The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-11-19
Two Subjects
To Be Decided
independently
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
copyright by The lntelligepcer')

Washington. Nov IS Tho grand
strategy, so to SPEAK. OF the United
States delegation at the Armament Con
ference ~ puzzlirE the representatives
OF the other countries This IS mostly
because they do not understand Hughes.
the .neSotiator.
The various delegations came here
with tho Idea that the United states
would not consent 10 the reduction or
her navy without HrSt having a definite
understanding OF what WAS to he done
about abroEating the Anglo-Japanese
alliance and the settlement Of Far
Eastern questions. This inference was
drawn from the language os the orig
inal invitation to the powers. When.
however, Mr.. Hughes made his famous
speech at tho opening session OF the
conference some foreign delegates
thought they detected change OF front,
for Mr.. Hughes said plainly that ne
believed the work OF the conference
could DC so distributed among commit
tees without either subject being treat
ed as \ hinderance 10 the proper conSid-
Grafton and disposition OF the other
ON that word disposition" IS based
the confident statements which have
been issuing from Washington In the
last few days that as soon rs an agree
nent on naval armament Is secured. II
would be signed without respect "a
whether 4 dehaite agreement had been
reached on Far Eastern questions.
For Mutual rruss
Those who have talked with Mr.
Hughes In the last - hours have not
found him inclined 70 discourage that
view. He seems 10 Re OF the opinion
that Il Is much wiser for the whole
conference TO look AZ the two subjects
as separate or else there will be mental
IN 10 q dew Of
subject which might interfere seriously
with the conclusion OF an agreement on
the other subject. Mr.. Hughes appears
60 ernpNa size rather the need OF mutual
trust and an atmosphere OF rriendlness
80 that no delegation will suspect the
United States. at least. OF trying TO
bargain on the naval armament To Sc
cure concessions on Far Eastern ques-
lions or vice versa.
BUT the truth IN the KEY 20 the whole
situation IS more likely TO be found IN
the mechanics OF procedure than In
enYthinE else. II agreement on
naval armament could be reached at
once. unquestionaoly the American dele
CATION would be tempted TO sign It and
put il out of the way as a concrete
achievement. But the examination by
experts takes time and members OF the
naval body with whom this respond
even a guess az 20 the time that Will
be consumed before final sigma lures can
be attached. .--.-
rs- RAstsru Question
Meanwhile the effect OF Mr.. Hughes
tactics thus far has been 70 make the
British and Japanese DELEGATIONS ut
least believe that ne is so deeply Inter
eSted IN naval armament that he would
dispose az that question quite apart
from what happens on Far Eastern
questions. American officials 10 WHOM
this view Is preached insist that the
foreign deleEa tions do not know Hughes.
the negotiator. and that II the language
OF the orIEtnsl invitation Is examined It
will be seen how important a relation
ship he conceIves Far Eastern questions
10 have with the reduction OF sea power
In the Pacific. The British and Japan
ESQ through several OF their spokesman
have given out the view that they be-
lieve the United States delegation Is 80
muCS compelled for political reasons
to point to concrete result from this
conference that they will sacrifice most
anything, Including China. 10 get an
agreement on the reduction Of naval
armament.
WIN Be Raensd
Whatever there may be to this theory
the suspicion Is growing that Mr..
Hughes will be benefited by events as
they develop rather than BY deliberate
formulas For instance, the talk among
the navy men Of protracted discussion
on the details OF the naval program
comedies nicely with the debates IN
committee concerning Far Eastern mat
ters. Another important fact TO bear
IN mind Is this: Members OF the Ameri-
can delegation IN explaining the parlia-
mentaTy rules OF the conference have
empha sized the fact that no action is
actually taken except BY the full con-
ference and that whatever Is done in
committee Is simply q corpittee report
unanimous though the agreement may
be there.
1t IS. therefore. being freely predicted
that when the committee on Limitation
OF armament reaches an agreement II
will still be necessary FOR q plenary sss-
sion 70 be held TO ratify that report.
Mr.. Hughes has been empowered to call
plenary sessions at will. The susges-
tlon L. made that when tho committee
on arma ment is ready TO report. Mr..
Hughes could Spesd up the committee
on Far Eastern questions and compel
simultaneously tho submission TO tho
full conference OF report on the gem
eral principles. at least. which should
govern International behavior In the Far
East. The Hughes tactics are far from
being revealed. open as some OF the
moves NAV seem TO he.