The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-12-20
RMS PARtEY
NEWs|s GIVEN
OUT bYbRITISH
hughes Blamed for Allowing
Monopoly Of Information IN
Lord RiddeIl's Hands.
BY POLITICUS.

The British publicity methods at the
brms conference have aroused the
wrath of the French delegation. But.
40 far. neither the American deiega
ton nor the State, Department has
evinced any worry because tho pub
licity apparatus Of the British has en-
abled them to inspire or control three
iourths of all the millions Of words
that have been sent from Washington
during the conference to the news.
papers of the world.
The American representatives have
never taken this aspect OF the sltua-
ZION seriously. They have permitted
the British Representatives to make
public practically all Of the important
details, Of the conference. Secretary
Hughes has contented himself with
being the formal spokesman for the
conference whenever final agreements
have been reached. But almost all OF
the real news has come from British
press conferences, and has usually
been given to the public anywhere
from twelve to twenty.four hours be-
fore Secretary Hughes has been ready
70 take either the United States or the
world into his confidence. M
So far, the United States has not
fallen the victim to the British propa-
ganda in the serious way In which the
French found themselves involved last
week when the British gave out the
details of the French naval bombshell.
The British. however, have succeeded
in INDUCING in unlimited propaganda
IN favor of various British proposals.
especially on the submarine question
In all OF these, they have been able to
do their work without interference on
the part of the United States. or even
without an antidote in the shape of an
explanatio ton Of the American view
point.
Two Conferences . Day.
The complaint of the French has
called attention anew to the situation
created by the British propaganda
machinery. Besides the conferences
which the newspaper men have held
with members of the British delega-
ton. just as they have met Secre-
tary Hughes and members OF other
delegations. the British have had two
special newspaper conferences each
day. These have been carefully
timed to make available to the press
the latest information, gathered by
for the morning and afternoon edi-
tons. The conferences have been
productive Of 30 much real news that
the newspaper men-American, Brit
ish, Dutch, Japanese and all the rest
have come, to depend on them for
most of each days publicity. AL
most all Of the real important con-
ference news has either been made
public through these semi-daily SEES
sions or has been foreshadowed by
them.
These meetings have been conduct
ed by Lord Riddeli, the president Of
ton at London, and the chief news
paper friend Of Lloyd George. Tech
nically he has acted as the repre-.
sentative of the British press in their
relations to the British delegation.
He officiated in a similar capacity
Mt Paris, where he made available
he information he obtained to the
american as well as the British news
paper men.
1t was a little strange that these
Paris methods should be transferred
to the Washington conference and
that the American newspaper men
the conference through a British
medium. The State Department has
offered no objection to this pro-
ceeding and, by its failure to make
its own news available. encouraged
tho American correspondents to par
ticipate In the conferences with Lord
Riddell.
The result is that this urbane and
clever newspaper proprietor has been
responsible for cons derably more
news daily than the comb ned output
Of Messrs. Hughes. Balfour, Kato.
BRAND, and all the other Official
representatives.
The news divulged In these con-
ferences has been published with
no specific reference to its origin,
but under the mere label from
British sources" Sometimes even
this label was missing.
French Make Public Complaint.
The complaint of the French. how.
ever, concerning the fact that Lord
Riddell made public their naval de-
mands last Saturday, and that this
was followed by general attack
upon the French delegation. called
public attention to the Riddell con.
defended himself with some vigor.
Nor was there any anonymity about
his defense.
You may quote me as saying that
merely made public the informa-
ton / had" he said In explaining his
revelations. IT have always been an
opponent of secret diplomacy. I do
not mean that I am In favor of pub
fishing every high-strung word or i'll.
view that might be uttered
in q conference, but I do believe that
all proposals and decisions should be
published.
II have no objection to your say
ing that I have been sent here by
the Newspaper Proprietors' Associa.
ton as well as the Press Assoclat ton
of England to get for them as much
as possible. I held a
similar position in Paris. Naturally
the main source Of my inspiration,
such as II is, comes from the British
whom I know. But I
have other friends who often know.
in0lv Or unknOwinRly give ma fnfor