Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-01-17
DEMAND WILSON'S
FIRST PRINCIPLE BE
0bEYED To LETTER
Washingont Jan. II. The American people
are behind President Wilson in his demands that
the first big principle pledging providence Of

peace openly arrived at,
be reconsidered by the
peace conference SEN
ator Borah, foe of secret diplomacy,
declared in the senate this afternoon.
The speech of President Wilson, in
his first purpose. is to make effective
the first principles of his peace pro-
| gram that calling merely for pub
licity," will reopen the worlds war,
Senator Lewis of Illinois declared
Following a declaration of support
from Senator BOrah and Senator Will
/ liams for the President in his effort
to compel reconsideration of the de-
Cision of the peace conference to en-
force the gag rule, Senator Lewis
called attention to an object more
serious than that mentioned by either
senator"
IF there is any force in Europe at
rule President Wilson in his first eff
forts to enforce his first principle /
give warning now that that force will
reopen the conflict" Lewis declared.
This force will precipitate new
world war and it will be because
| every little nation that aspires TO have
its plight ascertaned and determined
! will believe that this first move is
made with the object OF defeating its
aspirations"
Senator Johnson Of California rec
commended some affirmative action
by the Senate if the i9sue of pub
! licity at the peace conference is not
settled satisfactorily to the United
States within the next TWO or three
days
Senator Johnson, pled2ing his sup
polt coupled his objections that the
Senate go on record in favor of full
publicity at the conference with new
demand for a speedy withdrawal Of
American troops from all foreign
land.
1T is humiliatng TO me to have the
American President bottled up in any
conference johnson continued. 1t
is humilating to me TO have him en-
meshed in the entanglmeuts of secret
European diplomacy, sitting there
with his lips locked SO that he is un-
able to speak even to his own people.
II enter my protest now, and ! hope
that the Senate as a part Of the treaty
making power viii declare, if not for
open sessions of the conference, at
least for a full daily account Of whas
is transpiring.'
Conference opens Tomorrow.
Paris, Jan II - The Russian situ-
tation involving most momentuouS
decision was discussed again today
at the meeting of the Allied peace
council. 1t is understood that the
peace conference, which will have its
formal opening tomorrow, will do no
more at the first session than APP
prove the program which the repre-
sentatiyes Of the five big powers
have been preparing.
The American commissioners are
said to be deeply impressed by Amer
lean criticism over the application OF
the gag law They are anxious to
work out a plan which viii allow the
facts to be known at the same time
preserving an amount of secrecy
which will allow the freest discus
sion of all the problems
On the other hand the French po'
sitioni -. should the meeting he pub
lie il will be necessary for them to
be purely formal.
A committee OF International news
papers today presented to the peace
cOmmiSs ioners q resolution urging tho
fullest publicity on he proceedings.
There being a substantial agree
ment among the British, italian and
American delegations and that OF
smaller nations to recommend actual
representation of the press at the con-
/ ference. from which the French dele.
gates, however. dissent. no join. pro-
posal ON this point was made. hay-
/ ing heen left to the representatives
of each nationality to make specific
recommendations to their own dele
gates on the subject