The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1921-12-30
DISARMING CONFERENCE
COMING TO AN END
Results So Far Amount TO Practical
ly Nothing Conference Has Been
Distinguished For Peaceful En-
pressionS And Warlike Actions.
Distrust Evident In Every Move.

DreSSiOnS And NarlhNe AcIFOiS.
DistruSt Evident In Every Move.
Washington, Dec. 29.-Withon!
reference to the merits OF the de-
merits of the our Power treaty, the
conflicting interpretations placed up
On it by President Harding on tn"
one hand and Secretary Hughes ana
other American delegates on inc
other serves to recall some out
standins facts in the history of the
conference and the making OF tn"
treaty which are of present Interest
and may be fraught with great
political Significance.
When Secretary of State Hughes
announced the concrete American
proposal for naval limitations in bat
tleships there was chorus of ap-
proyal throughout the country in
Gliding much eulogistic comment on
Secretary Hughes's craftsmanship.
Within a day or two this assumed
the proportions of presidential
boom for Mr.. Hughes. Supplement-
ing this was an undercurrent OF eX
preston from persons of prominence
gathered in Washington, mainly
from the West, to the effect that
President Harding was "one-term
President"
Then the administration publicity
bureau, which appears to be large
enough to take rank as department
with a cabinet partfolio, got busy.
An inside story" appeared in the
leading Washington administration
organ given the dramatic setting OF
the Presidential stateroom on the
Mayfiower, III which the President
had locked himself. after giving or
ders that he was not to be disturb
ed, and therein had worked out the
call for the Armament Conference.
later calling ir one by one the best
minds who accompanied him and
showed them what he had written
with frequent corrections and inter
iineations," which they read with
"amazement." 1t was the invitation
to the nations to attend the Arms
Conference.
In addition to the work of the
writer's of The inside story" Sena-
tor New OF Indiana, one of the
political strategist of the administra-
ton and Repre& entation Butler OF
Pennsylvania, gave out statements
saving Mr.. Harding anG not Secre-
tary Hughes was responsible.
The Associated Press, which, OF
course, was let in on the INSIDE
Story said:
1T was carried into execution by
the American Big Four, which Sec
rotary Hughes heads, but the big
idea on which the plan is built ac-
cording to the inside story came
from President Harding"
Naturally the Hughes boom for
President received a sudden check,
but only temporarily, when it again
proceeded under reduced speed.
The next publication calculated to
acnesthetize the Hughes boom ap
peared in another administration Or
gan under the headlines Harding Is
Strategist of Arms Farley" with
Secretary Hughes relegated to the
position of 'ttactican."
The relative status of President
Harding and Secretary Hughes is
thus described in the story referred
to:
But when the zero hour came
and our confe1e nce "A E. F. had to
go over the TOP, Mr.. Harding sent
Charles Evans Hughes into the
breach, panaplied in the unqualif1e ::
trust that has to be reposed in 4
field marshal. On November IL, the
President went to Continental Mem
orial Hall, surveyed the field of oper-
alton, gave The signal for the attack
with soldierly brevity and inodesty
and then left the scene"
In this story it was developed that
the scheme foc the reduction Of bat
tleships was drawn by the Navy De-
partment, but as the story said,
President Harding approved the
limitation program, item by item, as
the program eventually was SUBMIT
ed to him."
In whatsoever way these stories
may have indicated or reflected the
political attitudes of the TWO men
with relation to each other, this ex-
tract from the second story. at least
is interesting.
Statesmen like Balfour, Briand
Viviani, Beatty, Foch and lesser cor
ference lights who saw Woodrow
Wilson in action at the Peace Confer
Cnce frankly are amazed at the il
vincible seclusion in which Warren
G. Harding is holding himself. Many
Of them fancied that as the White
House literally is across the street
from the Conference. the figure and
personality of the President would
at least be visible if not paramount.
They have hardly been able to &C
count for the conspicuous absence of
the Harding note in conference at
fairs"
The next conference achievement
was the Four Power treaty which
q gain brought Mr.. Hughes into the
llmelight politically. Again the press
generally began to comment upon
Mr.. Hughes craftsmanship and
great credit was given him in many
quarters, although Senator Lodge
was permitted to air his literary con-
dition in announcing it at the plenary
session; also, despite the fact that
suggest a three power arrangement
in the Pacific.
A few days later, comes the lead
ing administration organ in Wash
ington with a! other inside story"
under the headlines Harding
Sketched Four Power Pact Formula
Last Winter"
It is set forth therein that months
ago President Harding at a confer
ence of the best minds" at Marion
outlined the leading light" theory
on which the new treaty is based.
The leading light theory, by the way
is thus explained in the latest I'm
side story"
1T is the Presidents theory that
democracy, but the town meeting
act effectively only through small
committee of it's leading lights"
Referring to the report that thu
Four Power plan originated with
Great Britain this latest inside