Evening star., 1921-08-23
SESSIONS IN PUBLIC
FOR DISARMAMENT
HIT SNAG IN SENATE
Harrison WithdraWs Amend
ment as Part of Bill Pro-
viding for Expenses.
B0RAH BACKS DEMAND;
TO BE INTRODUCED AGAIN
Open Action Essential, He Says.
Futile Bad Manners, View
of Senator Lodge.

The initial attempt to make the
sessions of the disarmament confer
ence open failed today in the Senate
Following hot debate. Senator
Harrison withdrew his proposal for
fuii publicity at the conference, pro-
Hlded for in this amendment to the
item appropriating 100000 for the
expense of the conference His ac-
ton, wholly unexpected. was based
on the opposition of Senator Lodge,
one of the delegates to the confer
ence. and was made just before the
Senate was ready to vote on the
measure.
Senator Harrison declared. however,
that he would bring up the question
again IN separate resolution and
hoped that Senator Lodge would see
MT TO support it.
Does Not Wish to Embarrass.
I'm opposing my amendment" said
Senator Harrison, Il suppose Senator
Lodge is merely expressing the views
of President Harding. and I do not de-
sire to embarrass him at this time"
There was no objection later when
the amendment to the Shipping Board
y
conference expenses, was presented,
the Senate approving it as drawn.
This amendment does not mean
that Congress is attempting to bring
ference except through it's own rep
resentatives," Senator Harrison de-
clared.
Discussed Freely I'm Senate.
Referring to the secrecy at Yer
sailIes. the Mississippi senator said
the far eastern questions to be taken
up here in November related to Shan
tung. fap. the open door in China.
and possibly the Japanese alien land
problem. all of which. he added. had
been discussed openly in the Senate
for years. He insisted the public
should be informed from day to day
OF all discussion of naval reduction
by the United States and the other
nations participating.
turning 10 Senator Lodge. the re-
publican leader. named by President
Harding as member of the Ameri-
| can delegation. Senator Harrison ex-
pressed the hope that the conference
would succeed.
But il We are to derive any bene-
fit from it," he added. "the world
must know who rendered a great
service and where blame shall attach
in event of its failure. I hope the
chusetts will not take the position
that the conference must be closed"
Charges Demand for Secrecy.
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.
We will 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
Latin American countries to partici-
pate in the conference. The countries
iof South America, he added. are vi
tally concerned in the results of the
conference.
Senator Watson. democrat, Georgia
opposed public sessions of the con-
ference, contending that lin the very
nature of things some negotiations
must be conducted in private" He
said grand and petty 1uries 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 Washington
as comma nder- in-chief We're all done
| behind closed doors.
Publicity Essential, Says Borah.
! AS author of the amendment direct
| ing the calling of the disarmament con-
! ference, Senator Borah, republican.
| Idaho. declared that since the question
| had been brought up, failure OF the Sem
ate to record its view for publicity would
be construed by the world to mean that
I'VE are opposed to open conferences" "
] 'Tf the United States does not lead
| in this fight for publicity" said Senator
Borah. I'VE can't hope for much. I am
not seeking to check up on our dele
gates. but publicity is absolutely es-
sentiai to any sane and sound con-
cfusion.
| There can be no successful disarm-
| ament conference unless 1t is backed
| up by public opinion. and in this case
| there can be no operation of public
| opinion on deliberations behind closed
| DOORS"
Out OF Place. Says Lodge.
| Senator Lodge. in opposing amend
| ment. declared il was wholly out of
place and futile bad manners" and
] that he would not be guilty of this
incivility toward the great nations
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