The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-05-11
STATESMEN
ADOPT u. S. METHODS
OF INFORMING PUBLIC
PALLADIUM NEWS BUREAU

WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE re-
cent action of Premier Lloyd George
of Great Britain in addressing the 100
newspaper men assembled at Genoa
from all parts of the world, was sig
nificant to the corps of Washington
newspaper correspondents. 1t meant
to them that European statesmen have
adopted the American method of keep
ing the public informed concerning
governmental activities through the
press.
The foreign delegates and newspa-
per men who came to Washington to
attend the conference on the limitation
of armaments and far eastern affairs
were greatly impressed when they
learned that President Harding held
conferences with representatives of
the press twice each week, and that
Secretary of State Hughes received
press representatives daily to keep
them informed on the progress of the
I conference. The foreign statesmen,
hparticularly the British, quickly real
| lied the possibilities of frank commun-
ication with the newspaper writer's,
an innovation to them and seized upon
all opportunities with avidity.
Liked American Idea
Lord Riddell, spokesman for the
| British delegation to the Washington
| conference, himself newspaper own
er, particularly relished the American
| idea of cooperation between govern
ment and press. He met the cores
pondents at least once each day, some
times oftener. and scored more than
one point in favor of the British dur
ing the negotiations. 1t is, therefore,
no surprise to the Washington news
| writer's that Lloyd-George finds 1t con-
venient to meet with the newspaper
men at Genoa.
Members of the French delegation
at Washington noted with interest the
! close relations existing between the
! American government and the press,
but the French throughout their stay
in Washington held aloof from inti-
mate contact with the correspondents.
Dispatches from Paris this week indi-
cate that the Poincare government in
/ tends to recall the French ambassador
to Washington, Jules Jusserand being
convinced that French interests were
not properly represented by the
French delegation to the Washington
conference.
Jusserand was member OF the dele
CATION. Paris dispatches emphasize
the fact that French criticism of Am.
bassador Jusserand includes the charge
that recent misunderstanding be-
tween France and the United States
are due in a measure, to the fact that
the French position has not been pre-
sented to the American people be-
cause Jusserand has never put forth
any effort to establish relations with
the American press.
Points to Possibilities
1t is noted that Lloyd George took
occasion to suggest to the writer's at
Genoa their grave responsibility in the
i, premises and their power to work
good or evil through their dispatches
and comments. No doubt Balfour and
other members of the British delega,
ton at Washington had told him OF
! the effect of the newspaper writer's
, work at the arms limitation confer
ence. There was some trouble-mak
ers in that group, but the preponder
ing representation was of men and
women earnestly intent Upon contrib
/, uting to the success of the conference
!, for the sake of humanity. And that
! they did so was acknowledged by the
: spokesmen of all nations.
! 1t is safe to say that there is moi
a more conscientious or patriotic
: group of workers for the general goo6
than the hundred or more men anC
! women writer's who meet with Presi
dent Harding every Tuesday and Fri
c day and hear him answer the writer
questions they have previously sub
mitted. In this group are Republican!
and Democrats and men without any
/ political affiliations, but not once il
/ one hundred times is question sub
! mitted which has political flavor.