The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-01-22
WILSON CALLED
MAN OF HOUR
Sees World With Broad Inter-
national Vision = Domi.
mates Peace Conference.
GAG RULE PIGEONHOLED
Public's Thanks Due to Anglo :
American ENJOYS and Fear
less Newspaper Men.
lLondon Times-Phil. Ledger Cop. Cable.)
IRY RAYMOND G. Carroll \

lLondon Times-Phil. Ledger Cop. Cable.)
(By Raymond G. Carroll.)
With the American Peace Com
mission, Paris, Jan. 1S.-Whether or
not the decision reached at the Quai
D'Orsay upon the questions of pub
licity and open diplomacy is satisfac-
tory to the people of the present day
world as it stands, the verdict rep
resents the best obtainable compro-
mise of a hard three day fight led
personally by President Wilson and
life itself is at best only a compro-
mise.
Those who desired the allied and
associated powers to have gone fur
ther overlook the magnitude of the
achieved victory for daylight nego-
tiations.
Among these are the radicals, who
probably would have found fault with
the open-ai. sessions in the Place DE
La Concordia. On the other hand
there are the conservatives, who look
with horror upon a decision to let
fifteen interallied correspondents
(America gets three) into the meet
ing Of the full conference. They see
traditions and precedents crumbling.
There were none allowed within the
portals of the Portsmouth conference.
Certainly there were no fourth estate
representatives as auditors to any of
the proceedings of the Vienna confer
ence. One diplomatic standpatter
said to the writer: "A grave mistake
has been made. What is to prevent
open diplomacy advocates from lin
iting the proceedings held in camera
to preliminary discussions"
Permanently Pigeonholed.
Looked at from either extreme, the
compromise agreement Is a far cry
from the rule adopted on Wednesday
which gagged every peace commits
sioner from speaking to outsiders
about anything that went on at the
conference. That unwise motion has
been permanently pigeonholed. For
of the world public should go to our
president, Premier Lloyd George.
their Anglo American associates, and
last, but not least, to the fearless,
fighting British and American CORE
spondents. They have successfully
iammed the foot of pitiless publicity
in the doorway of darkest diplomacy.
IF Alexander / of Russia had had the
band of organized correspondents be-
hind him at the congress of Vienna,
the kingdom of Poland might then
have been restored and possibly
some later wars avoided. ! hear Eu-
ropean diplomats daily comment upon
the remarkable similarity in the
ideals of Alexander I and President
Wilson.
Fortunately, our champion in the
lists of. modern international nego-
tiations has also a great enlightened
nation behind him ready with bags
OF flour and sacks of ham to bridge
the starving victims of the last war
over the ehasm of anarchy. Instead
of the holy, alliance we cheer for a
wholly alliance of the same word.
but spelled differently" remarked one
American commissioner.
What we are apt to overlook in
America is that there is vast differ
ence between session of the Ameri-
can congress and the peace confer
ence.
Problems coming before the Ameri-
can legislative body concern the well
fare of single nation. while those
up for discussion at the Quai D'Orsay
settle the futures of some fifty or
more live and still unborn nations. |
each having its own peculiarities of /!
thought, habit and honor. Besides |
the solutions are only morally bind |
ing upon the said nations.
One constantly hears around the |
Hotel Crillon Of the american idea" |
and necessity for imposing it upon !
the world, just as if there was no !
British idea. French idea. italian |
idea. japanese idea and countless |
other ideas. The minds over here
that are doing the best for America |
and incidentally for humanity are
those which have become interna-
This is no time for dis |
secting President Wilson upon a mar |
row. home partisanship line. Does he !
see the world with broad interna-
tional vision? That is where his i'm |
portance comes in.
Impartial critics upon the ground !
say that he dominates the confer |
ence. Obviously. then. he is the man |
Of the hour and his presence here is !
decidedly worthy, and the pity of the !
situation is that he must sail for {,
America so soon. Hints are af1oat |
that he will return during midsum-
mer. after he has mothered the nee
essary legislation through the Amer |
lean congress and finished speech !
making tour Of the United States to |
acduaint our people with the details |
Of what he has learned from personal !
with the rulers of this old |
world. There is strong sentiment |
developing that he would do we'll TO |
limit his stay in America and return |
TO Europe in two weeks. rather than
delay his active reparticipa+ior in !
The world affairs for four months.