The Washington herald., 1921-08-12
BORAH, JOHNSON
And OTHERS STAND
PAT FOR PUBLICITY
Interviews With Presi.
dent Fail to Convert
Them.
CLASH MAY RESULT
Harding and Hughes Insist
Open Meetings Are I'm
practicable.

Differences of opinion that may
reach the point of an open clash arc
developing now between President
Harding and liberal leaders of the
Senate over the question of open
diplomacy" as it affects the coming
world conference in Washington.
How sharp these differences may
become will depend. of course, upon
. the extent of concessions by both
sides In the meantime there are
two lines Of thought, widely sepa-
rated.
Leading the campaign for full
publicity on the international neSo-
tiations are Senator Borah and
Senator Hiram Johnson. both or
them effective fighters They de-
mand that the conference sessions
be held in the open, with the pub
lie receiving full information on
the discussions and the decisions
that are reached.
Administration Can't "See" II.
But President Harding and Secre-
tary Hughes, while appreciatinS
that popular support of the confer
ence may be largely dependent upon
the meeting receiving adequate
publicity" contend that it is i'm
practical to throw the sessions open
to the public. In their view, it is
impossible to comprehend an inter
national gathering which woulc
permit public discussion.
At President Harding's request.
Senator Borah called at the White
House yesterday. 1t is learned also
that Senator Johnson was in COM
munication with the President yes
terday. The armament conclave
was among the topics whicn the
President discussed with both men.
1t is evident now that an effort
is afoot to attain some form of
understanding" between the White
House and the more aggressive eie-
ment in the Senate.
Borah Is Unconvinced.
But Borah. after his conversation
with the President, reiterated his
conviction that the conference
should be wide open" and indi-
Gated he would continue to fight
10 that end. 1t can be stated that
johnson also will continue his
whenever the occasion offers.
Hughes. it is reported. is to give
the conference publicity by the me-
dunn of statements" or by confer
ences with newspaper men follow
ing the diplomatic sessions. This
Is only partial publicity" in the
opinion of BOrah and Johnson, and
in their fight for covenants of the
more open variety, they are eX-
pected to have the support of Sem
ators Reed and La Toilette.
johnson Fears Secrecy.
johnson. in a formal statement
yesterday. said he realized the dis
advantages of holding the confer
ence in the open.
But we have had our lesson" he
added. We have seen a world
conference starting under the most
favorable auspices, with idealism
publicly expressed, and then have
had that idealism throttled In
secrecy"
Warning that the "old. diplo-
matte game" must be avoided,
johnson said "the only way in
which we may avoid the pitfalls
of secret diplomacy is by the sun
light Of publicity"
Harding and Hughes. it is un-
derstood. have pointed out that the
conference cannot be open unless
the foreign governments give their
approval and that this administra-
ticn cannot decide by itself the
, question of diplomacy.
The Senate liberals, however. will
contend that any opposition to free
publicity from foreign delegates
will provide all the more reason
why the door should be thrown