The Washington herald., 1922-06-16
Correspondents Heavily
Guarded When Near
Peace Palace.
MINOR OFFICIALS
ONLY ARE PRESENT
Foreign Minister'S Invi-
tation toTea Rejected
By Journalists.

THE HAGUE, June 1b.-The
Hague conference on Russia got of
oo a lame start on its opening day
by stirring up a row with the news
paper correspondents that would
make fine act for someone who
Is writing a comic opera libretto.
The first battle Of The Hague de-
veloped Unexpectedly between Jonk-
heer Won Karnebeek. the Dutch
foreign minister. who 10 in charge
Of arrangements, and the CORES
pondents. who were protesting
against being excluded from the 20
building and ground, Of the Car
negie Peaoe Palace. where the con-
ference is meeting.
When the British. American and
French journalists learned Of the
intention to conduct all negotiatIon.
In extreme secrecy they presentes
a note Of protest to Ksrnebeek
The FIRST two correspondents to ar
rive were refused sdmittsnce TO the
palace grounds. After insisting thar
they were entitled TO enter. they
were allowed to proceed under
guard. and other correspondents
were similarly admitted later.
onhcisls Are Astonished-
Conference oficials were aston
ished TO see the crowd OF CORES
pondenrs trooping into the saere r,
precincts and the opening OF ths-F
meeting was delayed v hile someoneE
hunted up Minister Rarnebeek. who, !,
came out into the corridor and sm-7
emnly warned the newspaper nszd
mat the meetings were to be secret
and In the future the reporters
would not even be admitted 10 thA.-
grounds surrounding the Carnesi,.-
Peace Palace. The Dutch foreEsa :
minister ;hen nsively requested the /,
newspaper men to cooperate.
In his formal address OF welcome q
TO the delegates. Minister Karne. z
peek described the task Of ThA =
Hague meeting as that Of foilowlr-
I up the Genoa conference by rnorCq
thorough study Of the ouestto,i.ar
Ieit unsettled there The taskf
viii be arduous because Of the mrs.
methods" he said. d
The opening session was eY,-.-,.
ly dull and festHreless. There y-.
complete absence Of the nicr,,r- .
esoue personalities. the orst.--cs.
pErotechnics and the brill.an; stare
setung seen at Genoa Tie dsra
gates. mostly subordinate or7ci,,s
Of their various governments me-
y assembled. sat through Ni1is,--
harneoeek's formal speech OF we
come. and adjourned.
karnebeek Tr4e. Peace.
After the meeting Minister E,r
heoeek extended an olive branch I,
the newspaper correspondent 5y
inviting them to tea. but insIs..-
plainly that they were not W..ryst;
IN the vicinity of the conference
building
Then an official Of the Dutch for e
elSn office invited the cGrrespond-
ents TO EO out into the gard - sur
rounding the Peace Palace in orde-
!" Lermit tho delegates wa w-rr
then hlinE out Of :he rnTfar no
hall TO promenade the corridors
without running the risk Of being
approached by inquisitive CORE
spondents
This was too much for the Let,
temperament OF the Mstin CORE
spondent who with a grand displa-
OF dignity thrust out his chest ana
declared.
Invitation Is Rejected.
We reject the invitation 10 "a
Into the garden
So the correspondents remained
where they were to the embarrsss-
ment of the foreign once Official
The Dutch had taken the precau-
ton 20 post soldiers at the IN
trance 70 the corridor. and thes.
Were assisted by several plsl-
clothes men. who flashed tS.-
badges as the newspaper men an.
preached. But The visitors wer-
allowed TO pass after promising noi
to 20 near the actual meeting roo,o
The correspondents here consIs-
erably outnumber the delegates
soldiers, detectives and other al.
taches.
The delegates meet tomorrow .,
BEGIN preparing for the arrival 81
the Russians. They have a mas.
OF data which must be orrsnis.d.
before the discussion with the s..
wet representatives can begin. The
Russians are due In ten dSys