The daily times., 1921-11-14
WASHINGTON CONFERENCES
OPENED WITH QUIET DIGNITY
(By David LAWRENCE

Copyright, 1921, by the Times.
Washington, Nov. 12.-Without
tremor of excitement, without fri1ls
or furbelows, the greatest interna-
tional conference ever held in
America has opened.
The calm and quiet of Continental
Hall, beautifully decorated, was a
remarkable contrast to the opening
of the peace conference at Paris
There was no hurry and hustle, no
overcrowded corridors, no atmos-
phere of intense war hate-Ameri-
ca s meeting moved with well-de-
fined precision The delegates took
tieir seats ahead of time, greeting
friendliness born of many contacts
i'll the past.
President Harding was the most
conspicuous figure of the day. The
delegates listened most attentively
to his address, delivered as it was
with studied emphasis and earnest
appeal. Mr. Harding's manner was
that of petitioner. Not note of
defiance, not a phrase of compulsion
was i'll his speech. 1t was a prayer
for ''less preparation for war and
more enjoyment of peace
the galleries broke into applause
again and again as the president
drove home the points Of his address.
1t was when the President reach
ed this paragraph that he received
a great demonstrations: A.
Il can speak officially only for the
United States. One hundred mill
lions frankly want less of arma-
ment and none of war
Hardly more than 1900 persons
saw the opening bers
OF Congress-, diplomats and their
friends as Continental Hall does not
accommodate much more. Many Of
the seats had been taken out to pro-
vide room for the delegates.
When Mr.. Harding finished the
French interpreter announced in be-
half of Premier BRAND that it would
not be necessary to read the speech
in French.
In low voice, Secretary Hughes
announced that the conference was
ready for business whereupon Arthur
Balfour, head of the British delega-
tion, rose amid an outburst of
cheering.
There is a. universal practice" he
said, 'that the nation which offers
the conference hospitality shall pro-
vide the chairman and presiding
genius. That would follow any way
but the secretary of state not only
has technical right, but personal
for the high and re-
sponsible duties of the Office. II
therefore feel ON behalf Of the Brit
ish delegation that you, Mr.. Secre-
tary, should take the chair now and
hereafter in all our sessions and on
any committee of which you may be
a member"
It was something new for Wash
ing to see the dual language scheme
in operation. The French interpre-
ter was inclined to follow the Euro-l
pean custom of sitting at his desk
and reading aloud his notes. Some
one mentioned to him to stand. He
read rapidly the remarks of Mr.. Bal
four whereupon Sec. Hughes arose
and thanked the delegates for invit
ing him to become chairman.
1.-The inclusion of far eastern
questions" he said, ''was not for the
purpose of embarrassing or delay
the limitation of armament but to
reach an understanding about the far
east and if possible remove discern
ible causes of controversy.
For some time there has been
criticism because the two things
were combined and Mr.. Hughes used
the occasion to answer the critics.
He insisted that the questions at is
sue in the far east and the problems
of limitation of armament were in
separable. But the secretary an
nounced that armament questions.
would nevertheless be given prece-
dence mad hoped that both subjects
would be considered in committee
contentporaneously
M