Evening star., 1921-12-18
SWELL. that's the way went

"NNELh that's the way went
w about it. Bunk they call it
here. | believe. Most of it was twad-
die, I'll confess. but the main idea
was to keep talking and divert their
alleged minds. lull them into a state
of acquiescence, 50 to speak. After
explaining that Britain had taken a
perfectly open stand on all the big
questions involved, one blighter up
and asked: Just what is the British
delegates position on the Anglo
Japanese pact at this stage of the
proceedings told him that a
great deal had been said already On
the subject that l was sure they All
must know by heart and that nay
feeble attempt to add anything would
be more than futile. Some one per
sisted and so ! referred to Lloyd
Georges recent speech nast August ii
was. you know and he seemed per
fectly satisfied and, fortunately. no
more was said.
"One of Americas most prominent
journalists once asked what the re-
action on the British delegation was
from Lord Curzons speech regarding
the French army stand. This was
! rather delicate point at the time.
so l took exception to the word re
action regarded il as a medical term,
started a discussion on the matter.
! diverged onto a lecture comparing
+ American English to British English
that lasted ten minutes and the orig
mi fn'
! ten. Some one asked: In the event
of an arrangement for the discussion
of far eastern troubles. what would
be the logic of the Anglo-Japanese
treaty? / replied in this way: i
will not admit that logic has any
thing to do with human affairs
That couldn't be refuted and all
that resulted was a laugh from all
present. The question was put: How
will the Irish conciliation affect the
conference% l simply said: You are
: an American and l English. You GER
; tainly should know more of that
question that l do Here is how one
conversation ran to show you how 1
answered every question without
really saying d thing: In case there
Is an arrangement among the powers
to try to solve the far eastern prob
lens, do not the British believe that
China should be represented? That's
purely hypothetical now,' / replied.
I'm afraid you are trying to draw
differences that L can't quite follow
you in But wouldn't great many
of the questions involved be of the
most vital interest to China? persist
ed the questioner-so l told him:
Well, really now. how in the world
could you possibly expect me to know
what the questions would be?
"Well.now. young man, that's about
the way 1T has gone. Quite a success
the whole thing-if l might say SO.
The Americans have talked very little
and we have talked a very great deal,
but l rather fancy we have said just
about the right sort of thing"
How about your conscience put
in the youthful secretary with a
smile.
We'll now-conscience? What in
the world has conscience 10 do with
it? Look here. what do you mean?
MY conscience is 'top-hole. Didn't
tell you that everything ran smoothly
and the whole affair was bang up?
Not a single washout during the
show, It's for the homeland and
rather think we've done our Bit.
And just at that time if any one
had happened to take a look over his
lordship's shoulder he might have
seen him absent -mindedly printing
across the border of one of the MORN
ing papers:
George Riddell, Earl Of ---'