Evening star., 1921-09-04
u. S. CAPITAL TO SEE
POMP OF OLD WORLD
There Will Be Much of Glitter and Cir
cumstance About Coming Conference
on Limiting Armaments. -

mlned. But careful preparations are
being made for safeguarding the
members of the delegations while In
Washington. irrespective of the mill
tary. The city will be honeycombed
with secret service men. Congress in
making its recent appropriations for
the conduct of the disarmament con-
ference included an item of $4,000
for the protection of the visiting
delegates. This protection, be it well
understood, is against any enemies
that may follow the delegates from
their own countries. or from mis-
guided persons already in the United
States. Sim Fein demonstrations. for
instance, will not be tolerated by this
government when the British dele
cation arrives here
Following the installation of the
deiesates in their temporary homes
VIII come the first formal calls by
them upon the President and the
Secretary of s. 90 These calls will
be conducted =, great formality.
ihose of the d -7ates who at home
are accustomed - wear court uni
form Will undo,:btedly be so attired
"hen they visit the representatives
OF the United States. With eoual
lormalfty the calls will be returned
oy the American officials There will
also be calls, more or less formal,
upon the embassies of the various
governments already established here.
! President May Open 1t.
The great disarmament conference.
1t is expected. will be opened in the
fan-American building by President
Harding himself. This will undoubt-
GUY pe an open session, no matter
"nether the business sessions of the
; conference are to he opened or closed
The opening session will be brilliant
IN the extreme. The visiting deleea-
IONS ana the delegation representing
! lhe United States will be seated in
the conference hall in strict accord
ahce with their rank and rules OF
etiquette laid down by long-estab-
hsned usage. In addition to the dele
gates and their suites there will be
sathered the highest officials of the
American government at this openinx
j >SAAASA SAiSCs anu SuCn OtnGf per.
sons as may be lucky enough to OBJ
i tain admission The American Con-
sress, 1t Is expected. will be in full
swing at the time of the opening of
ene eonferepce in November, and, for
lhat matter, during the entire confer
ence. AZ many Of the members of
the Senate and House as may be ac-
commodated within the Pan-American
building will be present.
When the conference actually eets
oown to business it is expected that
secretary Hughes, the head of the
American delegation. will be the pre-
siding officer. While this is a matter
that undoubtedly will be determined
by the conference itself, it is regarded
as improbable that the courtesy of
presiding over the conference will
not be extended to the American Sec
cretary Of State.
Brilliant Social Events.
Much Of the pomp and ceremonial,
however. will be found in the activ-
ities OF the conference delegates out
side of the conference hall. 1t is ex-.
pected that during the period of the
conference. which may last three or
-FOUR months. Washington will be a
scene Of brilliant entertainments to
a greater extent than ever before in
its history. There will be the formal
entertainments accorded the delegates
by the American government. Con-
eress has provided 100000 for these
! luncheons, dinners and receptions.
But it is not unlikely that this sum
will be doubled before the conference
| concludes. Undoubtedly receptions at
the White House. with a state dinner
and possibly other forms of enter
| tainment at the executive mansion,
will be included in the list. Not un-
| likely q great banquet will signalize
| the close OF the conference.
In addition to these state enter
tainments there will be many din
ners and receptions at the various
foreign embassies here. And besides
these, there will be q myriad of un-
official but scarcely less brilliant
balls. dinners and receptions given
!! by residents Of Washington in many
Of the palatial homes that grace the
city.
At all these functions the utmost
attention will be given to etiquette
and the proper precedence of the
guests. While this government has
no grand chamberlain or other Official
major domo to see to such arrange
ments, 1t has an official in the State
Department whose particular duty it
is to see that all the proper forms
are observed. This is Charles w.
Cooke, designated as "offcer in
charge of ceremonies" Mr.. Cooke
has occupied this position for a num-
ber of years and is entirely familiar
with the forms demanded. 1t will
be his duty to see that the proper
precedence is given at oficial enter.
tainment. that the formal invita-
tions to these entertainments shall be
worded precisely as they should be,
etc.
Capital to be C0l0rful.
Washington, II plans under way are
carried. out. is to be decorated with
thousands of flags and the colors of
the nations taking part in the con-
ference. Whether any military dem
onstration will be undertaken in the
midst Of the conference which is
called to consider the question OF
limitation Of armaments is questionable.
Moreover. exhibitions in the drill hall at