New-York tribune., 1921-11-14
Applaud Separation of Sea
and Land Problems by
Hughes, While Conceding
Japan's Temporary Gain
Far East Tension
Eased by Program
London Delegation at
Capital Frank in Praise
of American Diplomacy
Bv P.vW. Wilson

(For gears American correspondent Of The
Londo, Daily Nelcs and former member Of
Fdrlidment).
Copyright. 1921, New York Tribune Inc
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13. - What
Americans will want to hear from me
this morning is the reaction of Great
Britain and her diplomatic spokesmen
on the momentous scenes which have
just impressed the imagination, not
only of us who were eye-witnesses in
Washington, but of the whole world. I
cannot avoid mentioning at the outset
a factor in the situation not usually
alluded to by statesmen, and that is
the constant insistence, both at Airing
ton and in Continental Hall, that on
this occasion the highest religious
sanctions must be acknowledged. AS
President Harding recited the Lords
Prayer in tones which, when amplifed,
rang out from the Atlantic to the Pa
ciic, wondered what were the
thoughts passing through the sophisti
cal intellect of Mr.. Balfour, the apostle
of philosophio doubt, suddenly brought
into contact with an assertion Of n
deep and simple faith, sg.
Next / asked myself what diplomats
of the old school were saying to them
selves when public opinion-in the Sem
ate and among Representatives-st
peded the conference, cheered every al
lusion to disarmament and peace and
lied for speeches by BRAND, Toku-
gawa and their colleagues. At no pre-
,vious conferences of which I have
knowledge have there ever been such
demonstrations. At future plenary or
public sessions, if thus fully attended,
one can conceive of situations arising
when the approval--still more evident,
ly the disapproval-of spectators
might cause inconvenience and even
"an incident" The audience is mainly
American, but the conference is inter
national. And those spectators who
have, as it were, the front seats, must
remember-and, am sure, will remem-
ber-that overseas from here, East and
West, there are other spectators,
watching not less closely and caring
not less intensely. 1t is thus fortunate
for great international hopes in which
all peoples can join. ! found myself
saw my many visiting colleagues-car-
ried away by the enthusiasm of Con-
gress and cheering Americans as
heartily as they.
British Hoped for Directness
When we entered the Continental
Hall we knew two things-first, that
President Harding's speech would be
quite general in its terms; and, second
ly, that Secretary Hughes might or
might not be specific, it depended upon
whether the bolder or more eau
tious forces in the Administration and
the American delegation carried the
day. On Thursday Mr.. Balfour, in
meeting newspaper men, had discussed
the weather as he found it in New
York, including snow in Albany, on
which his pronouncement was elaho-
rate and specific, but on the conference
he had limited him self to one observa-
tion-namely, that if the nations met
for business, and not merely for talk,
it would be over, he thought, in much
shorter time than many people
imagined.
This meant that the British delega.
tion wanted business" to be done.
Knowing that the initiative must come
FROM the United States they hoped
that Mr.. Hughes would make his pro-
posals as definite as possible, The
one thing that they feared was vague
o. or temporizing series of platitudes
To get the cards on the table was the
main thing to be achieved at the OUT
set, and only Mr.. Hughes could do it. Q
Apparently the ceremonial can paid
to the Secretary of State by Mr.. Bal