Norwich bulletin., 1921-10-13
General Survey of. Armament Data
Considered by American Dele gation to the Coming Arna- n1ent Conference.

Washington, Oct 12.-(By The A. P) The American delegation to the arma- ment conference held it's first meeting today, effected a permanent organiza- ton, made a general survey of the data gathered for it's guidance and began dis cussion of the questions of policy that are to characterize the position of this government in the coming negotiations.
 One of the first specific subjects to be considered was the problem of open or closed sessions for the armament confer- ence, and discussion is said to have re- vealed, considerable sentiment for open ing the doors whenever the entire body of delegates meet to register importan nt decisions
 Other and broader questions Of policy also were given detailed examination dur ing the three and a half hours meeting of the delegates and tonight the dele gates continued their discussions and heard the views of President Harding at a White House dinner
 None of those present at the meeting would reveal details of the deliberations regarding publicity for the conference sessions, but the impression was given that this government might lay before ! the delegates after they assemble a pro- l posaI that all full sessions of the con- ] ference be open to the press.
 The recommendation, it was said
 would not apply to the meetings of indi- 1 vidual national delegations, committees i or other subordinate bodies where the real decisions may be made, but would ! give publicity to such gatherings as that
 which will make the opening of the cor | ference and to the sessions where forma votes on pending questiot are taken.
 The question, however, is ore whicf l tIa -+ 1F
 it is expected that the American delega
 tion will take every precaution not tC | appear to urge it's opinions on the rep | resentatiives of the other powers. Today's meeting of the delegates wa held in the office of Secretary Hughes
 head of the delegation whose colleagues
 Elihu Root, Senator Henry Cabot Lodg and Senator Oscar Underwood formall,
 deegated him to act as spokesman il
 making public such details as seeme
 practicable. Afterward Mir. Hughes an
 nounced the selection of Basic Miles, former chief of the departments Rus
 sian division, as secretary of the dele
 gation, and made it known that the meet
 ing was taken up largely with a reviey , of the data collected by government agencies.
 ; Most of this data has been put int the form of monographs on diplomatic military and naval subjects that are like } ly to come before the conference. Simila
 exhaustive compilations on other sut jects are now in preparation. In eac case the historical background of tf subject is included in the every militar and naval topic discussed is presente in the light of the attending econom and political situation.
 The delegates also were informed ( the physical preparations made for Il conference. The proposal to use the Pa
 American buildis for the conference se
 sions was given endorsement and u delegation made suggestions regardir
 the allotment of space for delegation . and committees there and in writing ! the navy department building adjacen l Secretary Hughes formally communica
 ed receipt of tender of secyices {. a a research by the Carnegie Endowmer ' and announced that the new conferen division of the state department, create ' to deal specifically with problems CO U U nected with the negotiations was reaC f for utilization.