The Washington herald., 1921-11-15
HUGHES
HAS ABANDONED
FAR EAST POLICY
Simonds Says Europeans
Regard Asia as Par
ley Issue.
R,FRANK n. sIAoNDs.

On the eve OF the second meeuns
Of the washington conference one
Interrogation dominates all discus
sion.: What Of the Far East? IL
Mr.. Hughes preparing another
bombshell in the shape Of second
detailed and specific program such
as took the conference by surprise
on Saturday?
Nothing Is perhaps more impress
sive now than the fashion in which,
after two days Of reflection, interest
and attention have turned back 70
the Far Eastern problems The
American tendency to regard dis
armament and Pacific problems as
unrelated finds no echo in the Eu-
ropean mind.
EstnbIishes Japan In East
Unmistakably the Japanese and
French Representatives are over
joyed at the fact At Mr.. Hughes
hrst address ayoiU,- alike the sub
iects Of land forces and of Asiatie
questions. Yet there is a significant
tendency on the part OF the British
empnASlL IuC AeCk NAaN
tions Of naval armament without
reduction OF land forces gives
France unQuestioned supremacy on
the continent of Europe, while
similarly limitation without agree
ment in the Chinese area estab-
fishes japanese domination in the
Far East beyond all challenge.
What Is Mr.. Hughes going to DO
expected, and with reason, in view
Of what had happened in recent
weeks, that his opening address
would bear as heavily upon Pacific
problems as upon sea power.
Held as EIeventh-Hour Decision.
It now believes that the final ver-
sion OF Mr.. Hughes speech which
relegated the Far East to a rela-
lively minor place was something
of an eIeventh-hour decision, not
impossibly induced in part by the
japanese maneuver of earlier days
In any event the surprise was al
most equal to the relief when Mr..
Hughes avoided pressing home a
specific program in the Far East
But obviously Saturdays session
was only postponement, and
Washington is clamorous to know
whether Mr.. Hughes means tc
abandon any definite program In
the Far East-a course which
would make the conference super.
fcially at least the most gigantic
success in recent history-or is
biding his time to make a new
stroke.
Undercurrept of Cr1ticI,u
Once again 1 counsel my reader,
Pto beware of believing all that ap.
pears in the foreign comments, OF
in the expression of opinion by Wis
iting foreign journalists. In both
cases real opinions are frequently
disguised both by a desire to be
courteous and a wish TO avoid ex.
citing unpopularity and thus preju.
dicing their national interests
notwithstanding all the wide
spread expression of approval Of
Mr.. Hughes program, as spoken or
Saturday, there is a deep undercur.
rent of criticism to be heard among
all the foreign delegations and
journalists which finds no publ,
expression as yet Exactly thii
thing hsapened at Paris and con
NTlbulcu u Int ulllH1dNt COHlpltl'
misunderstanding between tn,
United States and Europe.
To America Mr. Hughes propo
sal seems specific, definite ant
} clear, as IL is within limits. but a.
one distinguished British journal
list representing a liberal newspa
per indicated TO me, even liberali
stand aghast at a policy which con
templates disarming peaceful pow
ers, such as the United States an
|, Great Britain, without providinJ
any means of dealing with preda
tory powers such as still exist Il
the world.
Fearful Of Consequences.
The chorus Of applause that on,
hears in foreign papers does no
accurately represent the presen
opinion of those who have to dea
directly with international rela
tions. This is because Europe can
not separate the question Of ar
maments. from the question Of poll
cies and still finds itself fearful o.
what may be the consequence of
disarmament Of the United State
and Great Britain in the existin,
situation Of the world and vithou
any compact for common action IL
case Of danger to either.
Europe Is going to make the tesi
of the, practicability Of Mr.. Hughes
proposal, not, on his disarmament