Evening star., 1921-12-11
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

| ME- washington conference on
| the Limitation of armament
| from the inside, looking out,
will be public only when a
! member of the American or some
! other delegation undertakes to write
| his story of the conference.
! The Washington conference from
the outside. looking in, is another
matter. The whole world, generally
| speaking, is engaged in this occupa
( ton. More particularly, however,
| there are 4S5 newspaper correspond
ents accredited to the conference, en-
| deavoring daily to give the news of
] the conference, to interpret such
glances of the eye as may come their
way and to get the atmosphere"
Besides these observers for the press
of the world there are gathered in
Washington observers for various
political factions in the nations of
| the world. not to mention the ac-
credited diplomatic corps. who are
keeping. their countries informed of
the trend Of events. OF the 4S5 cor
| respondents accredited to the confer
ence. eighty-seven of them are from
overseas-as far as Australia, Japan,
China and India.
Looking at the conference from the
outside, there are various points from
| which a view may be taken. First,
there are the plenary, or open ses-
sions, of which there have been four
up to the present time. Second. there
are the conferences which the spokes-
men of various delegations hold daily
with the newspaper men-and women.
| Third, there are the more private con-
versations which the newspaper men
obtain individually with delegates or
persons attached to the delegations.
In view Of the demands from many
sources that the conference be con-
Quoted with the utmost publicity pos
sible, it may be said that the wish
for publicity is being granted in
very large measure.
In fact, when Secretary Hughes,
head of the American delegation.
made his memorable address at the
first session Of the conference. which
was "open," the world was aston
ished at the frankness in which he
| laid the cards on the table with refer
, ence to limitation of naval arma-
! ments, But necessarily. 1t was found,
closed sessions of the conferees
must be held at which the delegates
, could obtain information regarding
various proposals advanced and give
tb.,r views in q more or less intimate
| way
f, At the outset, therefore. a plan
was adopted by which the conference
meets in committee of the whole. for
the express purpose Of obtaining IN
! formation, and for preparing the
| various delegations for action. Ihese
| committee meetings, it was explained
! by the highest authority. are pre-
paratory to further open meetings
at which discussion and final action
NAV be taken by the conference on
.he major matters to which 1t is CIV
ing its attention. There are two major
committees of the conference-one
on the limitation Of ornaments, COM
posed of members of the delegations
of the five powers meeting on this
subject-the United States. Great
Britain, France, Italy and Japan-and
J the other on the problem of the far
east, composed Of the delegations of
the nine powers taking part in dis
! cussions Of those problems. the five
already mentioned and Belgium, Hol-
! land, Portugal and China. In way.
| this method of procedure follows the
! ordinary parliamentary procedure of
| the Senate and House. which first
consider measures in subcommittee.
, usually behind closed doors. then in
| committee Of the whole In their re-
| spective houses. usually with the
doors open, and finally in the Sen