Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-01-18
NEWSPAPER MEN TO BE
ADMITTED TO SESSIONS
OF THE PEACE COUNCIL

LContlnned From Page onel
the work of government would he
come impossible.
one reason why cabinets are
held in private is in order that diff
ferences may be reconCicd and agree
ments reached before the state of
publicity is begun. The essence of
the democratic method is not that the
deliberations of government be con-
Quoted in private but that it's con-
illusions be subject to he console ra-
ton of a popular chamber and to
free and open discussion on the plat
form and ny tho press.
Vote Cannot Bind.
Representatives of the allied and
associated powers are holding con-
vcrsations in order to solve questions
which affect the vital interests of
many nations and upon which they
may at present hol many diverse
views These deliberations cannot
proceed By tho method OF majority
vote. No nation can be committed
except by the free vote of its own
delegates, The conclusions arrived at
in these consultations. therefore. can
only be formed by eac difficult pro-
cess of reaching an agreement among
all
This vital process would only be
hindered If the discussion Of every dis
puted question were opened by public
declaration by each delegation of Its
own national point of view. Such
declaration would in many cases be
followed b. premature public con-
troversy
"'This would be serious enough IL
it were confined to controversy be-
tween parties within each state. It
might be extremely dangerous n, as
would often be inevitable. 4 resulted
in conversv between nations.
Moreover, such public declara-
tons would render the give and take
on the part of the delegates them
selves, which is essential to a success
full negotiation, n matter OF infinitly
greater difficulty, 1t is also extreme
ly important that the settlement
should not only be Just but speedy.
Every belligerent power Is anx-
ious for the early conclusion of peace
in order thar i,a armies may be de-
modified and that it may return
once more to the ways of peace.
If premature publicity is given to
the negotiations Tie proceedings of
the peace conference would be in
torminably protracted and the dele
gates would be forced to speak not
only of the business lefore the con-
ference but to concern themselves
with the controversies which had
been raised by the account OF their
proceed 'nSs outside
FINALLY there will often be very
strong reasons against announcing
the conclusions OF the conversations
Ms they are arrived at The repre-
senta;ives of u nation may be willing
to give their assent on one point,
only provided that they receive n con-
cessicn On another point which has
not yet been discussed, 1t will not be
possible TO judge of the wisdom and
Justice of the peace settlement until |
Il can be viewed as a whole. and pre-
mature announcements might lead to |
nisapprehensions and anxiety as to |
The ultimate results for which there |
was no real foundation.
In calling attention, however. to
these necessary limitations Of pub !
lefty these representatives of the |
powers do not under-rate the import
ence of carrying public opinion With !
hem in the vast task by which they !
ire confronted. They recognize that
Unless public opinion approves of the
results of their labors they will be
lugatory.
This reasoning applies with con-
,lusive force TO the present CONVEX
'ations between the representatives
IF the great powers.
with regard to the full conferE
ances the following rule was adopted
Representative OF the press
shall be admitted to the meetings OF
he fun conference. but upon neces-
sary occasions the deliberations of
he conference may be held in
N ,1,prn -