The sun., 1919-01-18


ent hold many diverse views. These de-
liberations cannot proceed by the method
OF majority vote. No nation can be
committed except by the free vote OF
its own delegates. The conclusions ar
rived at in these corsultat one there
fore can only be formed by the difficult
process of reaching an agreement among
all.
Would Avoid Controversy.
This vital process would only be
hindered II the discussion of every dis
puted question were open by public
declaration by each delegation of its own
national point OF view. Such a declara-
ton would In many cases be followed Dy
premature public controversy.
q" This would be serious enough II 4
were confined to controversy between
parties within each state. Ii might DO
extremely dangerous IL. as would often
be inevitable, 1t resulted In controversy
between nations.
Moreover such public declarations
would render the give and take on the
part OF the delegates themselves, which
Is essential to a successful negotiation.
a matter OF Infinitely greater difficulty
1t is also extremely important that the
settlement should be not only just but
speedy.
Every belligerent Power Is anxious
for the early conclusion OF peace in or
der that its armies may be demooilizcd
and that 1t may return once more to the
ways of peace
"If premature publicity is given to
the negotiations the proceedings OF the
peace conference would be intcrminably
protractei and the delegates would be
forced to speak not only OF the business
before the conference but to concern
themselves with the controversies which
had been raised by the account Of their
proceedings outside.
Importance of Concessions,
"'Finally there will often be very
strong reasons against announcing the
conclusions OF the conversations as they
are arrived at. The representatives OF a
nation may be willing to give their
assent on one point, only provided that
they receive concession on another
point which has not yet been discussed.
1t will not be possible to Judge OF the
wisdom and justice OF the peace settle
ment until II can be viewed as whole,
and premature announcements might
lead to misapprehensions and anxiety as
to the ultimate results for which there
was no real foundation.
I'm calling attention. however. to
these necessary limitations of publicity
these representatives OF the Powers do
not underrate the Importance OF carry
Ing public opinion with them in the vast
task by which they are confronted
They recognize that unless public opn-
ion approves Of the results OF their
labors they will be nugatory.
This reasoning applies with con-
elusive force to the present CONVERSE
tons between the representatives of the
great Powers
with regard 10 the full conferences
the following rule was adopted:
Representatives OF the press shall be
admitted to the meetings OF the .ull
conference. but upon necessary occasions
the deliberations OF the conference may
be held In camera"
Wilson May Speak.
It Is probable that President Poin-
cares greetings will call for some re-
Spouse on behalf of the foreign repre-
sentatives, in which case President
Wilson may address the gathering for
the United States and all the other
countries represented
With the conclusion OF NJ. Poincare's
address and the response to II the SEES
sion OF the congress will be declared TO
be open and Premier Ciemenceau will
take the presiding officers chair as
head of the French delegation. Any
address NJ. Clemenceau will make will
be brief and mainly in the nature OF
an initiation OF the procedure OF the
congress. such as the selection of Of
fcers-chairman. vice-chairman and
general secretary.
The report OF the supreme council on
fl,.a r,,1a ,hn
then be presented. These were elabo-
rated at the sessions concluded tonight
II Is expected that they will be ap-
proved without discussion. ard that on
their approval they will be made pub
lie. This and possibly some further
adjustments in the representations Of
The smaller countries probably will en-
brace all the work to be undertaken at
the opening ceremony. and the main
Issues VIII await the business sessions
See Good Omen.
The announcement made tonight that
the supreme council had decided to-day
TO admit representatives OF the press OF
he allied and associated Powers to the
full meetings of the conference was re-
ceived as an suspicious ausury on the
eve Of the assembling of the congress
The official list Of the delegates may
not be given out tonight, but its COM
position Is known In the main as fol-
lows:
France: Georges Clemenceau. Prime
Minister: Stephen Pichon. Foreign Min
lister; Louis Klotz. Finance Minister ;
Andre Tard!eu, French High Commits
sioner to the United States and Jules
Cambon.
Great Britain: David Lloyd George,
Prime Minister; Arthur J. Balfour For
eign Secretary: Andrew Bonar Law,
Lord Privy Seal; George Ncoll Barnes,
the Labor leader and another alternate
delegate.
United States; Woodrow Wilson,
President OF the United States; Robert
Lansing. Secretary OF State; Henry
White, Edward NJ House and Gen.
Tasker II. Bliss. United States Army.
Italy: Vittorio Orlando, Prime Minis
ter; Baron Sonn!no. Foreign Minister :;
Antonio Salandra, formerly Premier; the
Marquis Salvage Raggi and the italian
Minister of Finance, who will succeed
Francesca Nitti, who has resigned with
the other members of the italian Cabinet.
Japan The Marquis Saionj formerly
Prime Minister; Baron Maxine, Baron
Chinda. Baron Matsui and Count Haya-
shL
From Minor Countries.
Brazil-Senator Epitacio Pessoa, DR..
Pandia Caloreras and Deputy Raoul
Fernandes.
Belg!an--Paul Hymans. Minister Of
Foreign Affairs; Emile Vandervelde and
NJ. Vandenheuvel.
Garhia-Niknla