The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-27
OUTLOOK
MUCH IMPROVED
Situation at Paris Has Taken
Turn for Better, Says Lon
don "Times, Editor.
POWER Is CENTRALIZED
President Wilson and Three
Premiers Now Rushing Pact
to Completion.
NJ n. wICKHAM sTEED,

W. OVh PACtiOhs
NJ n. wICKHAM sTEED,
Editor Of the London Times.
Special Cdo's DespdtcA to TEE suS from the
London Times serries.
Copyright. 1919; all rghfs reserved.
PARIS, March 2s.-The situation
within the Peace Conference has taken
a distinct turn, for the better in the last
two days. The realization after the
pitiful proceedings Of the Council Of
Ten last Wednesday and Friday that
something must be done" has led to
adoption Of a method of procedure
which should quickly yield more posi-
tive results than hitherto followed.
But there is a public and outside sit
uation IN regard to the conference
which cannot be altogether discovered
from its inside situation. A glance at
the Paris press shows the public stu
alton is by no means, satisfactory, and
in point of fact. it never has been quite
satisfactory, owing to the failure OF
the conference leaders to understand
the .valuo Of publicity.
Thanks In part to vigorous action by
representatives of the press at the out
set the worst consequences Of this short
sighted attitude were avoided With
some notable exceptions the arrange
ments made for the information Of the
press have been 'unintellisent and un-
satisfactory. Even thus public interest
and, trust in the conference perhaps
might have been preserved had the
leaders OF the conference understood
that what their people really desired
Was the news OF rapid progress toward
Q sound peace drawn ON big intellisible
Inss, and had they esstirrsd themselves
TO provide ouch news in the only way In
which. 1t could be provided-by using
every effort to make a sound peace ir-
respective Of their personal ambitions or
tender susceptibilities.
Afraid of Publicity.
But as they have failed progressively
in This respect, just as they had failed
in regard to publicity as their best
friend, and not as an insidious enemy.
they gradually got into a, state of mind
which caused them to consider every
divulgatgon OF any fact they would fain
have hidden as a sort OF insult to maj
esty."
The latest illustration OF collective
folly that has seemed al the time TO
overtake the members OF the Council OF
Ten may be mentioned.
Friday evening. after Mr.. Lloyd
George had concluded his time-wasting
intervention in the Polish settlement, he
suddenly delivered g dtatribe against
sun6ry French newspapers that had
been guilty OF criticisins his attitude as
a self-constituted authority on Polish
affairs.
He practically reproached some per-
sons present with wuful indiscretion
ard trot,ed out the bad old threat OF
having the Peace Conference removed
10 a neutral country and ended by de-
marding an official Inquiry into the
origin of the indiscretions committed
and some kind OF disciplinary measures
against the journalists responsible for
printing them.
II there be one question that has been
publicly thrashed ,out In France during
the recent months it Is the question OF
Poland. II there has been one question
which the Council OF Ten has steadily
declined to face In any practical fashion
+ il has been the question OF reinforcing
Poland against the Bolshevist menace.
II there were questions on which the
decision OF the Council of Ten was Gag
erly awaited-seetng that the expert
commission on Poland, Including dist!n'
guished members OF the British delesa
! ton, was unanimous they were thos'
/ OF the western frontiers OF Poland and
the TRANSPORT TO Poland OF the Polish
divisions stin in France.
Bound TO BE known.
! Under these circumstances i, was H.
| evitable that the cause OF the uneNpect'
ed delay in settling the question should
| become Immediately known and, being
| known, should be publicly announced
! Yet Premier Lloyd George seemed &c
| ;,,a0iua that his intervantiOn could he