The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-08-10
THE COMING
CONFERENCE

The question has ben raised as to
whether or not the coming Washington
Conference on Disarmaments shall be
open or closed. Why the question?
Have not the world politicians yet
learned their lesson from the wreck
that followed on the peace that was
written in secret? The World War
was the logical, natural and inevitable
result of the practices Of secret di-
plomacy. Men laid down their arms
under the urge of the promise and
agreem ent that the old order had pass
ed. that in the new we were to have
open covenants, openly arrived at"
and a new order in the conduct of
world affairs.
Some politicians still cling to the old
and outworn tradition that a few shall
rule the millions must be led to serve
through the PRONUNCIATION of deceit
and half truths, but it is inconceivable
that the American press as the spokes-
man of American public opinion shall
for one minute concede the right of
this Government to promote secret
meeting wherein diplomats will pro-
coed to the consideration of a cut and
dried agenda paper formulated in Sc
cret by our diplomatic representatives
vital to the well-being OF all the peo-
pies as ornaments.
The American press is in an envia-
BILE position to demand reasons for
decisions and not final conclusions
arrived at in secret, but American ed
itors must be alert and make them
selves heard and felt or we will have
history repeating itself.
Indeed, the reply Of the Japanese
Government in the morning papers for
Thursday, given to the press by the
State Department, would rather indi-
cate that it is the official diplomatic
view that a cut and dried agreed pro-
gram should be formulated before the
meeting of the conference. This plan
is pregnant of real danger.
This is certainly not the view of the
American people or of the peoples of
the world with respect to the matter.
Surely the historical position of the
American Press and the experience
of the last few years demand that all
of the sessions be held out In the open
in the white light of publicity.
Hates are engendered and wars have
always been fought over conclusions
of diplomatic gatherings and because
of lack of knowledge of the reasons
that led to these decisions. An open
conference and enlightening publicity
would be true to the best traditions of
this republic and in this the people,
through their press, will have an OPP
portunity to make America first in
leadership to more complete under
standing and a new order in world
affairs.
The peoples of the world We're led
blindly into the last war. Sources of
honest information were closed; agen-
cies of propaganda operating under
the direction of secret diplomacy were
turned loose and the world was flood
ed with White Books, Black Books
Yellow Books and Green Books that
ignored important facts, defended
those directly concerned for their va
rious acts. traded on mems passions
and taught hate.
From ali points of the compass
London, Paris, Buenos Ayres, Osaka,
Toxic and Washington-fron visiting
and returning journalists, as well as
from American newspaper men and
the representatives In America of lead
ing newspapers of the world-comes
the impulse, the thought, the sugges-
ton, that the press men OF the world
should have a real get-together meet
ing In Washington preliminary TO the
disarmament conference.
So strongly is the dominant inter
national newspaper opinion in thatl
direction, that Editor and Publisher
very strongly urges the wisdom of
such a meeting whilst stressins the
OF an open, free and frank |
exchange of views with respect to |
open sessions, communications, cen
sorship and the absolute necessity for 1