The New York herald., 1921-11-25
PROPAGANDA POURS AGREEMENT TO Bind
OUT OF CONFERENCE 5-5-S SWARSHPRATIO
Unofficial Statements Made Conference Plans to Have
by Men in Interest Of Inspectors See That Quota
Various Nations. Is Not Exceeded.
CALLED TEST BALLOONS COMPROMISE FOR TOXIC
Far East and the Anglo Plea for 10 p C. Extra in
Japanese Pact Provide Capital Vessels Likely to
Chances for 'Feelers. Win Something.
HUGHES IS HAMPERED SUB TONNAGE IS UP SOON
Must Be Guarded in Statements Delegates Will Likely Consider
Because of His Position 'Vipers' First in Final
as Leader. Compromise.
Far East and the Anglo
Japanese Pact Provide
Chances for 'Feelers.'
HUGHES is HAMPERED
Must Be Guarded in Statements
Because of His Position
as Leader.

New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. c.. Nov. "a.
The washington conference has
reached the stage of propaganda and
misinformation.
With the first shock Of the bold and
unexpected announcement of the
Hughes plan for naval holiday worn
off. the busy news purveyors of all
nationalities have settled down to
hard work. 1t is possible to hear any
sort of report and to get what looks
for the moment more or less like a
confirmation Of it.
President Harding and the Ameri-
can delegations have been doing their
best to keep the conference on the
high plain Of international coopera-
ton and mutual understanding. But
1t is difficult task. Jealousies of
nations. large and small. are showing
in many unexpected places. Nations
and persons with axes to grind and
others with the stones to grind them
on are everywhere in evidence.
Without going into too many details
or mentioning Names 1t may be ex-
planned that all of the nations repre-
sented at the conference and some which
are not have their unofficial press
agents. They also have their official
representatives Of course, who talk to
the 400 or 500 newspaper men in meas
ured and carefully chosen language and
whose utterances may be relied upon to
reflect pretty accurately the real views
of their Governments.
Stories as Trial Balloons.
But these official representatives are
prevented by the very nature of their
position from talking freely. Not so with
the unofficial representatives who are
none the less representatives Of their
Governments These men never permit
themselves to be quoted, but they talk with
great show Of freedom to the groups of
correspondents and do not hesitate to ex-
press their views. They always preface
their answers to questions with some
remark like this: 'Of course, you must
remember that am not to be quoted and
that am only speaking for myself, but
it seems to me that the situation is thus
and so. &c, &C."
1t is through these propagandists that
the foreign delegations feel out" public
sentiment They send UP trial bal
looms and after their suggestions have
seen the light OF day In print they are
In position either to deny them, as not
reflecting the real position Of their Gov
ernments, or to drive the idea in deeper.
If the first reaction has been favorable.
Just now the two questions that are
proving the greatest stumbling blocks to
a quick settlement Of the armament
problem and the Far Eastern difficulties
are the refusal of France to accede to
the five-five-three naval programme for
tho United States, Great Britain and Ja-
pan unless she Is also given 100000 tons
or an amount equal to that of Japan and
the reluctance Of the British to give up
the Anglo-Japanese alliance unless tri-
partite agreement between Japan, the
United States and Great Britain is SUBJ
stituted for it or something equivalent
thereto.
American Sources scant.
That both of these matters are serious
and must be overcome before any prog
ress can be made, is admitted. But the
unofficial press agents are ringing all of
the changes on them and you may hear
one story one day and another the next.
All this accounts for the contrary re-
ports that are printed as facts in differ
ent newspapers on the same day and In
the same newspapers on different days.
You pay your money and take your
choice.
In this connection 1t is a fact worthy
OF note that the American Government
is worse off---or better off, according to
the way you look at tin the matter
OF unofficial press agents than any OF
the other nations represented at the con-
ference table.
1t is not hard. for instance, TO get the
point of view, or at least what IL Is de-
sired shall appear to be the point OF
view, OF any of the other nations within
a few minutes after any importan. ques-
tion is brought before the conference.
Several men OF high reputation are ready
to ''tell you all about II, unofficially of
course" On behalf OF all the other coun-
tries.
Hughes Must be Guarded.
Secretary Hughes Is a good news
man. when there Is anything which he
can tell with any degree Of definteness.
He is one OF the best Government off,
cials in that respect But on account
of his position as the premier OF the
Cabinet. chairman OF the American dele
alton and head OF the conference. he
cannot talk about mere rumors except
to deny them, II they are susceptible Of
positive denial. His Official position Is
such that anything he says is bound TO
be regarded as official.
II Is for this reason that less rnisln-
formation about the attitude Of the
United states on the various matters
before the conference Is given TO the
public than about the positions OF any
of the other nations.
But at the same time it has been felt
by some tf the Americans close TO the
conferences proceedings that not enough
effort is being made to give the country
the unofficial point OF view of the
American Government--not nisinforma-
ton of course. but scraps OF Information
that will keep the American public and
the rest of the world from gaining a
misconceptIon OF the American point OF
view on the great world questions now
hai,,v dehated IN yVaehineton