New-York tribune., 1921-11-09
Senate Calls
For Open Arms
Farley Sessions
Adopts Resolution Request.
ing American Delegates to
Urge Admission of the
Press to Full Meetings
bad Manners, Says Lodge
Majority Leader Opposes 1t
On Ground u. S. Should
Not Attempt To Dictate

A SattcAnpt tO Dictate
Fross The Triburc's wosasaa,on Bareo,.
WASHINGTON, Nov. s.-The Sen
ate to-day adopted a resolution ~
lered by Senator Harrison, of Miss;s-
sippis requesting the representatives of
enas government to use their influence
70 nave the armament limitation con-
ference admit representatives. of the
press to the meetings of the full con-
terence where the questions for which
'hs conference was called are con-
sidered. 1t also requests the repre-
seneatives Of this government to exert
their influence to have the conference
keep a record of its proceedings. A
further provision in the original reso-
luton opposing a censorship was clint
mated.
Senator Lodge, Republican leader,
and one of the four American dele
gates to the conference, was not in
favor of the resolution, but reluctantly
accepted It rather than allow the uues-
slon to be agitated at length, as Sem
ator Harrison promised would be done.
In the end the resolution went through
without roll call
Senator Harrison said: "The resolu-
tlon merely requests our representa-
tiyes at the conference to use their in
nuence to have the conference admit
representatives of the press at the full
meetings of the conference.
1t also provides for the preservation
and maintenance of a record of the
actions and of the votes of the confer
ence and provides against any censor
ship being imposed that would prevent
the public from knowing the true at
titude. OF the delegations on the ques-
tions which are presented and CON
sldered at the conference. 1t is as
conservative as it is possible to draw
any resolution. No one can take Of
fense at it because we know that we
have no control over the conference"
Out of Place, Says Lodge
Senator Harrison then asked Sena-
tor Lodge for consent to consider the
resolution Senator Lodge said he
agreed that the resolution was con-
seryatively framed, considering its au-
thorship."
I'm bound to say" he went on.
that / think it would be very much out
OF place for the Senate, especially at
this rnoment,ito begin to offer sugges-
tions as to the procedure of the con-
ference, which must be determined by
the nations which are represented.
should 'be very sorry to see the Senate
propose to interfere in any way with
the matter which must be dealt with by
the representatives of the powers which
we invited here. think the Senate
may rest assured that the Senator from
Alabama and | will favor all the pub
LEFTY that is reasonably possible for
the conference and certainly that
proper record will be kept.
What I object TO is passing any
resolution undertaking to hint or to
suggest to the foreign nations whose
delegates shall sit in the conference,
and who have right to settle their
own procedure in company with as,
what that procedure shall be. If the
resolution is presented / shall hope
that it will not be passed"
What is there wrong in the Senate
OF the United States expressing itself 2"
! Senator Harrison asked. at cannot
be denied that subtle diplomacy is at
az work throughout the conference We
know from our experience here in ex-
ecutive sessions of the Senate that the
true facts never get out, but that they
are contorted and carried according to
the expressions given to the press by
the particular man who is in the execu-
tive session.
"If the true facts that are to be dis
eussed, and the action taken in this
conference are to be known by the
world, the only way to do it is by the
admission of the press to the full meet
ing and for record to be kept showing
fno cfsnr,. nd {hA uo$n of
delegations at that conference"
Cite= Trouble at Versailles
at is known and stated every day
throughout the world that the failure
of the Versailles conference was be-
cause of the secrecy that enshrouded
the consideration of it's work. Sen
ators have talked about open cove
nanss openly arrived at If we believe
in that doctrine we certainly ought not
to oppose this resolution"
Senator Lodge thought consideration
should be shown to the guests of this
country at the conference, who had
precisely the same rights as We
For the Senate or the House to
anticipate their sessions and under
take TO dictate. or to suggest to these
other nations how they shall carry on
their business, seems to me not q
seemly thing for US to do. at this mo-
ment," said Mr.. Lodge. II do not like
to use unpleasant words, but it does
not seem to me very good manners to
meet them in that. way. Each one of
them has the same rights that we have
as to establishing procedure"
Senator Johnson opposed the view
of Senator Lodge that it would be ssbad
manners" to pass the resolution. ''I
cannot agree with that he said Eve
do not attempt by this resolution to
express what should desire to express
the wish tor publicity. But l cannot
concede for one moment that when the
Senate respectfully requests the rep
rssentatives of the government to use