The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-12-29
WORD SHADING.
FOUND REASON
FOR DISORDERS
Early Incident in Conference
Explained by Translating In
Rome of "Demobilization"
as ''Putrid."
DIPLOMATIC STRATEGY
ny MARK SULLIVAN

ton of an early incident in the arms
conference which. at the time. caused
several fatal riots in Italy~and neces-
STATED an official disclaimer on The
part of the conference here The cpl
sode centered about a dispatch sent
by French journalist to Paris, which
was telegraphed from Paris to London
and finally to Milan.
The dispatch in the final form in
which IL appeared in the Italian papers
was to the effect that in one of the
secret sessions of the conference, NJ
BRAND had made an uncomplimentary
reference to the Italian army and that
the Italian delegate had failed to re-
ply In the manner which on such occa-
slons seemed to be demanded by the
European code of national pride
The result of the publication in the
Italian newspapers was said to have
been several riotous attacks upon
French consuls and the killing of sew
eral persons in putting down the riots
Hughes Makes Denial
Upon receipt of the news in America
Mr. Hughes on behalf of the confer
ence, made an official denial that M.
BRAND had said anything uncompli-
mentary about the Italian army The
explanation of the episode yesterday
was merely to the effect that Mr. Bal
four had made a speech in favor of
further disarmament on land but that
NJ. BRAND, in replying, had addressed
himself to the Italian delegate, and
had made forceful gestures in the lat
ters direction, whereupon NJ. SchanZer
told NJ. BRAND he should address him
self TO Mr. Balfour as the author of
the proposal
There is another explanation of the
episode which may or may not be as
authoritative as the one published, but
which at least has interest and veri-
similitude and may be published it is
hoped, without causing sudden or un-
necessary death to anybody in Eu-
rope.
Other Explanation
This explanation is to the effect
that NJ. BRAND, in entire innocence
and speaking in French, stated the
fact that the Italian army was in
process of being reduced, and in do
ing so used a French word of which
the English equivalent is "decompo-
sition." What he meant, of course.
was rehabilitation" but the other
word was the one that got into circu-
lation. and somewhere in its passage
through the French reporters mind.
or in the progress of translation from
French TO English and thence to Ital-
ian, it was made to seem that BRAND
had said what an American would
mean by saying in a slang way that
something is "putrid"
NJ. BRAND, of course. had not meant
that, nor had anything of the kind in
mind, but the episode suggests not
only what occasionally happens
through accident, but also what is
often achieved Intentionally in the
way of bringing about desired diplo.
matte or political ends through artful
care in the choice and the shading OF
words.
Japan's Special Interest"
A few years ago Secretary Lansing
made an agreement with China in
wla.ch America acknowledged that
Japan had a special interest" in Chi
ma. Mr.. Lansing meant merely the
interest inherent in Japan's propinquity
TO China But the phrase, in the course
of translation into Japanese, and then
into Chinese, seems TO have become
the equivalent of authoritative inter
est or dominant interest" very
different thing, which created a good
deal of excitement and because oi
which important history has been
made.
In the present arms conference II
has been said that several careful
hours were devoted to deciding wheth
er the Anglo-Japanese alliance should
be described as terminated" or "su
perseded' by the four power treaty
AT the Paris peace conference it cal
safely taken for granted that the
use of the comparatively unfamiliar
term. German reparations," rather
than German indemnity represented
careful diplomatic intent.
Diplomatic Strategy
II was Talleyrand or Maeterlink whC
said that the chief business of {
statesman is TO invent new terms Il
describe institutions, which, undc1
their old names. have become unac
ceptable to the public" Some per
sons get humorous but solid satisfac
ton out of an expectation based OF
the wish being father to the thought
that while America will never ente
the League of Nations, we will be
come a participant in practically th'
same thing under the less hated mann
of an Association OF Nations.
II is not merely diplomatists VIII
practice adroitness in the use O
words as one OF the most dependabl
of the arts of their profession. Pol
ticans also, in proportion to thel
astuteness. are not unacquainted wit
The art Here in America just now
those who oppose the project OF
government grant of money to eX-so
diers speak of it as the bonus bill,
whereas the friends of the measur
call it the adjusted compensate
bill"
other Shadines.
OF the same sort of thing Is tn
choice of the word remuneration,
rather than subsidy to describe tn
government aid which the present az
ministration is expected to recommen
for privately owned American shil
ping.
Once there was a Chicago policema
! who found dead horse on Kosciusk
street. Upon being faced with tn
necessity of turning in written r.
port of this incident, the policema
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