Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-12-29
WASHINGTON
DAY BY DAY
(From our Special Correspondent

(F'rOm our Specidt C0fresDo"deHt.j
Washington, Dec. 29.-Formel
President Wilson, celebrated his Goth
birthday yesterday. While there were
no special features attending the
ceremony the former occupant of the
! White House received the congratu-
lations of the entire civilized world
and messages of felicitation poured
in upon him to wish him we'll.
The former Presidents health is
better today than for some months
past and his physical condition has
steadily improved.
DESPITE the efforts on the part OF
some of his close personal and pollti-
cal friends to get Mr.. Wilson to
make some announcement Of ms
views regarding present national and
world wide affairs, he has contented
himself to remain discreetly silent
and has not injected his opinions into
any of the public questions now con-
fronting the nation at this time.
Those friends to whom he has given
his confidence have respected it and
guarded it so carefully shat not one
world that could safely be attributed
to the former Chief Executive has
officially issued from 2340 S Street.
While the statesmen and military
and naval chiefs of nations were
gathered today around the confer.
ence board to shape the destinles OF
war and the unity Of states, another
group Of learned men convened Just
a few books away to determine how
the war wounds of this nation might
best be staunched and suffering al
leviated. The problem of these men
will be to find the best means OF re-
turning to society more than lOO,0OO
men disabled in mind and body by
the scourge of war.
This conference of the foremost ed
ucators and scientists of the country
will be held at the invitation of Col.
Chas. R. Forbes, Director OF the 7 :.
S. Veterans Bureau, and will last
three days.
Some of the questions to be consid-
cred by the conference are::. What
shall be considered a vocational
handicap? Is the rate of mainten-
ance pay help toward rehabilita-
ton? Should institutional training
be emphasized more than placement
training? When shall trainee be
considered rehabilitated? What ef-
forts should be made to obtain CO.
operation of employers in absorbing
trainees into employment?
The question of submarine tonnage
for the five great naval powers has
reached "a deadlock with the prisent
tation of the French demands for
10000 tons of submarine. The French
offered no suggestion for compro-
mise simply stating that Frances
minimum defense requirements are
for 10000 tons. Failure to reach an
agreement on submarines, however.
was tempered with the important
announcement that France will ac-
cept without reservation the capital
ship tonnage of 175,000 except as to
replacement conditions. Heretofore,
France had stated that acceptance
of the capital ship tonnage was
subject to an agreement on subma-
rines and auyiliaries. This may
mean that the capital ship agree
ment will be reached. although the
question of submarine tonnage may
be abandoned.
Failure of the nations to reach an
agreement on submarines does not
mean that the Conference on Limita-
tion of Armaments will fail.
An agreement on capital snip
tonnage may still be consummated.
The Far Eastern agreement is in
sight. The Four-Power Pacific
Treaty will probably be ratified by
the Senate. The status QUO on Pa
cific Notifications will be maintain
ed. Japan and China may reach ac-
cord on Shantung.
Admiral De Bon naval expert on
the French delegation to the Arms
Conference does not look anything
like a Frenchman. He resembles
somewhat the photographs of the
late King Leopold, of Belgium. The
French Admiral has long. flowing
white beard that nearly reaches the
ground and is totally unlike any of
the other Frenchmen in appearance
that have been in Washington at
tending the sessions Of the confer
ence. The French Admiral has been
insisting all along that his govern
ment would need minimum of 90
600 tons of submarines and has
stood out vigorously against any re-
duction in these figures. He is not
verv popular as result with some
of his fellow delegates representing
the British Empire, who want all
submarines "scrapped."
Isaac Gregg