The sun., 1919-01-18
FORMAL SESSIONS TO
BE OPENED TO PRESS
Disputed Problems Will Be
Discussed Secretly.
By the Associated Press.

PARIS, jan 17.-All Is In readiness for
the commencement tomorrow afternoon
Of the peace congress. AT meeting to-
day attended by President Wilson and
tho leaders OF the great Powers the dele
cations who are to sit In the congress
were completed by according to Belgium
END Serbia three delegates each and two
representatives to the King OF the He'd
jan, whose forces In the Holy Land 80
materially aided the British in overcon-
Ing the Turks,
At the meeting the question OF the
admission Of the press to the conferences
was also acted upon. II was decided
that the newspaper men should be adj
mitted to the meetings of the full con-
ference but that on necessary occasions
the deliberations OF the conference
might be held in secret. 1t was de-
termined in reaching this decision
limiting the activities of the press that
while not undertaking the Importance
Of public opinion the process OF reach
ing q favorable solution of the task be-
fore the congress would be hindered II
discussion Of every disputed question
were open to a public declaration by
each delegation Of its own national
point Of view.
Similar to United states Senate.
II has been tentatively decided that
three representatives Of the press of
each OF the allied and associated Powers
will be admitted to the conference. The
conference probably will be organized in
q manner similar to the American Con-
gress, with secret committee meetings TO
discuss delicate questions, with formal
open sessions and with executive ses-
sions. as in the United States Senate.
The secretariat OF the congress during
the evening completed the official list of
tho delegates. II includes a distin-
guished array OF leading public figures
from every section OF the civilized globe,
and in personnel and in the interests
represented it embraces probably one OF
the most notable gatherings OF statesmen
the world has ever seen.
The final preparations were con-
cluded to-day in the beautiful Sale de
IA Paix at the Foreign Office. where
the congress will meet. and the green
table now awaits It's guests. The open-
ing tomorrow OF the congress will be
ceremonial function. the leaders
making their first bows, the delegates
exchanging salutations and the Repub-
iican Guard in gorgeous uniforms lend
Ing color to the scene.
Premiers to Escort Poincnre.
When the delegates are installed
around the great horseshoe conference
table Raymond Poincare. President OF
France, will make his entry into the
hall with an escort OF Premiers and
take his place In the presiding officers
chair at the head Of the table.
The opening address of NJ Poircare
in welcoming the congress to Paris will
sound the glor!cs OF the war just won
and tell Of the momentous work of re-
construction entrusted to the congress
The following official communication
dealing with the peace conference was
issued this evening:
THE President OF the United States OF
America. the Prime Mins ters and for
eign Ministers OF the allied great Pow
ers. assisted by the Japanese Ambassa-
doris In Paris and London. met at the
DUAL d'Orsay to-day, in the morning
from 1890 to 1890 O'Clock and IN the
afternoon from 8 to $3.50 o'clock.
"rhe French President of the council
read out the terms OF the renewal OF the
armistice.
THE meeting decided to give Belgium
and Serbia three delegates each at the
conference. 1t was decided also that the
King of the Hedjaz should be repre-
scented by two delegates The question
of the number OF delegates for the vari-
GUS Powers thus was finally established.
Resolution on Publicity.
1.-THE programme for the opening con-
ference. which will take place at the
Foreign Office tomorrow at o'clock In
the afternoon, was afterward arranged
'The meeting finally examined into the
question OF the publicity to be given 10
the discussions OF the conference and
unanimously approved the following text
10 be handed TO the press In the name
OF the hve great Powers:
1.-THE representatives. of the allied
and associated Powers have given ear.
nest consideration to the question of pub
Ecity for the proceedings of the Peace
Conference. They are anxious that tn,
public through the press should have the
fullest Information compatible with The
safeguarding of the supreme interest OF
all. which Ia that a Just and honorabl,
settlement should be arrived at with thu
minimum of delay.
at Is. however. obvious that public
fly with regard to the preliminary con
yersations now proceeding must be sub
Ject to the limitations necessarily i'm
Losed by the difficult and delicate natur,
OF their object. The proceedings OF
Ieace conference are far more analogous
TO the meetings OF a Cabinet than t
those of legislature Nobody has evel
Sussesteu tHdt CABINET meetings hnoulS
0e held In public. and II they were 81
reid the work of government would be
come impossible
zone reason why Cabinets are he'll
in private Is in order that differences
may be reconclled and agreement!
reached before the stage Of publicity 4
begun. The essence OF the democratl,
method is not that the deliberations o
government he conducted N public, hu
that It's conclusions be subject to II,
consideration OF a popular chamber an,
sHA@