Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-17
SENATORS PROTEST
SECRECY ON PEACE
Mr.. Borah Calls 1t Question
of Discarding Presidents
Principle.
DEMOCRATS UPHOLD HIM

the senate To-Day IN protest dSdlHSt
secrecy at the peace conference. He
said the question was whether Presi-
dent Wilson's point for open dipio-
macy was to be discarded entirely.
Senator Borah declared he believed
the matter of publicity as to the pro-
ceedings to be one of the most vital
propositions before the conference and
said lit ought to be known" that we
are in sympathy with the commits
sioners who are opposing secrecy.
First of Presidents Principles.
He called attention to first of the
Presidents fourteen peace terms,
which called for "open covenants of
peace openly arrived at and said
there was no question but that this
was intended for just such practices
as are now under way.
THE question now" Senator Borah
continued. lis whether that PROPOSE
tion is to be utterly disregarded in
the proceedings at Versailles
Press dispatches, today indicate that
the sessions may be open, but he said
he would like the President and the
delegates now representing this coun-
try to know that a great majority OF
the people believe the proceedings
should be open and that all the sub
stantial details be known.
Senator Williams of Mississippi
joined Senator Borah in the demand
for open proceedings, saying he was
glad to see republican helping
President Wilson in his fight.
Fears Reopening of Warfare.
If secrecy is to surround the peace
negotiations, Senator Lewis of nli-
nois, a democrat, warned the. Senate
that reopening of the warfare will
result and that the smaller nations
of Europe will regard this 1.-The first
step in the proof of enmity."
'They will suspect the object he
declared, "and as the Idaho senator
declared, those In Europe will imme-
diately conclude that all the promises
made at the outset are to be ignored
or betrayed.
IF this is to be DONE" Senator Lewis
declared. referring to the apparent move
to prevent publicity concerning the
peace negotiations, these lesser ma
#tions will not wait for the second test
but will decide then and there to pro-
tect themselves. Their soldiers are
already resting under arms, and we
will have another outbreak of these
little peoples because they will decide
that this first move OF secrecy is
against them." s.s$
Country that MI That transpfreH at
the proceedings will be made public,
and that there will be no censorship,
the Illinois senator said, and this
country cannot permit the European
commissioners to betray President
Wilson or they will be compelled to
betray the sources of their response
bility.
Mr.. johnson for Open Discussion.
Senator johnson of California. re-
publican, also made an impassfoned
address in demanding publicity at
Paris, declaring at the very outset
of the conference it becomes a ques-
ton of ''transcedent Importance;
He pointed out that President Will
sons first peace principle was for
omen diplomacy and said it had been
accepted by every civilized nation.
And yet at the very outset" said
deliberately violated Instead of open
covenants of peace openly arrived at,
We are given, and the world is given, a
communique which is made to cover up
and not state the real facts.
Suggests Senate Action.
Some affirmative action should be
taken by the Senate to prevent secrecy
If it becomes necessary, Senator john
son declared, insisting the Senate should
insist that the sittings shall be open or
at least that daily statements on all
that transpires be given.
ITS humiliating to me to have the
President of the United States bottled
up in any kind of congress-" said
Senator johnson. ITS humiliating to
have the President enmeshed in the
tangles of Europe secret diplomacy.
to have him sitting there with lips
closed
Declaring the situation emphasizes
the need for a strictly American policy
"in all that is transpiring abroad
Senator Johnson demanded that this
include return of all American troops
from foreign soil as soon as possible.
Il believe other nations should do
policing of foreign countries and that
our troops should be brought home as
soon as our obligations are fulfilled"
the senator said.