The New York herald., 1921-11-29
LOOKING IN
on the conference
Cooperation of Hughes and Balfour Forms the Solid
Rock of the Observation-Disclosures Influence
Adds to Powerful Concord.

agreeably disappointed several cynics
who predicted that the proceedings
would be Paris all over again. Secrets
are hard to keep in the great whisper
ing gallery OF Washington. The truth
leaks out, as the honorable Senators
know full well from their experience
with executive sessions. Somebody al
ways tells. 1t reminds one of what Brer
Renus said. you kin hide de fire, but
wat you gwine do wild de smoker"
1t is the publicity and the straight
forward methods with the press em-
ployed BY the President, Mr.. Hughes.
Lord Riddell, speaking for the British ;
Sir Robert Borden for the Canadians,
Mr.. Pearse for Australia and others
scarcely less responsible that has dis
couraged the carpers and GROWERS.
A witty F'renchman talking about the
Chinese problems raised at the confer
ence said: you know this motto The
open door is good deal like doormat
with Welcome written upon 1t. 1t looks
bully. 1t is soul satisfying to the strapg-
er on the threshold. But you notice that
1t contains no promise of what the
stranger is going to get when he gets
inside"
The simplicity of the White House
amazes most of the foreign guests. The
absence of pomp and ceremonial is sim
ply astonishing to them. They are not
used to residences Of rulers unguarded
by soldiers with bayonets. In and around
the White House the only suggestion of
guards are few policemen who make
themselves as inconspicuous as police
man can and few secret service men.
They see the President entering or de-
parting with no fanfare of trunpets
and with perhaps only q single guard.
They sometimes see Mrs. Harding walk
ing in the gardens at the back OF the
noble home of Presidents. usually quite
unattended. And they find that anybody,
by asking for the privilege. may obtain
the right of walking through the stately
and beautiful rooms of the lower floor,
rooms fragrant with history.
Not much has been said since the con-
ference began of the Hon. Henry Prather
Fletcher. Yet he is Hughes's right hand
man and has singularly proved his worth
as Under Secretary of State. He has
lived a life, has Fletcher. He was
Charge d'Affaires at Pekin and was ii
close friend of the late Willard Straight.
who knew China as few Americans have
ever known il. Then he became Anbas-
that service came to the State Depart-
ment to take some OF the great burden
from the shoulders of Mr.. Hughes. His
career may be said to have begun as a
trooper of Roosevelt's Rough Riders.
The United States is doing n little
navy scrapping without reference to the
proceedings or outcome OF the confer
ence. The news that Schley's flagship In
the Battle of Santiago, the cruiser
Brooklyn, is soon to be sold as junk
revives many memories. She was a
wonder in her day. fast and powerful for
the times, but she Is twenty-six years
old now and hopelessly obsolete. With
her go n group of even more ancient
vessels, including the queer sea fighter
seilors used to call My Aunt Won't
Know Me-" the monitor Miantonomah-
1--WE accept in principle" is a now
familiar diplomatic phrase. 1t Is agree
ment with hole left for the mouse TO
get out. Somebody asked Chinese del
lomat to-day what the significance Of "in
principle is. used automatically. I'll
tell you" said the Chinese. smilingly.
when we say we accept in principle we
mean what you Americans mean when
you talk about prohibition"
Possibly the disappointment said to
be felt by Latin American countries be-
cause they were not invited TO take part
in the conference is due to their owner
ship of twenty-twenty-f -firsts OF the Pan
American Building where the important
work takes place. 1t is natural fo- one
to feel that he should be invited to a
party ia his own house.