Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-01-17
s:'ssg;d sassisn CT feacs
Clsgstss AT Sake New
HsasEiaa SAxaisa.
CORRESPONDENTS FIGHT
FOR PUBLICITY WEICHTY
Sav Case Puts Principle OF
Self Determination On
Trial AT Outset.

Omitted Press staff correspondent

Omitted Press staff correspondent
Paris, Jan. 1.-THE greatest polit-
ical battle Of modern times was being
fought out here today-in secret. This
struggle centered on the Russian stu
alton. Its outcome was believed to
hinge largely on the result Of the news
paper correspondents fight for public
ity of the peace proceedings.
The general question at stake was
the right Of people to self determi-
nation. The specific question was the
application of this vital principle to
Russia. This matter was being discuss.
ed alongside tho problem of open or
secret diplomacy. If the correspond
ents win their fight for admission to
tho conferences, the nature of the 9TH
Ter big conflict will soon become appar-
ent.
Some inkling of the situation was
given to America by the United Press
recently, when it revealed the fact
that the peace delegates were divided
as to whether a fair inquiry should be
made into Russian affairs, with view
to offering cooperation or whether the
conference should act on the assump-
tion that the situation is exactly as has
been painted by hostile propagandists
and that investigation is unnecessary
Further Inkling Game
Further inkling came when the
French socialist newspaper Humanite
picked out of the air (this is literally
possible in these wireless days, che
text of Foreign Minister Pinchon s re-
sponse TO Great Britain IS proposal for
at least partial recognition of the So
Wet government, revealing an evident
sffort to use the old method of secret
diplomacy to dispose Of matters as vi
tai as the Russian situation.
1t was explained today that the mat
ter Of sending an allied commission 10
investigate Russian conditions is being
held in allegiance because of the illness
Of Colonel House. This is only part Of
the reason. The other part is the sud
den realization in certain quarters that
such move would mean at least par
tial recognition of the present Russian
government. Unless tho delegates are
able to devise some form Of inquiry
that would eliminate all possibility of
its being construed as any form Of
recognition, it is possible that no in
vestigation off Russian problems will
be undertaken until after the full peace
congress votes on it-and then only
in case the advocates of an inquiry
outvotc their opponents.
Puts Principle TO Trial
Russia q case puts on trial at the
outset of the conferences the principle
of self determination and it ia certain
to be bitter fight, since IL involves
the question of the right Of any ma
tion to launch an entirely new form
of government; in this instance, an in
dustrial democracy.
A certain royal parsonage, speaking
TO the correspondent, few days ago,
remarked: "Lf Russia had taken the
direction of political democracy,
there would be no question Of fecog
nizing its government; regardless of al.
Legations Of atrocities and terrorism,
but nobody knows where this indus
trial democracy will lead He also
remarked that the trouble with the So
Wet government Is that it 10 "doing
too damned well.'
So far as the American delegates are
concerned, there are no signs of sym
pathy for the soviet regime, but they
are slive to the danger Of the peace
conference working in the dark on a
vital matter. This is responsible for
their determination to find soms meth
cd Of throwing light ON the Russian
situation. Sending of a commission or
investigation seems to be favored By
tho Americans at present, though there
is some talk Of inviting representatives
of the soviets to come TO Paris nnd
state their own case.
In the meantime, Colonel HOUSE is
still i'll and the first step toward en-
the world-as well ss the
peace delegates themselves, may be rs
success of the fight to make good on
President Wilson Is first point