The Washington herald., 1921-12-07
SECRET DIPLOMACY
CAUSING TROUBLE,
SIMONDS DECLARES
Continued from PAGE One.

S'o''' '"N
panese alliance. no longer having
reason for existence in view of
nese alliance, no longer having a
=, and by common consent disap-
pear. 3, everyone knows that the
Washington ference will be re-
garded in this co, Nv as having
fallen short of complete N-,TiSc1-s If
the alliance does not disappear. but
what is disquieting is the sugges-
tion that this disappearance Is
paid for in Articles i and II.
Profound Secrecy.
Beyond all else. what seems to
me the really disturbing fact in
the existing situation is that the
conference has relapsed into such
profound secrecy and has hidden it.
self in such impenetraoie mystery
that there is at least an excuse for
the publication of rumors and re-
ports which tend very gravely To
discredit the whole affair ny rous-
ing prejudice and exciting popu-
lar distrust
Today, for the first time since
the conference opened, there Is a
very widespread feeling in Ameri-
can quarters that what happened in
Paris is occurring again in Wash
ington, that the only available ex-
plantations of American policy which
at all satisfy even the surface me-
cessities must be sought and can
be found only outside of American
quarters.
And this is precisely the thing
which, before the conference met
was promised should not happen.
We all know within fairly accurate
limits what was and is British
policy. Japan conceals her hand
but she does not actually hide her
detectives. France has no con-
cealed purpose. and Italy would
explain TO anyone what was in her
mind IL everyone was not so busy
But the silence which enveloped
American policy at Paris has set
tied over American policy in Wash
ington and, for better or for worse
there is no Col. House to volunteer
explanations which, If they did not
10 a. a. itasl
London Is Pleased.
No one can mistake the fact that
from many directions there are
coming highly educative articles
about the new quadruple alliance
articles which express the approval
of London and note the intrigued
interest of Paris. Months ago
Lloyd George announced that the
one possible substitute for the An
glo-Japanese alliance was an An
glo- American-Japan agreement,
and now that London learns such
an agreement is all but made il is
natural that London should be
pleased.
But the trouble is that while
everyone knows that the agreement
which has been made or will be
| made, with American consent and
approval, bears no relation to the
Lloyd George pact. and that any
such agreement, even IL approved
by the American delegation, would
be halted in the Senate. those who
have spoken for American policy
so far have become suddenly and
completely mute-there is no rea-
son why anyone should not guess,
and there is no official negation for
any guess. however far fetched or
however carefully inspired.
All of which is another wav of
saying that since America has tenn
porarily ceased to speak for her
self she has been blessed by a
thousand willing Spokesman ana
We are living in a riot of propa-
ganda. Presently We shall have
official Qualification; it may even be
induced by a very FESTIVE group
of gentlemen on the crest Of Capt.
tol Hill. When that Qualification
comes the fact will be disclosed
that Mr.. Hughes has not agreed to
an alliance or consented to a guar
antee. This is automatic. But to-
day. given NE Hughes silence. one
must choose between believing
ones senses and ones ears.
And this, after all, is secret d.
plomacy, if We accept the popular
definition. 1t is secret diplomacy
since 1t conceals not the policy or
the purpose of other nations, but
completely hides American policy
and purpose. 1t was in precisely
this atmosphere that Paris wrought
with known results. And never
since the present conference began
has the situation, specifically at
least, been as reminiscent of porio