New-York tribune., 1921-11-18
Ba1fOur Protests
Against Publicity
OF Hugghes's Speech
Charges Violation of Agree
ment Not to Reveal De-
tails of Discussions by
Printing Open-Door Talk
By Joseph Caltier
Special Correspondent of "Le Temps"

Special Correspondent of "Le Temps"
of Paris
(This dispatch was cabed Yesterday to
"lc Temps by the CorrcspondenD
WASHINGTON, w Nov. IT. This
mornings session of the committee Of
nine was marked by Mr.. Balfour's pro-
testation against the publicity which
Mr. Hughes's speech received yester-
| day. 1t had been agreed not to reveal
the details of the discussion. In spite
of this fact, Mr.. Hughes's words were
published this morning by several
papers.
AS matter of fact, Mr.. Hughcs's
speech contained nothing especially
important, with the exception of the
statement that the Chinese problem
should be taken up first. After noting
China's ancient civilization. her latent
powers and her wealth, it mentioned
Japan and affirmed that the open door
in China must become a reality and
that n that case Japan would be on
the threshold. Hughes finally an
nounced that the arrangement of Yap
| was proceeding satisfactorily
1t is, therefore, obvious that the
publication of Hughes's speech by the
American press will have no bad ef-
feet but it has created an unfortunate
precedent. 1t is to be noted that after
affirming the necessity Of revealing
everything they are returning to the
old way which is much more discreet.
1t has been decided that hcnceforth
only the Secretary General and the in
terpreter will be admitted to the pri-
vate sessions.
Not Basis for Discussion
After settling this question it was
decided that the Chinese program out
lined yesterday should not serve as a
basis for the discussions, but should
be incorporated in Mr. Hughes's pro-
gram. 1t is understood that Japan IS
holding aloof. hoping for more specific
propositions than the Chinese scheme.
American and British correspondents
are much occupied with the question
of land armament, many of them hop
ing that Premier BRAND will make
clear statement, just as Hughes did.
Certain Englishmen continue to assert
that the opinion in the United King
dom is ready to give assurances and
guarantees to France in exchange for
suppress her military service. The ex-
ample would then be followed by Italy
and Japan. They add that the guar
anty already given France by the
British is in the form Of the 100000
dead Englishmen lying in French soil.
Would Prevent the Fires
This method of reasoning is discon-
certing. These assurances resemble
offers to make good the damage after
a fire. What we want is to prevent
the fires. If England had held bold
front before the war there would not
now be 100000 English and more than
million French graves in France. On
the other hands we'll informed British
and Americans of considerable inf1u-
ence are fully aware of our exact posi-
ton.
For example, David Jayne Hill, for
mer Ambassador to Berlin, writes in
The Tribune that BRAND will have an
easy task to convince the American
people that it would be national suicide
for France to lay down her arms now.
The first condition in the reduction of
land forces is to remove the prob
ability of conflict. This point of
view justifes what BRAND told me
yesterday.
"ln the course Of conversations with
American leaders," said the Premier,
~ have dissipated various misconcep-
tions and have explained our true posi-
ton. They have seen for themselves
that our so-called militarism and i'm
perialism are pure legends. From this
point of view I am thoroughly salts
fed that came to Washington"