The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-25

s~'s<>~ PupliC IS u lnlHE that simply can't be done.
 Tt would be just about as feasible to admit the public and correspon- dents to the actual conferences among the powers as 1t would be to permit them to sit in at 8 discus sion by tho judges of the supreme court of the United States deliberat- ing g decision on some all important case'' said an official of the ad- ministration today.
 Think of the conflicting reports that would go from the judges cham hers as the discussion proceeded. One correspondent would insist that a certain remark indicated clearly that the decision would be thus and so. Another would interpret from an en- tirely different angle. The result would be that before a decision was actually reached the public would be disturbed to disastrous degree.
 Too Many Correspondents Undoubtedly If three or four hum dred correspondents were permitted to hear all that was sad on the prob lems of vital interest affecting the nations being brought together in the Washing ton conference and to send the debates abroad with their own nationalistic interpretations attached, the conference instead of resulting in disarmament might plunge the whole world into a new war in less than 10 days"
 'Srhe conference" concluded this official, will make It's own rules. President Harding win not be a m em Der of the conference and will not attempt to dictate to 1t what it shall do in the matter of publicity, for he knows full well the difficulties that lie In the way of giving out all the proceedings prior to an actual agree ment. However, it would seem at this time that the methods of Paris may prevail again. In other words, there may be open plenary sessions which the public may attend. A daily communique giving summary of the matters under discussion and report ing such progress as has been made may be issued"
 Meantime the preparations for the meeting of the nations are proceed ing satisfactorily. according to White House authority; and Europe is look ing to the conference to have a far wider scope, and a far wider influ- ence on world affairs than the an- nounced purposes for which it was called.
 No Limit to Scope
 Clearly the impression has swept tho world that the discussions are not to be limited to disarmament, and to problems of the Pacific It is realized that Pacific problems in any event are world problems and that any discussion for instance of the Tap and Shantung affairs would open up the discussions of allied supreme council and affect World war settle nents in general.
 Russia is Pacific problem of su- preme importance, but it is also European problem, and 1t is bound to bulk large in the discussions of the Washington conference The 0eviet dictators in Russia were quick
 appreciate this fact and have pro- Vooted that they were not invited e the barley. But the United States recognizes no government in Russia today and therefore could give that unfortunate country no representa- tion in the conference.
 The smaller nations, like Belgium and Holland and some of the South American republic, are said to feel keenly their failure to receive an invitation from President Harding. They, too, believe that to all intents and purposes new world peace con- ference is about to be constituted and feel they would like to be rep resented.
 As the important possibilities of the forthcoming conference grow on the observer there is an increased sense of the responsibility of leader ship in the worlds affairs which the United States has so dramatically assumed
 Look to America ax Guide
 The nations invited to the confer ence are looking to the American delegates for guidance. The nations left out of the conference are lock- ing to the United States for explana- ton, and they will hold the United States responsible for results of the barley. as these results may affect them in the future.
 Whether it was so intended or hot President Harding has given the United States that leadership in the worlds councils which Woodrow Will son sought and for a time attained.
 Isolated America. with a new ex- pression of ideals of justice and right dolng has assumed her new role and ehis time there will be few who will wish to repudiate the honors and re- responsibilities that come with leader ship In great Humanitarian cause.
 
 PRESIDENT RETURNS
 By Associated Press
 washington. July 2f-President Harding returned to Washinefon hv