The Washington times., 1921-11-02
SENATORS
FLAY ARMS
MEET VEIL
Secret Sessions Denounced and
Open Door Urged as Con-
ference Nears.

ference Nears.
BY J. BART CAMPBELL.
international Now. Service.
Senator'S who are urging that the
fullest publicity be given to what
ever transpires at the conference on
limitation of armament and Far
Eastern problems were aroused to-
day by semi-official advices reaching
them that public or open sessions OF
the conference will be few and far
between
VIII Protest vigorously.
They declared that they were pre-
pared to protest vigorously IL IL de-
veloped that while the opening session
will probably be public, those there
after will be mostly closed, or secret.
except for an occasional open one IN
funded to satisfy public opinion.
J, Senator Borah, Republican, said: Il
shall never believe that the confer
eDce will be held In secret at any time
until the doors are closed upon the
public. The report that the CONFER.
ence will be held largely behind
closed doors seems incredible TO me-"
Senator La Toilette, Republican. OF
Wisconsin, said: "I am loath to be-
lieve that any one is contemplating
secret sessions. but IL it should prove
true that the conference Is to be held
chiefly behind closed doors, then there
will be at least several OF us In the
Senate who will be found hammering
hard upon those doors"
Capper Raps Secret Diplomacy"
Kansas. said: ''I am unqualifiedly
in favor of public sessions and
publicity for the conference. For
any secret sessions to be held would
have a most deplorable effect upon
public opinion, not only in this coun-
try. but throughout the world. Sure
Iy we have had too much Of secret
diplomacy already without any one
making the fatal mistake Of attempt
ing to inject 1t into conference
at which the great masses OF the
peoples Of the whole civilized world
will have so much at stake"
Senator Walsh. Democrat. Of Mas
sachusetts, said: ''The American
people might as well abandon all
hope Of any successful settlement OF
the grave international questions
which the conference has been called
10 consider IL its sessions are not
to be public, and all Of the speeches,
arguments, contentious. deliberations,
decisions and votes which occur at
it are not given the fullest publicity.
/ and subjected to the completest
scrutiny Of the peoples Of the entire
world"
Open Session Only Way.
Senator johnson Rep) of California
said: There's one thing that makes
possible real accomplishment, and that
Is the enlightened public opinion Of
the world. There's but one way in
which world public opinion can operate
upon the conference, and that Is by
publicity. The first act of the con-
ference, the essential initial step, is to
decide upon open sessions and full
publicity.
Secret diplomacy will control
secret sessions Public opinion the
real desire for limitation of arma-
ments, will control. direct and COM
mand open sessions. Peoples the
world oxer believe in and demand the
lesseningN Of armaments. Rulers Of
the people are skeptical and cynical.
Rulers will win in the dark; peoples in
the open."
Says Public Wants Information.
Senator Ladd (Non-Part. Rep) of
North Dakota said: THE people, with
out regard to party or creed, want full
information Of every step taken by
the conference. To the fullest possible
extent, consistent with national well
fare, the conference should be public,
and at all times full and accurate in
formation should be furnished to the
press and the public.
''There should be no secret agree
ments or understandings between the
delegates representing the nations
participating in the conference II we
are to hope in the future for possible
world peace, reduced armament and
lessened taxes for armies and navies
which are now forcing the nations to
4, The verge Of bankruptcy"
H4~~ Says Secrecy IntoIerable.
Senator Owen Dem) Of Oklahoma.
said: "The conference must be held
in public. Secret sessions will not
be tolerated by public opinion. The
issues at stake ar too vital to future
peace to permit them to be settled
by secret intrigue and by secret
bargains. The cards must not be
stacked, they must be spread out
on the table where all can see
them. Free nations whose peoples
pay the cost of war in blood and
treasure have a right TO know what
their representatives are saying and
doing at the conference"
Harrison For open Door.
Senator Pat Harrison Dem) Of
Mississippi, said; Newspaper rep
resentatives should at least be freely
admitted to every session Of the
conference, in order that the public
may be kept fully informed as to
what Is going on, and know IL
anyone impedes progress, or thwarts
the purpose Of the conference, so
that world condemnation may fall
upon those responsible for standing
I'm the way OF world peace"
Senator Kellogg Repp OF Mime.
sofa, said: II hope the conference
will, so far as practicable. be open,
and that it's proceedings will be
made public so we will know from
day to day the principal consider
ations governing the nations par.
ticipating."
Lodge Not So Keen On Franltness.
The attitude of Senator Lodge OF