New-York tribune., 1921-11-13
Harding's Effective Adj
dress Followed Quick.
ly by Hughes's Frank
Call for Drastic Action
Opening g Prayer
lmpresses Council
Presidents Wife, Perish
ing, Hoover and Comp.
ers at Initial Session
By Boyden r. Sparkes

WASHINGTON, Nov. 12.-The Har-
ding sequel to the peace conference that
held its formal open sessions in the
Hall of Clocks at Versailles sat to-day
about a similar horseshoe of green
topped tables in Continental Memorial
Hall, close by the White House. There
IN its first hour of existence it heard
the spokesman for the United States
propose scheme for the reduction of
navies that in its scope and definition
has no parallel in the history of the
world.
This gathering of the shrewdest
statesmen of the world listened with
amazefnent while Secretary Hughes
identified ships that America would
scrap, and told them what vessels of
tEeir own navies they were asked to
destroy, and destroy as completely as
was the divided fleet of the humbled
German Empire. 1t heard the Presi
dent OF the United States say they
we're gathered because civilization has
reached its crucial test They ap-
plauded, and there is every reason to
believe that the members Of the con-
ference, other than the Americans, ex-
pocted to hear nothing more. So the
proposal read by Secretary Hughes as
soon as he was made chairman seemed
to find them utterly unprepared.
The precious cards of admission read
that none would be seated after 1915,
when the delegates were to take their
places at the conference table, and
none were seated after that time. For
an hour before they had been gather
diplomats, generals, admirals,
scientists, Cabinet officers, Senators,
Repre- resentatives and, in addition, the
news gatherers of every land.
Notables in Galleries
Outside, the white columned portico
was seething with silk hats and frock
coats and the uniforms Of the services
of many nations. A stream of limou-
sines was depositing at the doors the
most astute leaders of the world.
Across the street, held by line Of
rope guarded by police and soldiers,
was throng eager for a glimpse of
the notables. Inside the building the
themselves herded through separate
entrances into the conference room, no
larger than the smaller bali rooms of
New York hotels.
There were three galleries. The east
gallery, which confronted the empty
chairs at the head of the horseshoe.
was filling with members of the United
States Senate and Representatives The
north gallery was for Representatives
Across from them were members of the
Cabinet and those of the Washington
diplomatic corps not included in the
conference.
There ir po roJJ.. -. A. A.,
side of the hall, but in each corner
are two boxes. In the upper one on
the north side was Mrs. Wellington
Koo,. wife of the Chinese Minister to
London and second member of the
Chinese delegation, charming in gray
frock and hat that suggested an
Egyptian headdress. Across from her
sat the wives of the American Cabinet
OFFICIALS. Mrs. Hughes, as was her
right. at the front. Beneath these
was the box containing the Chief Jus
tice and Mrs. Taft. the Vice President
and Mrs. Coolidge, the Speaker and
MIS-. Glllett and few vacant chairs.
Pershing Arrives EARLY
All these watched with deep inter
est the appearance on the floor below
of the delegates .plenipotentiary, mem
bers of the advisory committees, the
Beneath the galleries were the seats
held for the newspaper men.
General Pershlng arrived early and
with one thumb hooked beneath his
Sam Browne belt laughed and chatted
with Philippe Bunau-varilla, engineer,
attached to the French delegation as
counselor. Bunau-Varilla, who devoted
his early years to the idea of Panama
Canal, lost leg at Verdun and wears
in its place rubber-tipped peg.
Near by, Assistant Secretary of the
Navy Roosevelt chuckled at some pleas
antry uttered by Admiral De Bon of
the French navy. Herbert Hoover
passed behind them, and from the other
side of the room came Samuel Gompers,
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