The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-18
First Sitting of the Peace Con-
ference Is on Today.
And President Wins Out on
Some of Points.
MODIFY The GAG RUL|
Secure Place for Writers at the
Peace Conference.
Situation Now Like That in
United States Senate.

Paris, Jan. 18.-The first sitting of
the peace congress today found Pres
ldent Wilson partial victor in the fight
for recognition of his first principle
open covenants openly arrived at"
The gag rule which was imposed to
make the sessions secret had been
modified: and arrangements made for
publicity, under certain restrictions. 1t
may be stated that the president will
continue to fight for fuller recognition
Of his principle. He wants more pub
licity.
Today's peace conference sitting was
planned as formal affair, with an
imposing turnout of troops impress
slVe ceremonies and a. keynote speech
by President Poincare. Long before
assembled in the streets leading to the
foreign office to cheer the delegates as
they passed.
President Wilson's vigorous fight for
an open conference was backed by the
universal stand of the American cor
respondents. He was finally success
full in securing a rule whereby a linn
1ted number of newspapermen would
be permitted at the full sittings The
situation as it stood today was similar
to that in the United States senate,
where reporters are allowed to hea-
all proceedings except committee
meetings and executive sessions.
Was Unique Fight
The presidents fight for his first
principle was unique in history, be-
cause of the strong support coming
from the correspondents of the United
States and all the allied nations ex-
cept France.
Following are the facts:
Several days ago the president be-
gan quiet movement for recognition
of his first principle Discussions, de-
veloped- Premier Lloyd George
agreed with Wilson. French, Italian
and japanese delegates refused to
agree to have the press represented at
any conference.
Finally with the aid of Lloyd
george. the president succeeded in
having the gag proposal laid over,
penang suggestions from the cores
pondents. American newspaper men
led the protest against secrecy with
representatives of the press of Britain
Italy and smaller nations uniting in
the demand for publicity-the French
dissenting thruout
Hold Out Some Questions
Durlns the conversations, the presi-
ueht only reservation was said to be
that there should be no publicity on
some questions on which there was No
1lnal action, lest the report of the pro-
ceedlngs should come out piecemeaI.
tHuS creating misunderSta ndings
Wnlch might have serious results. This
point was covered in the rule pro-
nlbltlng correspondents from being
present at committee meetings or
executive sessions at which delicate
matters may be discussed, clashes be-
tween statesmen may occur and there
Is a possibility that a wrong interpre-
tation might be drawn from such epi-
sodes, no matter how carefully the
reports were handled.
The president expects that as the
conferences go on. delicate roiptc will
be disposed of, and more and more
meetings will be public until the final
sessions, when he hopes they will all
be open. The American correspond
ents however. are not yet satisfied
They see a possibility of only a few
sessions being open, and are prepar-
ing to invite newspaper men of all ma
tons to cooperate in pressing their
respective delegations for more public
Sittings