Omaha daily bee., 1919-01-18
ALL SET
FOR OPENING OF
PEACE MEETING
Ccsntinusd From Page one,


{ tiers and foreign ministers Of the
allied great powers assisted by tn.
japanese ambassadors in Paris and
London, met at the Quai D'Orsay
today, in the morning from 1880 a
m. to 1880 p. M, and in the after.
noon from 3 to $50 p. m.
"The French president of the
council read out the terms Of the
renewal Of the armistice,
"The meeting decided to give Bel
gium and Serbia three delegates
each at the conference. 1t was de-
eided also that the king Of the
Hedjas should be represented by
two delegates. The question of the
number of delegates for the various
powers thus was finally established
The program for the opening
conference, which will take place at
| the foreign office tomorrow at 8
o'clock in the afternoon, was af-
forwards arranged.
Restrictions on Publicity.
The meeting finally examined
into the question of the publicity to
be given to the discussion of the
conference and unanimously APPROX.
ed the following text to be handed
to the press in the name Of the five
great powers:
The representatives Of the allied
and associated powers have given,
earnest consideration to the cues
ton of publicity for the proceed
ings of the peace conference. They
are anxious that the public through
the press should have the fullest in
formation compatible with the safe
guarding Of the supreme interest
of all, which Is that a Just and hon
orable settlement should be ar.
rived at with the minimum of DELAY
IL Is, however, obvious that pub
licity with regard to the preliminary
conversations now proceeding must |
be subject to the limitations |
necessarily imposed by the difficult |
and delicate nature of their object.
The proceedings Of a peace con-
terence are far more analogous TO
the meetings of a cabinet than TO
those of legislature. Nobody has
ever suggested that cabinet meet
ings should be held in public. and if |
they were so held the work of gov
eminent would become impossible. /
Conclusions To Be.
One reason why cabinets are
held in private is in order that
difficulties may be reconciled and
agreements reached before the stage
OF publicity is begun. The essence
OF the democratic method is not
that the deliberations of a govern.
ment be conducted In public. but
that its conclusions be subject to
the consideration Of a popular
chamber and to free and open dis
on the platform and by the
press.
Representatives Of the allied
and associated powers are holding
conversations in order to solve
questions which affect the vital in
terests Of many nations and upon
which they may at present hold
many diverse views. These delib-
cannot proceed by the ]
method of majority vote. No ma.
lion can be committed except by !
ne free vote of its own delegates. !
The conclusions arrived at in these !
consultations therefore, can only :
'e formed by the difficult process Of !
eachlng an agreement among alI !
This vital process would onIv
'e hindered it the discussion Of
very disputed question were omen
~ q public declaration by each
delegation of its own national point /
# view. Such a declaration wiuld =
n many cases be followed by pre-. :
nature public controversy. t
Danger In Public Discussion. y
This would be serious enough +
It were confined to controversy !
etween parties within each state
{ might be extremely dangerous II n
$ would often be inevitable, il re-
ulted IL controversy between ma.
ions.
Moreover such public declara-
ions would render the give and take
n the part Of the delegates them
elves, which is essential TO sue
essfuI negotiation, a matter of in
nitely greater difficulty. II is also
extremely important that the settle.
lent should not onIv he iust ~. ii
peedy.
Every belligerent power is anx- II
JUS for the early conclusion Of |
eaee IN order that its armies NAV |
e demobilized and that II NAV Re. |
Urn once more to the ways of peace.
II premature publicity Is given Il
the negotiations the proceedings
the peace conference would be in
'rminably protracted and the dele
ates would be forced to speak not II
My OF the business before the con-
'rence but to concern themselves 4
18th the controversies, which had
cen raised by the account Of their
toceedings outside.
Would Avoid Misunderstanding.
Finally there will often be very
rong reasons against announcing
ie conclusions Of the conversations
they are arrived at. The repre-
OF 4 nati6ii may Be will
g to give their assent on one point
1ly provided that they receive a Ii
'neession on another point, which
70 not yet been discussed. II will III
IT be possible to Judge of the wis
I'm and Justice Of the peace settle
ent until il can be viewed as a
hole, and premature announce.
ents might lead to misappreheu-
ons and anxiety as to the Ultimate
suits for which there was no real
Calling attention, however, to
csc necessary limitations of pub
,ity these representatives Of the
lwers do not underrate the inpor-
r