Arizona republican., 1921-08-27

terms with its co-conferees- for eign diplomat who talked with an American delegate in the most inti- mate and candid fashion, and then found the conversation fully outlined in the press, would have every req son for discontinuing such conversa- tions except in the most formal fash ion. Publicity of that sort would dc feat the American end. which is let's repeat tito cut down the cost to the taxpayer so far as 1t can te cut with safety.
 But there will be plenty Of the right sort of publicity. It can prob ably be assumed with justice that every decision reached by the con- ference will be made public together with the reasons which prompted it. Likewise the reasons TOT the Ameri- can attitude will probably be of a sort that will appeal not only 10 the American but to the world public. No one in the administration, so far as known, harbors any ersonal an1- bitions or rancors. No wide pro- gram of world-reforms is. to be un- dertaken. The one thing at issue is to cut down the costs with safety.
 Facts in Case Are Simple
 It is in the direction of this sort of publicity that Mir. Hughes may be expected to shine. His ability to vincing clarity is becoming more ap- parent every day. Furthermore, the facts, as seen from the state depart ment, are of a simple and non com plicated sort. When one starts out to trade jack-knives, few outside considerations enter the negotiations. One trades or one doesn't trade. Nor will the public be bewildered and confused by considerations of trade and boundary lines and nationalities and sentiments. The issue is a grimly simple one:
 Shall We all stop going broke on battleships? Or shan't we?''
 The simple and straightforward quality of MT. Hughes attitude is exemplified by the suggestion con- tinually repeated in other quarters | that to accomplish the American pur- pose it may be necessary to enter into some sort of ar association of nations, with the deduction that the United States erred in not becoming 2 partner in the league of nations. So far as may be gathered from MT. Hughes reticences as we'll as his words the existence of league of na- tions is not being even considered. The United States wishes to accom- plish one thing.
 To Evade Certain Bankruptcy If the armament race can be ended by an agreement between nations well and good. That agreement will be entered into. It may be a league or an association or a lodge. But 1t is safe to assume, for the reasons given, that it will not be the present league, Whatever mav have been the intention of it's founders the fact is that it's present task is to control Europe. Any assocfation into which the United States may enter may--on the same grounds-be assumed to be simple agreement to evade certain bankruptcy by discoptinuing battle ship buying. As a means to that end the situation in the Far East will be considered.
 Pessimists have argued here that the weakness of the American delega- tion will be in the tendency of its members to treat their opponents as gentlemen" That isn't a weakness at all. Any other attitude would be fatal in advance. Mir. Hughes. as chief of the delegation, has been for years an eminent lawyer. Nowhere in the story of his career can an in cident be discovered in which he failed to treat his opponent as a gen. tleman. But he never forgot that the