The Washington herald., 1921-08-30
LORD NORTHCLIFFE
TELLS OF TRUST IN
SECRETARY HUGHES
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new Mr.. Hughes" Probably Mr..
Hughes himself is unconscious of
any change, save perhaps the
change in conditions and circum-
stances.
Time has worked upon him as IL
works on US all, mellowing US and
qualifying the absolutism of our
early notions, bevelling the sharp
edges of our likes and dislikes: but
It seems not to have silted, up
the deep channels of his convictions
or troubled the clear how of his
thought.
Insists Upon "Interests.o
The failures of others may, how
ever. have taught him that the
surest way to attain a lofty end is
not always to proclaim its loftiness
in advance. He may have learned
that the presence of a spice Of self
interest. national or individual, Is
often helpful in persuading men OF
worth and of ethical principles.
Hence, perchance, his insistence
upon the interests" of the Unite 4
States as the main concern of Mr..
Harding's administration.
When the full catalogue of those
interests" comes TO be made up,
there may be found among therI
such matters as the promotion of
good will among nations. the assur-
ance of peace in the Pacific, and
the elimination Of armaments among
the powers chiefly interested"
Keeps Foothold on Earth.
Thus. unless l misjudge him. Mr..
Hughes way of approach to the
stars is from the solid earth; and
he is unlikely for a single moment
to lose his foothold in any attempt
to touch the vault OF Heaven at a
bound.
The greatest politiacl mind in
American public affairs in the last
sixty years." was the considered
judgment of one who has worked
and now works with him daily, and
who is no mean judge of men.
Certainly he and his friend, Presi-
dent Harding, have wrought a pro-
found change in the position of the
United States since last spring.
The end of the Wilson regime
found American public opinion dis
illusioned and inclined to cry: ITO
thy tents, oh Israel whenever CO.
operation with foreign countries
was suggested. Nevertheless, Mr.
Harding and Mr.. Hughes have re-
stored the American representative
to his seat in the supreme council
and issued invitations to the prin-
cipal allies and associates of the
war to meet in conference for the
purpose of discussing disarmament
and the questions of policy in the
Pacific.
Realizes importance of Issue.
Henceforth the figure of Mr..
Hughes will stand out against the
background of the conference in
Washington. The ill-inforned sug-
gest that when the idea of the con-
ference was first mooted, President
Harding's administration did not
realize how big a business they had
set afoot. Those who hold this view
cannot have discussed the confer
ence with Mr.. Hughes. He sees that
it ses--and that it cannot win
out disaster, fail TO s.'tie-issue!
more Immediately dangerous thar
any with which the Paris conference
had to deal.
1t is he who will be in direct con-
| NoSl WIN lSSuSS ana Win IHt
statesmen delegated by the other
powers to attend the conference. He
may be trusted to use to the full
all the force of his keen intellect
! all the impartiality of the dis.
cernment he acquired as a judg,
of the Supreme Court. all the depth
OF his convictions, and all his politi.
cal experience to lead the confer,