Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-01-16
Decision Creates Wide
Protest and Action May
Be Modified.
CONFERENCE CALLED
TO DISCUSS ISSUE
Assienrsnt Of Delegates Also Source
az Wide Criticism in Europs-mrs.
Wilson and Her Secretary Permit
&ed 70 Attend War Council Sessions
Elaborate Ceremonies Planned for
Saturday.
LBy the Associated Press.l ]

INV the Associated Press.1
Paris, Jan. 1.-THE supreme council
today, after considering the matter OF
the relations between the conference
and the press, decided to call a meet
inx At : o'clock this afternoon to Do
attended by the members Of the press
and representatives Of the various ma
tions In the conference to interchange
views on publicity methods.
The decisions Of the supreme council
as regards both publicity and repre-
sentation, announced last night, is
freely criticised in the French news
papers Of this morning.
LeJournal, commenting on the ques-
ton Of representation, after pointing
out that the British and Americans to-
gether have fifteen votes out OF the
total, asks why. II the British domin-
ions are represented separately. are the
French colonies and protectorates not
similarly represented.
Sessions Resumed.
The supreme council OF the fve
greater powers resumed its session at
TO-: 30 o'clock today. There were pres
ent: For France. Premier Clemenceau
ana Foreign Minister Pichon; for the
United States. President Wilson and
Secretary Of state lansing: for Great
Britain, Premier Lloyd-George and
Secretary Balfour; for Italy, Foreign
Minister Sonnino, and for Japan Vis-
count Chinda and Baron Matsui.
vittOrlo Orlando. the Italian premier,
was the only absentee. He still is de-
lained In Rome.
President Wilson arrived at the
meeting place ACCOMPANIED by Mrs.
Wilson and her secretary, Miss Ben
ham. ,
The impression prevailed today that
following the protests that have arisen
against the decision Of the council re-
etricting all the news Of its sessions to
formal communicates, some explanation
or statement on the subject might ap-
pear In tonight's communicate. to the
effect that the restriction win apply
only to the actual proceedings Of the
current day and not to any comment
by the delegates on the general ques-
tion before the council.
This impression can not be officially
confirmed but 1t finds a place among
the reports In circulation today.
Elaborate Ceremonies Saturday.
The beginning of the peace congress
Saturday will be marked with cere-
monies befittins such an occasion. A
detachment Of troops will pay honors
to the arriving delegates and Stephen
Pichon, the French foreign minister.
will receive President Wilson at the
head Of the steps at the foreign min
istry and accompany him to the room
where the meeting will begin at 8
o'clock.
The plenipotentiaries will sit around
a horseshoe table. the middle part OF
this table being reserved Sor officers.
The delegations will be grouped by
states. in alphabetical order as they
appear in the Aimanach de Gotha
American delegates will be at one end,
then those of the British empire.
France Italy and Japan in the order
named. After them will come repre-
septatives Of other states. also seated
alphabetically.
When all are seated, President Poin-
care will take the presidential armed
chair and make the opening address.
1t Is understood that ne will refer to
]. the tragic epoch ended so gloriously
for the entente and which for four
years upheaved the world.
He IL expected also to refer to the
immense task Of universal recon-
struction which must be the work Of
the conference and the high ideals of
Justice which will be observed during
the deliberations. He will conclude
\ by declaring the session open and then
Withdraw.
cIsmsncsau to Preside.
Y Premier Clemenceau will take his
place in the chair az chief Of the
French delegation. this being his right,
as The congress- n meeting in the capi-
tai Of France. He will request the
Z assembly to elect officers which, be-
sides president, will include vice
presidents and = general secretary.
Rules for the congress will next be
read. dt ID expected they viii be rat;-
fed as they stand, after which they
viii be made public.
Formal invitations to attend the hrst
sitting were sent out last night by
the French delegations to ambassa-
dors, and ministers Of various coun- :
tries. These Invitations announced the
\ number kof representatives accorded to
each country and ask the diplomats to
transmit invitation Immediately to the
person or persons chosen to attend
\, British Pap6rs Incsnssd.
London. Jan. 16.-Morning news
papers give much prominence to Paris
dispatches referring to the decision
that the proceedings Of the peace con-
ference ara to be secret and contrast
It with the official statement that there
would be no censorship. which was
eaued yesterday.
The newspapers point out that II Il
furnishes An inexplicable puzzle. None
- - papers -comlusnt Sditorially but