Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-12-29


II was the best that could be Sc.
cured, aIl things being considered.
A date has been fixed--January
1, 18s3-for lifting foreign control
Of postofflces In China.
Arrpgemcnts are being made
for lifting foreign control on wire
less stations In China.
Provision hns been made for
the study OF extra territoriaIity
In Chinn.
China Has It's Shirt.
The above are actual accomplish
ments. II Is true that all matters on
the agenda have not been settled. but
when one recalls past diplomatic con-
fercnces. It is marvellous that so much |
has been accomplished In 80 short a |
time. Our Chinese friends will say that
so far their nation has not received |
full justice. That is 80. But knowing |
the attitude of Great Britain and Ja-
pan toward China ] am surprised that
the last named country has so much
as n shirt left of its international
wardrobe. Instead. China has been
presented with a few articles and with
n few promises which II did not have
when II came to- the Conference.
For the benefit of those interested
Il must be remembered that the brunt
of the Conference work has fallen
on the hardy shoulders of our Sec
retary of State. Day after day the
communicates have told how Mr.l
Hughes has debated with masterful
Balfour. the artful Kato. and, In the
earlier days, with the suave but some
times domineering BRAND. Seldom
have we heard of the other mem
bers. They haye done. some work, but
every correspondent here knows who
has played Americas cards. That man
Is Charles T.. Hughes. ! wish that !
could polish Senator Lodges halo for
the benefit of those Delawareans who
make of him a political idol, but tho
cold facts do not permit. The credit
for what has been done rests rightly
on Mr.. Hughes shoulders. | have
heard many journalists OF this Coun-
try and other lands speak disparag-
lngly Of the Back Bay demi-god. but
nothing but the highest praise has
been given 10 Mr.. Hughes.
Frances Politics.
Before we pass too heavy judg-
| ment upon the Conferences failure to
restrict the building OF submarines We
must take into account the tremen-
dous forces against which Mr.. Hughes
had to contend. Knowing the facts, !
am safe In saying that he would have
succeeded i'm having the Conference
adopt a ratio for the underwater craft
but for one factor. and that is the
political situation in France. Every
decision that the French delegates
have made has been with one eye on
the Continent. and the other on the
i French Chamber of Deputies. The
British. the japanese. the Italian and
the American delegates have come -
their agreements without having to
consider complex political forces in
their respective lands. Their peoples
have wanted. in the words of Presi-
dent Harding, less OF armament, and
none of war" Unfortunately. France
has on the other side of the Rhine
, Germany. The latter nation has
failed In reparations payments. Ger
many is yet menace TO F'rance-if
you believe BRAND. Viviani, and Sar-
raut. What decisions France has. made
: at this Conference have been made
with the thought uppermost in mind
what effect will this have on Ger
many?
The French politicians now in pow.
e er have a different outlook on lif,
from that of the masses of the F'rencI
people. This sounds strange, but thos,
of my readers who have lived "
S France and studied her political sys
/ tenn know that party in power ther,
Z expresses not necessarily the will o
the masses-as is sometimes done il
, America-but the will of the dominan
n class few in number but nevertheless
s all-powerful. There is a distinct mil
, itarist wing in French politics. an,
its idol is always the man on horse
back" Ii is true that he has not riddtl
forth since the return from st. Hell
o ena, but he is always in the back
u. ground. Now BRAND does not belong L
that faction. But BRAND, and his par
ty, would remain in office. The balanc
of power today is held by that group
@ and it was to them that BRAND mad
;, his famous speech at the third plen
airy session. and not to the delegate
{ sitting in Continental Memorial Hal
Q BRAND so much as said, see, an
d keeping faith
r. Her Faith in Ships.
u There is a real fear in France tina
e Germany may revive militaristicallN
= Do you remember that France askc
the United States and Great Britai
to enter a three-power pact, agreein
/ to come TO Frances aid if agai
o menaced by Germany? Many peopl
"a have forgot that request, and also for
-. got that Britain and the United State
t,, Of | nd