The Washington herald., 1921-11-27
CAPITAL AT SEA
BY new ASPECTS
OF CONFERENCE
AnglO-French Row and
Harding Comment Need
Clarifying-Simonds.
By FRANK H. SIMONDS.

ny rNhENh II. SluSlNDo.
Two facts dominate the history of
the second week of the Washington
conference, namely. the Anglo
French row. which was not unex-
pected. and President Harding's Fri
day comment on the possible broad
ening of the scope of the confer
ence itself. which is in reality the
most striking single circumstance
since Mr.. Hughes opening speech.
AS to the Anglo-French row.
everybody has already taken its
measure, and II may now be dis
missed, so far as II has American
significance. On the other hand, the
Presidents startling proposal may
lead to a revision of all estimates
alike OF time and results. so far as
the conference is concerned.
Between the Presidents later
proposal and Mr.. Hughes opening
prospectus it is obvious that there
is a very wide difference Under
Mr.. Hughes impulse the conference
has been working on the subject of
the limitation of armaments. with
the idea that specific and definite
agreement here should be the main
contribution of the gathering. and
since this objective was simple and
restricted there has been an expec-
tation that Christmas would see the
work done and the delegates gone.
Paris Aspect Developing.
As it now stands, however, there
seems every reason to believe that
the conference will take on a new
aspect more thoroughly reminiscent
of Paris. and that we may have a
very considerable measure of Euro
pean affairs brought In, One of the
most immediate of the possibilities
is that Lloyd George may. after
all. find a reason to come here, and
an opportunity commensurate with
his political necessities. Such an
opportunity has been lacking ever
since the first day of the confer
ence because there has been no place
where ne could be put in appropri-
ately. Indeed, aside from NJ Brands 8
one-night stand. the Washington
conference has had a single char
acter. and that has been Mr.. Hughes.
The Presidents suggestion comes
as a profound surprise. 1t opens
horizons far more considerable than
any one had expected would be ex-
plored, and it may be many days
before we can see what boundaries
are actually to be set to what may
easily become a totally different
sort of international gathering
from that which has been described
| and expected in recent days.
Up to the present moment, the
lutely set itself against any in
termlngling in European affairs
1t has successfully resisted 4 mum
her OF British, French and Italian
attempts to interest the United
/ States in European problems. The
| result has been a profound disap-
pointment to every European, al
| though this disappointment finds
| little expression in the pubic press
either at home or abroad. More
over. even in the case of Asia. ri,e
United States has, to a surprising =
extent. avoided assuming a leader
ship which would carry with il a
similar assumption of responsible
ties
Need of Lloyd George.
II now. however. this Washing
ton conference is to be transformed
as seems at least possible follow
ing President Harding's suggestion
of Friday we are bound to have
Lloyd George come here to reopen
the British case against French
policy on the continent we are
certain to have Germany come here
to ask the United States to act as
arbiter between Germany and her
conquerors. Indeed. save for Rus
sia, which is specifically listed as
unlimited by President Harding, ii
is difficult to see why anybody in
Europe should stay away.
In addition. the question of the
league of nations seems likely TO
become pertinent again. The Wash
ington gathering could hardly fail
to be a rival of the Geneva assocf-
alton. Competition between the two
organizations might easily follow.
and II is not impossible that mem
bers of the older might expect in-
ducements to persuade them to
transfer their allegiance
1t is true that there remains a
very great lack of clarity in the
Washington mind as to, exactly what
the President himself was thinking
of when he reverted to his familiar
topic of an association of nations.
The first impression was and still
fingers that he had deliberately
transformed the whole character of
the present gathering. When NJ
BRAND went home there was a gen.
eral feeling that we were seeing
the beginning OF the end: that the
first dinner guest was going, and
the end of the party in sight. The
conference as outlined by Mr.
Hughes in his opening speech was
obviously reaching it's term. Now
Washington is again frankly at sea
and Is awaiting eagerly clariflca.
tion and explanation.