Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-08-23
OPEN ARMS SESSION
URGED UPON SENATE
Harris Insists That Conference
on Disarmament Should
Not be Secret.

By Associated Press 70 Every Evening.
Washington. Aug. 2s.--Because
Of the opposition Of Senator
Lodge, one of the delegates 10
the disarmament conference. SEN
ator Harrison, Democrat. Mis-
sissippi, today withdrew his
amendment directing the AmerI-
can delegation to demand open
session.
Washington. Aug. 23.--Deuand BY
the United States for open sessions of
the disarmament conference could not
be construed as an insult 10 the repre-
sentatives OF foreign nations, Senator
Harrison, Democrat, Mississippi. de-
clared In the Senate today In support
ing his proposal that the American
delegates use every effort TO prevent
secret deliberations.
The issue was brought to the front
by the senator's amendment to a bill
appropriafing 5000, 900 for expenses
Of the conference directing the deie-
gates named by President Harding to
work for public sessions.
This does not mean that Congress
II attempting 10 bring TO bear any
influence upon the conference except
through its own representatives I"
Senator Harrison declared
Referring to the secrecy at ver-
saiiles, the mississippi senator said
the Far Eastern questions to be taken
up here in November related 70 Shan
tung. Yap. the open door in China and
possibly the japanese alien land prob
lem. all Of which, he added. have been
discussed openly In the Senate for
years He insisted the public should
be informed from day TO day OF all
discussions OF naval reduction by the
United States and the other nations
particfpa ting.
Turning to Senator Lodge. the Re-
publican leader. named by Prexadent
Harding as member OF the Arleri-
can delegation, Senator Harrison ex-
pressed the hope that the conferences
would succeed.
But IL we are TO derive any benefit
from IT," he added, the world must
know who rendered a great service
and where the blame shall attach in
event Of it's failure. I hope the dis
tinguished senator from Massachu-
setts viii not take the position that
the conference must be closed"
Senator Harrison charged that
many Republicans were demanding
that the people be kept in the dark
on every step toward reduction OF
naval armament"
President Harding has started a
great movement and the delegation
representing the United States should
not throw him down." he continued.
I'VE viii never know how they car
ried out his program unless every
thing is done in the open"
The Mississippi Senator attacked
President Harding for not inviting
I-atin-American countries to partici-
pate in the conference. The countries
Of South America. he added. were vi
tally concerned in the result of the
conference.
Senator Lodge in opposing the Harri-
son amendment declared it wa
wholly out OF place and bad man
ners" and that he would not be
guilty OF this incivility toward the
great nations invited here to particle
pate in the conference"
Senator Lodge told the Senate he
objected TO the proposal. that five
nations sending representatives to
Washington ''in the utmost good faith
10 discuss two of the most important
questions before the world should be
met on arrival with a Senate resolu-
ton anticipating any action they
might take regarding conference pro-
cedure.
The trainers of the Constitution had
made secret treaties impossible. SEN
ator Lodge said, by requiring Senate
action. But when it came to pro-
cedure BY which treaties are nego-
tiated Senator Lodge said. I'VE enter a
more difficult ground.
Senator Watson, Democrat, Georgia,
opposed public sessions OF the con-
ference. contending that "in the very
nature Of things some negotiations
must be conducted IN private" He
added that grand and petty juries meet
IN secret and that the books of the
Bible the writing OF the Constitution
and the Declaration OF independence
and the selection Of George Washing
ton as cemmander-in-ch were all
done behind closed doors.
AS author Of the anaendment 70 the
naval appropriation act directing the
calling OF disarmament conference,
senator Borah. Republican, Idaho, de-
eiared that since the question had
been brought ip. failure Of the Senate
to record its view for publicity would
he construed by the world to mean
that Eve are opposed to open con-
ferenees.
III the United States does no, lead
IN this flght Cor publicity" said Sen
ator Borah. Eve can't hope Tor much,
am not seeking 70 check up on ouf
delegates, but publicity IS absolutely
essential 70 any sane and sound con-
clusion. There can be no sue ccssful
disarmament conference unless it is
backed up by public opinion on de-
liberatlons behind open doors,