The Washington herald., 1921-11-26
FARLEY. SUCCESS
ISPREDICTED BY
WICKHAM STEED
Conditions Favorable to
Thwarting Efforts of
Powerful Foes.
BY WICKHAM Sized.
Editor of the London Times.

Editor of the London Times.
I said the other day that the con-
ference was becoming interesting.
1t has now become very interest
ing. People IMMERSED in the ways,
OF, rather, the waywardness Of con-
ferenCes, may think the position
critical. and may grieve or rejoice
over II according to their desires
for its success or their hopes for It's
failure.
1t is useless to disguise the fact
that powerful influences in many
countries are working, directly and
indirectly. to wreck the conference
but l believe that the influences
making for it's substantial success
are stronger still, and that they
will prevail. Hence l cannot feel
alarmed at the crisis" which is
ina Sined to exist. because none Of
the serious elements in the situation
seems to be intraCtable. If treated
in good humor and with good will;
and also because several Of the dis
turbinr factors are mutually con-
Trajectory and serve to cancel each
other.
Lists Disturbing Factors.
A brief list Of disturbing factors
that have arisen during the last
few days may be valuable. Taken
roughly. in chronological order,
they are:
l. Development of an anticonfer-
ence campaign in the American
press, a section of which is striving
to prove that the Limitation OF ar
4 g.
America. and that the United States
should have no truck with European
nations. which are always quarrel
ing among themselves. The dele
gates are also being bombarded
with prOpaEandist circulars DE-
siEned to create friction between
the United States and Great Britain,
on the one hand. and between ia
pan and the United States on the
other.
.. Despite the excellent impress
sion made by NJ. Brands speech
and by Mr.. Balfour's and Mr.
Hughes replies on Monday. a promi-
nent British publicist assured Amer
lean readers that France is incor-
rightly militarist and that, II she
wants submarines. it is in order to
make war on England.
Relating to Naval Strength.
3. On the authority Of some
French delegates, France was
stated to desire a fleet equal to
the apanese-besides maintaining
the largest army in Europe.
4. Japan was alleged to be in
sistins on having a navy equal to
20 per cent of the American or
the British naval strength.
;. Italy showed a disposition to
demand a fleet equal to that Of
France Her spokesman in the con-
ference was reported to have irri-
tated the French by proposing a
general resolution against land
ornaments. which NJ. BRAND re-
jected unless express mention
should be made Of the special po-
sitiOn Of France
6. VI. BRAND. who had toned down
the inGiscreet utterances Of other
French delegates. said testify to an
American journalist that IL the
British want 100000 tons Of capital
ships in order to fish for sardines,
France wants her full quota OF
submarines to study undersea fora
for the benefit OF French botanical
societies.
Threat of Chinese Withdrawal
:. The Chinese threatened to
withdraw from the conference If
an alleged. but unauthorized. Brit
ism suggestion for the establish
ment Of international financial
supervision in China is pressed.
g. The ghost Of American do
mestic politics invaded the confer
cnCe in the shape Of a threat from
a prominent Democrat organ that
if the Harding administration at
tempts 10 evade the control of the
Senate over arrangements that
may be made by the Washington
conference there will be trouble in
store.
. Lord Curzon in London lee
tured France on the folly of her
conduct
10. Reports reached Washington
that British armament firms are
opposing the limitation Of naval
ornaments.
Points illustrate Conditions.
These ten points" are not ex-
haustive. but they may serve to il
lustrate the conditions under which
delegates, wearied by social enter
tainments, stewed in hot rooms and
refrigerated by drafts Of cold air
are attempting to perform their
appointed task Fortunately, those
among them who have experience
of international conferences are not
likely to be upset or bewildered
Crises occur in every important
conference. They prove only that
serious business is on hand. 1t may
be a positive advantage that cross
currents should be revealed and
enmities exposed at a comparative
" early stage in the proceedings
The forces that make for concord
enCe in its major tasks. can thus
be marshalled and directed in such
a way as to overcome resistance
and to discomfit opponents.
Foes Numerous and Powerful.
This does not mean that patient
. care and much good temper will not
be needed if pitfalls are to be
avoided. The enemies of the con-
ference are certainly numerou:
and powerful The attitude to-
wards it OF the intangible force
known as international finance, OF
the pro-German and pro-Bolshevik
persuasion. is by no means clear
or. at least. it is not clear that a
certain species OF international
fnancier desires harmony between
England and France, the British