The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1919-01-18
WILSON BLOCKS
PEACE GAG
The Allies Suspend Rule For
Secrecy.
POSITION TO Be MODIFIED
Supreme Council Asks Correspondents
to Present a Plan For Reporting
the Meetings.

Paris, Jan. 1S-At the instance of
president Wilson, the supreme inter-
allied council has decided to hold in
allegiance the proposed rule for virtual
secrecy regarding its deliberations,
beyond information given in official
statements.
1t was also decided to request rep
resentatives of the British, American
and italian press to present some plan
for reporting the meeting.
The position of the council regard
ing publicity is considered as likely
to be modified. 1t is believed the
press will be admitted to hear Presi-
assemblage. In such case, the news
paper men would withdraw when the
real business before the conference
was taken up.
There was a full attendance of the
members at the session of the cOun-
bassadOr to Russia, entered the for
eign office just before the meeting. 1t
developed later that he was invited
by the council to meet with it and
express his views of the Russian sit
uatiOn.
The council was presented with a
statement of the actions taken by the
press representatives Of the various
countries in restrictions of the news
of the conference proceedings
The statement sets forth that the
American, British, Italian, Serbian
admission of the press to the sittings
of the council. The French press dele
cation was unanimous in taking the
contrary position.
Thus, no common resolution was
presented, and the press delegation
of each country is left liberty of ac-
ton in presenting its viewpoint to its
own delegation.
A resolution adopted by the press
of America, Great Britain, Italy and
the smaller nations acting with them,
also was presented.
After the session, President Wilson
called on Colonel House at American
headquarters at the Hotel de Crilion
There was every expectation that
the American delegation would sup
port the viewpoint of the American
correspondents regarding publicity.
NJ. Clemenceau discussed the ques-
ton of peace congress publicity in
the chamber.
eve have not yet found a final
form in which communications from
peace congress will be made, but in
a general way, the principles of pub
licity has met with favor" he said.
Here he was interrupted by NJ.
Mistrai, who said:
Except by you, NJ. Clemenceau."
II have the honor to emphatically
deny that statement" the premier re-
Joined
eve all should like to keep pro-
ceedings secret so that it may not be
said that such and such a country
made such and such a proposition
which has been fought by such and
such other governments
I'VE are unanimous in thinking that
might create bad feeling. We think
thar in the preliminary conversations
We must, at all costs arrive at an
agreement so that there shall be a
solid front at the general discussion
eff we wish to form a league of
nations, writing phrases is insufficient.
There must be a prevailing spirit
which will insure the life of this
league of nations We would like to
finish this war by ii full agreement
of the civilized nations for a supreme
idea of better humanity.
The draft of proposals for the league
of nations in the form of treaty en-
actment has proceeded much further
than generally supposed, as a result
of recent conferences between Lord
Robert Cecil, Secretary of State Ian
sing and Colonel House.
At these the best features of the
various projects were embodied in
concrete form.