.
cept by the method Of a majority
vote. No nation can be committed
except by the free vote of its own
delegates. The conclusions arrived
at in these consultations therefore
can only be formed by ehe difficult
process of reaching an agreement
among all. This vital process would
only be hindered if the discussion
Of every disputed question were open
by public declaration by each dele
cation of its own national point OF
view Such declaration would in
many cases be followed by premature
public controversy.
This would be serious enough If y
were confined to controversy between
I,ait.es within each state. 1t might be
extremely dangerous il, as would often
be inevitable. it resulted in controversy
between nations. Moreover, such pub
liz declarations would render the give
and take on the part OF the delegates
themselves which is essential to a sue.
cessful negotiation a matter Of infinite
ly greater difficulty. 1t is also extreme
" important that all this settlement
should be not only just but speedy
Every bellige-ent power is anxious for
the early conclusion OF peace in orde :
that It's armies may be demobilize !
end that it may return once more to
the ways of peace. II premature pub
licity is given to the negotiations tEe
proceedings OF the peace conference
would re inte.mi-aDly protracted an
the delegates would be forced to spea.:
not only of the business before the
conference but to concern themselves
with the controversies which had been
raised by the account Of their proceed
ings outside.
Finally, there will often be very
strong reasons against announcing the
conclusions OF the conversations as
they are arrived at. The representa-
tives OF nation may be willing to give
their assent on one point only provided
that they receive concession on an
other point which has not yet been dis
cussed 1t will not be possible. 10 Judge
o. the wisdom and .ustice Of the peace
kettlement until il can be viewed as
whole and premature announcements
might lead TO Inisapprehensions and
anxiety as to the ultimate results for
which there was no real foundation.
in calling attention. however, to these
Necessary limitations Of publicity these
representatives. of the powers do no.
understate the importance OF carrying
public opinion with them IN the vast
task by which they are confronted.
They recognize that unless public opin-
ion approves OF the results OF their la
bors they will be nugatory. This rea-
coming applies with conclusive force to
the present conversations between the
representatives Of the great powers.
With regard to the full conferences the
following rule was adopted:
Representatives of the press shall
be admitted to the meetings of the full
conference but upon necessary occa-
sions the deliberations OF the confer
ence may be held in camera"
NO LEAK