The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-11-16
HUGHES PROPOSAL
WAS SECRET, EVEN
TO BALFOUR, BUT
British Statesman Replies
With Characteristic
CandOr.
By WILLIAM ALLEN WHITE.

speech Saturday was an absolute
secret. even to Arthur Balfour. Mr..
Balfour had no inkling Of what
Secretary Hughes had in mind Dur
ing the three hours conference be-
tween Mr.. Balfour and Secretary
Hughes Friday evening preceding
the conference. the American did
not remotely hint at the character
of his forthcoming speech. This is
official and final and while the
American Secretary of State may
not be quoted, the denial comes
from a man high in the State De-
pertinent with handsome, frank
features, strong valiant shoulders
and a grazing auburn beard, who
was at one time governor Of New
York and has since occupied posi-
tions of honor and trust and whose
intimate knowledge whereof he
speaks is indubitable. But 1t proves
among other things that Arthur
Balfour has a wonderful counte-
nance for poker.
Others around the conference
table. Saturday. blinked and wet
their lips as the astounding pro-
posal Of the American government
came from our Secretary Of State.
But. while the Secretary was chal-
longing the world to meet Ameri-
cas- program. Arthur Balfour alone
OF all the foreign visitors. sat
blandly smiling; complacently
shaking his head in approval from
time to time and giving the strong
impression that he was listening
to something as familiar to him as
Mother Goose or the principles Of
synthetic philosophy.
BalfOur Keen But Smiling.
Yesterday Mr.. Balfour rose in
the conference to answer the
American challenge the word
challenge is Balfour's. He IL u
tall but not gaunt figure, with
youth still In his vigorous frame
youth which Deiied the gray Of his
hair and the few deeply craven
lines in This handsome face He
wore black-the frock coat of
statesmanlike cut. He had on
laydown collar that covered the
ends Of a black bow tie. His watch
chain crossed his vest at a low
latitude, giving the effect of a
long body under the high shoulders
that stood almost at right angles
to the sturdy neck.
The head Of the great Britisher
is large, set a bit further forward
than is common in a stiff-necked
generation. Clearly. here Is a seek
er. a curious man, an anxious en-
uuirer. His almost smooth. rudy
face is bland but virile. \ thinkers
face he has. In him are blended
wisdom, courtesy and a ruthless
keenness which some way remind
the pIainsman Of the myth that the
owl. the festive prairie dog and
the rattlesnake all live in the same
hole. They all smile out OF the
Balfour eyes.
His oratorical manner is CONVEX
sational. He uses no clap-trap,
either of rhetoric or of VOCAL
tricks and manners" His voice
carries without effort, and yester-
day il filled the room of the con-
ference, going 10 1900 people with
out strain or changing timbre from
the talking voice. Bryan. in Amer
lea, has such a natural voice. But
Bryan knows and uses the tricks
Of the business
Was Great speech.
Mr.. Balfour Is more anxious to
have the right word than the right
information. He hesitates, stammers,
halts, backs up half a sentence and
goes on to the end of a sentence
hurrying forward to the next SEN
tence without dropping his voice.
And all his verbal fumbling and
aNNNfN IN he ~
embarrass him. The average man,
limping through a recalcitrant vo-
cabulary, would blush to a crisp
and lose the thread of his discourse
But not so with Mr.. Balfour. He
runs on an oratorical fat-wheeI
with joy and gusto. He is never
SO happy as when he Is poking
about for the word that will con-
vey the nice shade of his meaning.
He talks slowly. without drawing.
and although his speech committed
his country rather definitely to a
policy which turns the corner away
from zoo years OF consistent naval
endeaVOrs, he spoke almost ex-
tempOraneously. He seemed to have
a few notes on the table and at
times as he talked, his eyes dropped
as II looking at them. British re-
porters say he almost never pre-
pares a speech in advance
His speech was most impressive
HIS actual words did not commit
Great Britain to the American pro-
posals so completely as the JUNCTION
and friendly quality Of his voice
seemed to be taking England to oar
proposals. His was the diplomats
reserve, the statesman's guarded
eandor. HIS words upon the printed
page read well, and vet there u,ss
something hne and simple and dig
mined which gave a guarantee OF
sincerity even to the nicely chosen
language. The liar even in a.
plomacy cannot counterfeit the
lucid forthrightness Of A speecb
IKE Balfour's. 1t was a great
speech, as great as the occasion
called for. It will not be one -
the world notable orations. Yet
Its delivery clearly marked tho ne
ginning OF a world epoch. 1t was
great annnUh 70 -S