The New York herald., 1921-11-13


ured emphasis. The delegates. sensing
the Importance of it. focused their eyes
directly upon the stalwart speaker and
seemed to be studying the manner of
man who had proposed the most Inn
portant reforms ever presented at one
time for the consideration of the people
Of the entire world.
Applause for the President.
1t was noticeable that while there
were frequent outbursts of applause
from the members of Congress in the
and from some of the spectators
the reporters. nol,e of the dele
gates made any attempt to join in the
One exception of this
rule was that when the President de-
clared, I'VE want less of armaments and
none of war" the delegates Of China,
Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands
clapped their hands. There was no ques-
tion, however. but that all OF the dele
gates were impressed with the sincerity
of the Presidents manner, as he outlined
the unselfish ambitions Of the people of
America. and finally said with decisive
snap of his jaws that the time for action
had come.
When the President had finished his
speech the delegates rose to their feet
and decorously clapped their hands. the
Congress contingent being the more ex-
pressive. The delegates and spectators
remained standing as the President left
the room to return to his duties at the
White House.
Mr.. Hughes, in his capacity as host,
announced that both French ard English
would be the official languages OF the
conference. He looked toward Mr.
BRAND, who sat on the south side Of the
hollow square of tables The latter
nodded and with an informality that
must have appeared strange to the
foreign delegates the decision was re-
corded to make use Of these languages.
There was an instant's pause. during
which the conference was actually with
out presiding officer. Then Mr.. Bal
four. head Of the British delegation.
arose. In a thin. precise drawl he paid
a graceful tribute to the great service
rendered by President Harding in call
ing the conference. He stood squarely
on his feet, and held the lapcls of his
coat collar with both hands. Without
loss of time, or waste Of words, he pro-
posed Mr.. Hughes for chairman and
presiding genius" to preside over the
deliberations Of the conference. In doing
so he paid this tribute to the CHIEF Of
the American foreign department, say
ing:
1.-THE President Of the United States
In a most noble address has given the
conference a lead. He has provided it
with motto, Simplicity. honesty.
honor We cannot carry. out the plans
outlined by the President unless we have
a chairman. The nation which invited
the conference should provide It's chair
man and presiding genius. 1 think the
Secretary Of State has not only these
technical rights. but personal qualifica-
tions which enable him to carry out the
duties"
Hughes Thanks Balfour.
In acknowledging the compliment.
Mr.. Hughes said: ut is with a pro-
found sense Of privilege and responsi-
bility that / accept the honor you con-
fer. Permit me to express my most
cordial appreciation of the assurances
of friendly cooperation so generously
given by all the united Governments"
The English statesman had not asked
for q vote on his suggestion, nor did
he make any attempt to reduce 1t to a
formal motion. He merely swept the
four sides of the table with his eyes,
noted that every delegate nodded ac-
quiesence, and then nodded to Mr..
Mr.. Hughes arose from the chair
which the President had vacated, and
paused for an instant, as he made a
survey OF the room, first to the right,
where in order were the American dele
gates. the French delegates, the Japan
ese delegates. and at the end of the
table to the east, the Chinese delegates.
He then turned to the left, and, begin
ming with the English delegates, who
sat Immediately next to him, permitted,
his eyes to rest in turn on the repre-
sentatives Of British provinces, Canada,
New Zealand. Australia. then Italy,
next the Netherlands, then Belgium, and
finally Portugal
1t was manifest from the casual atti-
tude Of the delegates from the innpor-
tant Powers invited by the United
pressive Of world hardships, that they
had expected merely cordial word OF
welcome, with possibly a general outline
Of the purposes of the conference.
1t did not take them long to realize
the fact that the American Secretary of
State represented an unusual type of
diplomat. Before he had spoken five
which he devoted to discussing
the past efforts made to promote
agreements. to regulate military ven
lures, and In pointing out the necessity
for decisive action in this respect. the
delegates sent by kingdoms. empires
and republics to provide a programme
for doing so. changed their minds.
Delegates Get Reni Surprise.
In other words. they sat up" and it
I.r
were in for "a real SURPRISE"
The American Secretary OF State
made a most affable beginning in
streaming the train of powder that he
eventually exploded
He gave a brief history OF the events
that had led up to the suggestions Of
the United States that the leading
Powers of the world get together and
move to the correction of world evils.
His statement was delivered in the pre-
else manner he used to employ In court.
He traced the history OF previous at
tempts 20 solve the grave problem OF
which had grown to menace
the world and enumerated in clear cut
phrases the reasons for the failure that
had always resulted.
Some of the foreign delegates actually
looked bored" for time and began
to study their neighbors and feast their
eyes upon the women scattered among
the audience. But when the Secretary
really settled down to his Job the repre-
of foreign governments shed
their air of Indifference and became
attentive. They looked at
each other with something approaching
as the Secretary. without
the slightest show OF emotion, or lifting
of voice said in cold and measuped