The Washington times., 1921-11-12

the focal center OF civilization.
Hundreds OF millions OF hearts beat
faster wherever the printed word car,
ries, meaning as the news is flasneu
that the foremost statesmen OF ni1e
great powers are seated here 10 plot
ways and means OF curbing the anci-
ent and hideous business OF war.
Within ten PAGES OF the seat where
these lines are being written the
President OF the United States sits
surrounded by the leaders OF poiiucai
thought and governmental action III
Great Britain, France, Italy, Japan,
Belgium, Netherlands. PortguaI' anu
China.
With arms extended I'm hospitable well
come, our tall and dignified Chief Exc
cutiye is In the act OF explaining the
purposes and aspirations OF this
epochal gathering. eloquently pleading
for n safer and happier day Tor man
kind. and he assures these rpen that
America has no silfish aim TO serve
seeks no advantage over her nelghbors
OF the seven seas, and desires oniy
common relief from hates, wastes, and
horrors Of armed warfare"
Yet, this Is not peace conference
IL In not a disarmament conference
We do not know today what II may
portend. beyond the officially 49,
nounced agenda which formally speci-
fies discussions OF Limitation OF ar
mament' and. Pacific and Far East
ern questions.
Those who sit here intently watch
the effect of the Presidents words
upon the facts OF the japanese dele
eates-inscruitable, ga what Americans
call poker faces" Is IL true that the
questions which lie between America
and Nippon are seeds OF war, and that
the danger is imminent II understand
ing is not reached? Are these white
and yellow men at this green table
using this occasion to forestail coh-
flict? Will they succeed?
We who observe look into the faces
Of the delegates from Great Britain,
headed by the aged but hale Balfour,
at home familiarly called Boss, be-
cause he is a power behind the throne,
and wonder what the possibilities and
limitations are for a discontinuance OF
the Anglo, japanese alliance. the tie
which binds our English cousins 10
the Japs, known to be fundamental
point at issue here.
Balfour is a genial old man. He
reminds you Of a Dickens character
in the atmosphere Of steaming plum
pudding, a glowing hearth and good
cheer. No cloud OF worry seems
ever to cross his placid brow. lie
Is the ripe product OF almost half
a century OF the richest experience
of the old diplomacy. He and our
Mr.. Hughes seem to understand
each other.
There Is no diplomatic mask on
America, France. England. or Japan.
or any nation represented, concern.
, ing the urgent need of economic
retrenchment in the war business.
Balfour expresses II as sort OF
| rut." out OF which the world must
be pushed.
World war debts have all but
prostrated Europe and everywhere,
| our countrymen the least, citizens
are bitterly denouncing lean earnings
and staggering expenses. The end
| OF war taxes nowhere can be fore
cast. There must be action by
governments that would endure.
ness will move rapidly. though
weighty problems are involved.
Myriad speculations concerning the
| possibilities OF this conference, in
volving an ultimate expansion OF
| the agenda, flood the mind. Little
is known today, but the story prom
ises rapidly to unfold.
This opening session presents a bril-.
| liant scene. Only 1900 people can be
accommodated in this hall, which Is
| the home of the d. A. r. The color
| scheme consists OF foreground OF
grass-green carpeting and a back
ground CT high white walls. The deco
| ratiNSs are palms and masses of au.
/ tumn leaves on cut branches. The
flags Of nine participating powers and
the banners Of our forty-eight States
| emblazon the walls. Magnificent por-
traits of Martha and George Wash.
| ington face the delegates from the
west wall. There are no garlands, no
| cut flowers.
| President Harding sits at the center
head OF the big conference table, flank
ed by Hughes. Root, Lodge, and Tn
| derwood. The chair he occupies Is an
exact replica Of the chair used by the
| Continental Congress at the time the
|
ed. This will be the chair of the
! chairman of this conference.
=
To the right sits BRAND and his as
sociates from France. Seven times
| has this remarkable Socialist served as
premier OF France, always resigning,
never accepting defeat. He is calm
today. He will have much that ~
vital to say during the coming weeks.
/ Admiral Baron Tomasaburo kato,
slight OF figure, Prince Iyesato Toku.
gawa, large and rotund and Baron
| ShidehaIs, the genteel japanese am.
bassador, and their expert assistants
sit beyond the French.
All Washington would have paid
football scalper prices for tickets OF
admission, but only few OF the
choicest elect could be admitted. In
spite of drizzling rain curious
crowd gathered in seventeenth
street, held back by regulars with
| guns. to see the mighty enter.