New-York tribune., 1921-11-13

plan was delivered to an audience jaded
by rhetoric and suspicious of high
sounding phrases.
In fact, it seemed that the listeners
had come prepared for rhetoric and had
been electrified by hearing reason in
stead. In all sections of the hall, save
at the green-topped conference table
itself, there were murmurs Of aston
ishment. Nobody outside the American
delegation seemed to have held the
least notion that there would be def
mite plan for the limitation Of arma-
ment announced so soon and with such
mosphere of skcpticism remained until
the Secretary Of State began to lay
down the points of the formula.
The heart as we'll as the mind of the
speaker seemed to be in his words
They rang like inspiration as we'll as
reason. No speaker could have voiced
more clearly and forcibly the message
of the United States to a suspicious
world than did Charles Evans Hughes
to-day.
Voice of One Inspired
Certainly to-day Secretary Hughes
was not the cold and austere figure that
some have pictured man carrying
caution and reserve to excess. He
spoke like a prophet and carried him
self like one. That he dominated the
thinkers of the nations was not alto
gether due Co the fact that he was de-
livering the message of the nation that
held the solution of the worlds per-
plexities. 1t was due in as great Il
measure to the personality of the man
who spoke for the United States of
America.
He carried himself with an assur-
ance born of absolute faith in the con-
clusions that had been reached. 1t was
not an assurance that challenged or
antagonized. On the contrary, it car
ried confidence which should speak to
the peoples OF the world. He gave
che impression of an idealst speaking
for nation Of idealists, not that of a
dreamer speaking for nation of
dreamers.
The setting for this simple and di-
xect expression Of American views was
simple and American. The delegates
were grouped at a series of green
topped tables In the new memorial hall
OF the Daughters Of the American Rev
0*Htiou. o0t LUZ SlS uul1OImS, the
great names and the galleries it might
have been meeting in the town hall
TO discuss the towns perplexities. The
perplcxities were vast until the one
strong, forceful man brought the
solution
When he had concluded Secretary
Hughes planned for an adjournment.
The message had been delivered, the
plan had been outlined concisely and
obviously. All that remained was the
consideration Of the formula. But UP
IN that section Of the galleries where
the members of the House were sitting
they wanted speeches. Somebody called
for Premier BRAND of France, who
spoke, and following him delegates
from the other nations spoke. Nat
urslly nobody touched on the plan. AS
tonishment still held them.
One Polish correspondent, who did
not know the occupants Of the gallery.
whispered: "Oh, this is delciousl 1t
is the characterization Of the confer
ence. Oh, you Americans! Observe
the sstonishment Of the British dele
CATION"
In fact. some of the British con-
tlngent did evidence some well-bred
surprise at this demand oT'tne gallery
and the good humored acquiescence Of
the president of the conference in the
demand for speeches" The mouse
wanted to hear frpm Italy, Japan and
China. They heaT from them all, and