New-York tribune., 1919-01-16
Causes Storm of Disap-
proval; Writers Sign
Round Robin TO Wilson
News Is Limited to
Daily Communique
Alternate Delegates VIII
Be Named by All Ma
tons to Fill Vacancies

PARIS, Jan. Is (By The Associated
Press The question of whether the
peace conference is to be secret or
wholly open to the eyes and ears of
the world, the settlement of which has
been long awaited, was brought to a
focus to-day when it was announced
that an agreement had been made to
confine the information given to the
public to daily official communique
and that a gentlemen's agreement pre-
vailed among the delegates not to dis
cuss, Or in any way give information
of, the meetings in the Foreign Office.
No written official announcement OF
this purpose was issued. but word was
passed out to this effect, and it was
followed by an explosion which quite
drowned out the doings of the peace
commissioners
Round Robin to Wilson
The understanding is that the Ameri-
can and British delegates opposed this
decision, but that the French, Italians
and Japanese, voting together, pre-
vailed
The British newspaper correspond
ents Immediately Joined in memorial
of protest, which they put before Pre-
mier Lloyd George. The American
newspaper correspondents united in
what is virtually a round robin 50
President Wilson, in which they pro-
tested in measured terms against the
decision and reminded the President of
that one Of his .fourieen points which
specifies "open covenants of peace open
~ arrived at.'
The memorial was before the Presi-
dent tonight, and there is every rea-
son to believe that such a storm has
been raised as will force the question
before the meeting again prior to the
actual session of the peace conference
Saturday morning.
Issue Long Smouldering
The question of whether the meet
ings are to be open or closed has been
smouldering for several days. II is
associated with conditions which have
surrounded the lack of method in maxi
ing public what has actually been
going on in conference for tie last
month
The American newspaper correspond
ents, of whom there ere about 100
here to report the peace proceedings,
have been received in daily audience
by the American commissioners under
the stipulated conditions that what was
developed was solely for their guild
ance and not to be reported as bearing
the stamp of authority or coming from
the mission
The President himself has rarely
seen any of the American correspon-
dents, and the newspaper men, who
have expressed themselves at meet
ing of the organization they have
formed as considering themselves trus
tees obligated TO inform public opinion
at home of the moves which are being
made here in paris, have been chafing
at what they have characterized as
being kept out of touch with the foun-
tain heads of official information. hav-
ing been confined to information dis
seminated by an official publicity agent.
French Press Gets information
Meanwhile the French newspapers
and the British newspapers having
Paris editions have been appearing
each day with inside information OF
the conferences, and in some cases
have actually been quoting American
officials in a manner from which the
American correspondents were request
ed to refrain.
Hitherto it has been the practice OF
the governments taking part in the
preliminary peace conventions. says
! statement given out by the official press
bureau to-day, to issue separate cosa<
muniques regarding the proceedings.
Joint Communique Issued
From to-day it has been decided to
issue joint communiques, of which the
following is the English text adopted
by the British and American deiega-
tions:
"The President OF the United
States and the Prime Ministers OF
the Allied Powers. assisted by the
Japanese Ambassadors in Paris and
London, held two meetings to-day.
IN the course of these meetings the
examination of the rules of the con-
! ference has been continued and al
most completed.
at WAS decided that the> United
States, the British Empire, France,
Italy and Japan should be repre-
sented by five delegates apiece. The
British Donations and Indis. besides,
shall be represented as follows: Two
delegates. respectively, for Australia.
Canada, South AfricaAand India. in-