The New York herald., 1921-11-29
CALLS HUGHES SAFE
In CONFERENCE PLAN
Paris Writer Has Faith in Pro-
posal to Turn Farley Into
Permanent Body.
ny GEORGES LIE CHARTER.
Correspondent Journal dcs Deoats.

correspondent Journal des Debats.
Special Despatch TO THE NEW York HuaALp.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington. ID. G., Nov rs. !
When the status Of nervousness and
confusion which seems to prevail at
present on the other side of the water
shall have quieted down, when the local
conflicts which have arisen all of a
sudden in many places, and which ap-
pear to have been caused by some mis-
quotations or Observation-Disclosures OF ut
terances In Washington. shall have been
settled, when reason and careful study
will take back the places which they
never should have yielded to prejudice
and passion. great fact will remain.
II is the notable progress made when
Mr.. Hughes announced last Friday that
some new sessions may be expected after
the recess OF the present conference has
been agreed upon and in the near future.
As well could be imagined the an
nouncement caused q sensation which
took little time to spread all over the
world. 1t does not appear that the
thought OF Mr.. Hughes has been ade-
quately understood everywhere. OF
course it would be premature or pre-
sumptuous 70 try to explain 1t. for he
himself undoubtedly will do so when the
time has come.
But there is a point which has been
widely discussed here and which may
create a new and unfortunate niisunder-
standing on our side OF the water. It
seems urgent to take a clear sight of the
facts. IL 1t is not too late. II has been
said that should the conference OF
Washington become permanent II would
either have to fight against the existing
League of Nations or progressively be
drawn into and drowned In 1t. May we
not suggest at first that 1t seems rather
unlikely that Mr.. Hughes should not
have imagined the alternative. And
would II not be astonishing that being
we'll aware. as he Is. OF the political
conditions and Of the intentions of the
Senate in his country, knowing better
than anybody else the opposition which
has prevailed here for the last two years
against any attempt from one Admins
tration or another to mix the United
States with the European League of
Nations, would It not be astonishing II
he suddenly decided to ignore and over
look all this?
AS one has only to consider the
method. which he has carefully kept in
force from the opening of the conference
until now, to be sure that he never al
lowed new progress OF inc conferences
unless the previous steps were strength
ened and any revolt made almost inn
possible. the suggestion may look too
futile to be considered.
After all we know OF the man. after
all we know of his previous and unceas-
ingly logical work, we are certainly safe
IL we venture to say that he has long
ago foreseen all the difficulties, and if he
has gone through II Is because he has
already found the way out. What can
be this way?
! do not think ! shall reveal anything
or commit any indiscretion IL l recall
that great institution exists in this
country and which is composed of the
most distinguished international jurists
under the presidency OF Elihu Root. the
American Institute of International Law.
IL / remember correctly some of the
men at the head OF the institute had
foreseen. as far back as 1917, and before
any serious talk about the constitution
OF the League of Nations had taken
place. that any association which should
entangle the United States In European
affairs not only had but little chance
TO be spontaneously accepted by the
American people but was doomed to fail.
They had conceived q great plan after
the model OF the postal system. which
being worldly. leaves all liberty and
freedom to the nations which are menu
be-s OF the union. 1t seems that this
first plan has been worked upon again.