Omaha daily bee., 1921-11-14
Conference
Lifted To
Top Plane
Opening Session Resembles
Famous Paris Peace Assem-.
bly, Except in Poin, of
Powers Represented.
Applause for Harding
By HENRY WALES


French delegation ut disarmament con-
chicago Tribune Omaha Bee Leased Wire.
Washington, Nov. l5.-Amcrica'S
thunderbolt, concrete proposal to
abandon construction OF capital ships
now being built and TO scrap scores
of old fighting ships involving nearly
100000 tons in the United States,
British and Japanese navies, lifted
the opening session OF the disarma-
ment conference lar above the plane
of any previous congress OF the ma
tons ever held
The mornings gathering in Con-
tinental Memorial hall was a replica,
on smaller scale, OF the first
plenary session of the Paris confer
cnce in the celebrated clock room OF
the Ouai d'Orsay. Only nine powers
we're represented instead OF A5 at
Paris, but there was the same poinp
and ceremony, the diplomats in top
hats and frock coats and generals
and their staffs in dress uniforms,
their tunics ablaze with medals and
decorations, admirals and their adj
visors i'll gold lace and cpaulettes
and cockaded hats.
Notables Missing.
OF the principal figures at Paris,
Mr.. Arthur ]. Balfour of Great
Britain, alone was there. Gone was
President Wilson, Mr.. Lloyd George
with his shaggy white name, the
Mongol featured Clemenceau with
his gray-gloved hands, the tall,
brown Orlando, and debonnaire little
Maxine.
Instead was Mr.. Hughes with his
careful, forceful manner, M. BRAND
with his great head placed on
meagre body. giving him the air OF
giant spider, Carlo Schanzcr with
the delicate features and silken beard
OF a painter or musician; Prince
Tokugawa, slow, methodical and cor
pulent.
Little Wellington Koo, debonnair,
speaking English and French per-
fectly, was present at Paris ard to-
day, but in this conference DR.. Al
fred SEE was the chief plenipoten-
tiary. The bushy white hair and
delicate features of Ignace Paderew-
ski, Poland's chief delegate at Paris,
were missed, as was the. kindly,
smiling face Of Venizelos of Greece.
Dutch Delegation Present,
Instead was Jonkheer Won Karne-
beck, Dutch minister Of foreign at
fairs, second president of the assem-
bly, OF the league of nations, and
the member of the Dutch govern
ment responsible for the Kaiser at
Doom. Baron DeCartier De Mar
chienne, ambassador of Belgium at
Washington, represented the Ban
tam Kingdom" and Viscount D'Alte,
Portuguese minister here, represented
the Lisbon government.
Of the great military and naval
figures at Paris, only Admiral Beatty
and Generals Diaz and Pershing re-
NAMED. Marshal Foch, one of the
most conspicuous Of those present in
the clock room nearly three years
ago, had just left the city en- route
to California. France was repre-
sented by the chief of her general
staff, General Edmond Buat.
Nor were so many women present
today as were in the clock room at
Paris. Madame Viviani. Madame:
Jusserand and Madame De Tessin,
wife of Capt. Francois De Tessin,
who came to the United States with
Marshal Joffre and Viviani in 1917.
were in a box Wives and friends
Of the other delegations occupied
other boxes and few women were
in the seats on the floor of the hall
The scores of female secretaries.
stenographers and clerks crowded at
little tables behind the various dele
cations at the Quai d'Orsay were not
present today.
In the balcony were the members
of the senate on the right, facing the
green tables of the diplomats and the
representatives on the left.
At l0:30 exactly, the scheduled
hour for the opening Of the initial
session, all members were in their
seats. Former President, now Chief
Justice Taft was among the last to
arrive and he took seat near that
Of William Jennings Bryan.
The baize covered tables were set
out in the form of a hollow square
with passage left open to permit
the entry OF the interpreters and
Hughes and Balfour Together.
The American and British delega-
ton occupied the tables facing the
assemblage, thus throwing Mr..
Hughes and Mr.. Baliour side by side.
On the left at the side tables were
the French and Japanese delegations
respectively, Nj. BRAND occupying
the corner seat. Opposite them the
British dominions, Canada, Australia
and India occupied a side table, with
the Italians next.
Delegates from the four smaller q
powers occupied the tables facing the
Americans and English, the Chinese
being next TO the Japanese. then the
Portuguese, then the Dutch aud on
he other end, next the Italians, the
Belgians.
Mr.. Kamerlynck, official interpreter
II the Paris conference and the league
of nations at Geneva, was in the
,enter, Immediately facing Mr..
Hughes, and the official stenographers
we're beside him.
A great burst of applause greeted
President Harding as he strobe into
he hall, and all delegates rose. The
PRESIDENT took up a place between
Hr. Hughes and Mr.. Balfour, and
Iiter being introduced. proceeded to
MS opening speech aud welcome
The American nation wants less
II armsmeuts and less Of war" drew