Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-02-02

4 L
lakoff S room through halls that echoed
our footsteps. In great, sombre room,
lighted only by a desk lamp in one cor
ner, stood the lonesome figure of Keren-
sky's envoy.
He is big, vital sort of person, but
he looked as lonesome as big Russia
| looks now on the world IS map.
Despite thick beard he looked youth
full. The beard itself, jet black and short
was ragged; it had the appearance of
being tolerated as something unavoid-
able, but not encouraged.
The interview proceeded, after a
brief try-out in French and another in
French English in straight Russo Eng
/ lish. M. Maklakoff was not happy in
English and its extended use proved
something of an ordeal for him, but
he stuck heroically to the task. He con-
fined himself to simple statements-nOt
in woros of one syllable, of course, for
in foreign tongue it ism t the short
words that usually are easiest but the
long ones-and made pretty fair prog
ress in elueidating the subject, How
Can America Best Help Russia?''
The use of both arms aided him a
good deal and the ambassador also APP
peared to benefit by sitting first on
one foot and then on the other. But he
WASH It satisfied that he had made him
self clear, though he had done so per-
fectly.
As l was leaving there entered a
blonde-mustaehed gentleman. The am
bassador seized him with joy, waved me
back to my chair, and shot stream of
Russian at the newcomer. The latter
then, in correct Oxford English, re-
peated it to me. 1t was exactly what
the ambassador had evolved in his own
struggle with the English language.
When told him so he was greatly pleas
ed.
/ Vance Mccormick admitted today
that being an international conferee is
in some ways harder than running a
newspaper OF electing a president. His
particular job, much like that of min
lister of blockade, is undoubtedly one of
the hardest the president had to bestow,
since it involves the disposal of Amer
ica's product not only to the best ad-
vantage of America and the allies, but
with the least damage to the friend
ship of the neutrals.
Dlned at the Cafe de la Paix. Just
finishing, about OILS, when in steamed
squadron of the U. s. navy, with a
flagship in the shape of large, ser
ious gentleman with o South Carolina
accent. l heard the accent across the
room as the Flagship endeavored to ar
range to take ON supplies for himself
and party. The Southern drawl is beau
tiful thing, but it isn't French. The re-
suit was a deadlock The officer Is eyes
roved around the room till they caught
mine and he called out across the heads
/ of all intervening diners.
"Do you speak Enghsh?"
"American, l responded
"My name S Mosher, - said the Flag
ship. q We re just off train after rid
ing all day and we re hungry enough to
eat grizzly bear, hide, and all l we
tried to tell these people, but they don It
understand Maybe you can help"
! l could for I'd heard the head wait
ter talking excellent English only few
minutes before.
Paris Nov. 29.--WeH, I've just
about seen them all. They were there
this morning and if Il didn It see all of
them it was because. they came so fast
one pair of eyes couldn It take them in.
Or because occasionally one particular
| lfaee-like Cadorna s, for instance
was bound to snag one S attention to
the exclusion of the others.
With a little imagination it is pos
sible to see in Cadofna s face the whole
story of the war. Rugged and gnarled
in outline and scanned with the lines
made by trouble-trouble, trouble-hard
thinking and unacceptable responsibility,
it is yet a cool and confident counten-
ance. His eyes, seen in the shadow of
his cap S vicer, are clear and sure. And
there is no sag in his chunky shoulders.
He was the center of one group of
Italians that stood for moment in the
ante room off the room of the Minis
/ tere des Affaires Etrangers before pass
/ ing into the Interallies conference
room. The new premier Orlando and
Baron Sonnino led another group
through the crowd of quiet well dress
ed spectators into the building.
The ante room filled up rapidly and
soon was almost crowded. 1t was a col
orful scene, the brilliant uniforms of
the generals few less than generals
were present-being set against Oeeas-
| ional backgrounds Of black and white,
such as DR.. Alonzo Taylor, Bainbridge
Colby, MIR. Balfour and Lord BERTHE, foi
example. The japanese, Col. Tavaka,
and others, furnished the needed rest
/ full green, their Khaki having some
/ thing of green in it, enough in fact to
lend that color to their sallow brown
faces.
Saw them ALL General Chang -TsaiLi,
of China, and Popovich of Montenegro
Generals Petain and Foch Of France,
/ Lord Miner, Gen. Sir Henry Wilson
and the rest from England, Prince Cha
room OF Siam, Premier Venizelos, Of
Greece, and Sevastopoulo from Russia.
In all there were close to hundred.
( Didn t see Clemenceau, he apparently
entering the council chamber directly
from his private office. Was sorry;
wanted to see the Ally who sets his
face against League of Nations.
/ The confelees stood about the big
room in separate groups. Occasionally
the eyes of one group strayed toward
another, but the amalgam hadn t begun
to work.