Evening star., 1919-03-10
Correspondents Hampered.

The correspondents who had come
from America 10 write about the t,eace
conference found ne facilities for get
ting in touch with the American mis-
sion, nor was there any press room
eenssn,igynsly e coa,g u .sa ioestsd through which
fiouneements would reach all con-
eerhed. The correspondents, after
much diff1cuity, got the attention Of
the American mission and establishes
such a headquarters. Also Col House
Secretary Lansing, Gen. Bliss and
Henry White agreed to meet the cor
respondents every morning at III
o'clock and submit to a quiz. At first
the American delegates talked frank
ly and freely and in large part In con-
hdence. so as to guide the correspond
ents, but the large number of the
latter, containing many men personal
~ unknown to our officials and whose
discretion didn't seem always to be OF
The best, brought about decided
retieenee. So it soon resolved itself
INTO case OF the personal equation
Tor the individual correspondent
which is what usually happens when
ever it is sought to deal with large
numbers of newspaper men.
AS for the conduct of the press room
and the distribution of official an
uouncements, Ray Stannard Baker
was placed in charge by the American
mission. Mr.. Baker has a difficult job,
but does it very well. He doesn't try
to force news On anybOdy-indeed, he
simply confines himself 10 the Prepa-
ration of written matter fof the cor
respondents. These statements are not
to be quoted on the authority of the
American mission, but they are di-
gests OF official reports from Ameri-
can intelligence officers and the tech
. nical experts of the peace mission.
! Usually they are as impartial as Asso-
riafHd PFesS cfnriaa mr. m "a
both sides of problem.
Welcomed the Statements.
, The Amerfe&h correspondents well
come these statements because OF
their informative value. When the
mandatory question was before the
supreme peace council digest of the
several pla ls for colonial adn1inistra-
tion was given and some historical
data on the subject that were very
instructive. But as for any propa-
ganda or coloring of the news, the
American delegation does practically
nothing of that sort, And the criti-
cisfn one most hears Is that the corre-
spondents are not advised of the posi-
ton taken by the American delegates
in the conferences except as they
hear 1t through British, French or
Italian sources. Col. House has en-
deavored to be helpful in this respect,
but he as well as the other principals
in the mission would be doing moth
ing else If they received all the cor
respondents accredited to the peace
mission.
George Creel hasn't appeared in the
situation, at all. The Paris office OF
the committee on public information,
established during the war. has been
;sefui walter Rogers and Herman
Suter have been exceedingly helpful
| in getting wireless communicated for
| the correspondents. Also the other
| offices of the committee in New York
| as well as In European capitals have
| been gathering extracts from The
press, unfayorable as well as favor
| able. and telegraphing them to the
American mission. The value of this
| cannot be overestimated, as few
| European newspapers print editorial
| press comment at any length, and IL
would take weeks to gather the opin-
| ion of the newspapers of all shades OF
| politics, whereas The American mis-
! sion has comprehensive summary
! by telegraph and cable and wireless
! every morning. George CreePs or
I, ganization for this purpose is very
COED, and he himself gave CORES
| spondents to understand that the obs
! jeet of his trip to Europe was merely
10 liquidate some of these European
bureaus and strengthen others for the
| So he promptly departed from Paris
after 1t became apparent that he
wouldn't be the Presidents secretary
and took trip to Italy. Switzerland,
/ and into Czechoslovakia in which
last place he made stump speeches
being hailed as the representative of
President Wilson and naturally ae-
claimed.
| Declines to Discuss Status.
when Mr. creel returned to Paris,
he wouldn't say whether he had re-
signed or not He was occupied with
the cutting down OF the European
branches OF the committee ON public
I Information. He didn't come. back
! Washington, and during the last ten
/ days of the Presidents stay tn Paris
| Mf. Creel was not observed TO be in
| as Intimate contact as MhAn he drst