The New York herald., 1921-11-11


Post.
Specia, Despatch to Tup NEW YosK HEEA1p.
New York Herald bureau.
Washington, ID. c.. Nov. 10.
The address to be delivered by Sec
retary Hughes at the opening of the
conference on Saturday will, / am
given to understand, be of the great
est Importance.
1t has been generally believed that
when Mr.. Hughes, as the president of
the conference. addresses the dele
gates he will simply indulge in the
usual stereotyped and conventional
expressions appropriate to the oc-
casion, purposely vague and so gen.
eral that they will disclose nothing.
On the contrary. learn he will tell
the conference in cleRr and direct
terms the policy and tho hopes of the
United States so that It's position may
be made so plain that any further
misunderstanding will be impossible.
AS Mr.. Hughes's speech will be de-
livered at the open session, to which
the public through the press will be
admitted, not only the entire country
hut the whole world will be able to
read the text
NJ. BRAND and his colleagues have
been in Washington only a short tine.
but long enough to realize that the air
of the avenues Of Washington is OF a
different quality from that of the Paris
boulevards. In Paris Washington held
out golden hopes looked at through
Fre"ch imagination. ii was the rainbow
of promise with the pot of gold not easy
to be ci,'tched. but still r~t " ~~'-d VA ch
II enc did but exercise ingenuity, perss-
verance and skill. In Wasni
tnpow Is seen to be only an ignis
fatuus, a sickly and treacherous lighI to
lead to disappointment and perhaps
disaster.
Illusions Are Dissipated.
French illusions are being dissipated.
because now that the French are here
II Is being impressed unor thn~' hv A. -ir'
friends and well wishcrs that while
France possesses the sympathy Cf AIN :
ica, America keeps her emotions under
restraint and does not mix sympathy
with politics or finance.
To France the Washington conference
seemed the last chance to induce the
United States to ratify the Anglo Ameri-
can French treaty of assurance. falling
that, the final plea could he made to
America to enter the League of Ma
tiohs with carte blanche 10 the United
States to modify the covenant to meet
American objections; II both were re-
jected. the United States might be moved
to cancel or POSTPONE the payment of the
French debt What seemed reasonable
In Paris.
Ratification Of the treaty is as much
out of the question as the negotiation
and ratification of an Anglo-American
alliance or an offensive and defensive
treaty with Japan. France will be- told
that the memory OF Lafayette is not for
gotten: that France can always rely
should she be again wantonly attacked
by Germany certain things may and
might happen, but assurances in the
form of the ratification of the treaty by
the Senate will not be given.
AS for the League OF Nations, that
can be dismissed in half a dozen words.
The country has sooken. the Senate has
acted. Mr.. Harding has made his de-
liverance.
In this connection Mr.. Harvey's speech
In Liverpool q few days ago has sig
only 70 France. but also to England. II
he spoke without specific instructions
his address Is not of great Importance.
but IL, as many persons here believe. he
spoke not only with the knowledge but
the direction of the Washington Govern
ment, II was official warming both to
England and France that II would be ad-
visable for them to abardon any thought
OF an alliance with America.
1t.
ton OF indefinite postpopement, great
as Is the sympathy Of America for
France, NJ. BRAND has discovered that
no sympathetic chord is struck when
that note is sounded
France Would stand Alone.
NJ. BRAND, while perhaps somewhat
discouraged Is not In despair and II
would not be surprising II I'm some way
or other the debt win corre before the
conference. If II does France need not
expect support frorl England, but will
have TO make her appeal or fight, which
ever form II may take. single handed.
The British delegates have no inten-
tion of discussing finance and II Is worth
noting that while France, Italy and
some of the other Powers have financial
advisers on their technical staffs there
is not a single treasury official OF finan-
clal expert on the staff Of the British
delegation.
4 " France cannot get those things
which were the main inducement for
her coming TO Washington, what role
will she play here7 It Is q question thai
has been repeatedly asked and as yet
no answer has been forthcoming. This
conference. II has been IMPRESSED upor
US. is in the interest OF humanity ant
bargaining is not TO be encouraged. but
the political or diplomatic mind does
no. easily escsre from It's traditions.
What has France to offer II the time
should come when she Powers, insteat
OF sitting around the table. should fine
themselves facing each other In groups
japan has much 10 offer the United
states; 80 has ENGLAND. The United
States Is in the same position In regart
to England and japan, bu' It Is not ap
parent what France can give. For thi
reason the position Of France Is all th'
more interesting and the mystery is |
stimulus to imagination and specula
ton