Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-01-18
EVENTS OF A WEEK

The tasks which it was created to handle. During the
week there have been held at Versailles each day SESSIONS
of the supreme council of the peace congress-, these SEES
sions having been attended by representatives OF the
larger nations Of the Entente and Of the United States
These sessions will be followed by the gathering of the
entire group Of delegates. when the discussion OF the &C
tual terms Of peace will be under way,
The first duty of the council was to fix the basis OF
representation of the various nations in the conference
1t was decided that France, Great Britain, Italy Japan
and the United States should be accorded five delegates
each, and other nations to be represented were allowed
smaller representation according to circumstances. AL
the outset a difference of opinion arose as to now the
>apportionment should be determined. The French dele
gates held that the representation should be based on the
part that each nation had played in the war. Some, or
all Of the other members of the council held that the
basis should be the interest which each nation has in the
terms Of ettlement. The latter view prevailed, and 1t
was on this basis that the decision was made.
=
Another difference arose relating to the question OF
publicity. The proceedings of the conference being Of
supreme interest to the whole world, they are being
watched closely everywhere, and every important news
agency in existence has taken steps to gather and dis
seminate news Of the work of the conference in the most
complete and effective manner possible. The press rep
resentatives, themselves servants of the people in a most
important capacity, have not found it an easy task to
perform their work thus far, and some of the develop
ments have been of such a character that, if the condi-
tons were to remain unchanged, these men whose bust
ness it is to inform the public throughout the civilized
world might about as we'll go home.
One of the fourteen points enunciated by President
Wilson was in favor Of open agreements between nations,
openly arrived at. This principle has been accepted by
all the nations which have accepted the list, and these
constitute all the important nations engaged in the war,
for even the Central powers. hollow as their statements
always ring, have nevertheless gone through the form of
accepting these principles. 1t is on detail, and not on
principle that a difference has arisen.
- = +
At the gathering on Thursday at which this matter
was taken up France, Italy and Japan declared for closed
sessions of the conference, with an official communique
to be issued daily, this to be the sole statement to the
public to be made by the conference or any Of its MEM
bers while discussions were in progress. The United
States and Great Britain urged for a wider and more
liberal measure of publicity, but the majority stood it's
ground, and the decision was announced accordingly.
II was also made a condition, under a 'gentleman's
agreement, that delegates should in all cases abstain
from giving out information to representatives Of the
press.
1t is evident that were this rule adhered to the world
would be left utterly in the dark, until the conference
were over and it would be too late for any expression
Of opinion, as to some of the most vital Kings in con-
nection with the work Of the conference. We may i'm
agine in a measure what would be the result it W.
imagine the story, for instance, az the great offensive
directed by Marshal Foch having been restricted to the
bare facts as related in the official statements from the
various army headquarters during the gigantic move
ment. The facts were accurately stated in these COM
nuniques, but they lacked form and color. They needed
interpretation. And the trained correspondents who were
on the job were able to supply what was needed. and
We had each day an understandable picture Of the great
events that were in progress.
Because this difference Of opinion has arisen we
need not assume. as some are fond Of doing. that there
- discord in the conference. Each delegate has his own
point Of view, and there is bound to be, very often, a
marked divergence Of opinion. That does not mean ais
cord. And we may safely assume that the delegate. in
general are committed in spirit and in purpose to the
highest interests of mankind In performing their work
~ this gathering. It is not to be supposed that the rep
resentatiyes OF three Of the nations desire to withhold
from the public the information to which tn. nubnc /.
sMentitled, or that the representatives Of the other two ns-
lions desire AL the sessions and all the discussions to be
III public. Those extremes do not exist. Tho difference ID
not Is 10 whether or not there shall be publicity. but a.
to the time and manner, as well as the degree Of II. 1ns
protest from press representatives against the decision
st first reached was 10 vigorous that it was agreed tina,
$$Athc matter should be discussed again, and It was e.
d pscted that the original decision would be modified.
So sMs
Rus1fta. perplexins In 5 military sens during IN
s#AAsy part q The ~ and since me aSmisttcs. squall,
errklsxipg q students 81 civics and economies, nov ~.
Ia - ~ p~srplsxins problems Il the peaes esn.
4Sssaees ssne days - Lloyd George created some.
aEsss s = sshsatiea 81 ezpresfns. hlmsslfs il favor II I
Nhenhy ~ ssssehtsAe Bsishsviai ~euid Isl ssvsn
#X&