The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-11-28
RUMORS OF WARS
 FILL WASHINGTON
Knights of Columbus /and Hearst Papers Conduct Propaganda Against
 England
By HUGH W. ROBERTS Washington Bureau, The Age-HeraId,
 600 navfdeOn ExnfIdfnS

Washington, November 27.-tSpe- cial0-Irrespective of the final out come of the Washington conference the air today is full of war and rumors of war. The row between England and France, based on the conference speech of Premier Briand and accentuated by the reply Of Lord Curzon, has not been the sole contributor to the present unfor- tunate situation.
 Propaganda on the part of Eng land and on the part of at least two American agencies, the Heart press and the Knights of Columbus, is in the main responsible. As result dis tustfulness abides in the confer- ence. and members of Congress are serving notice through implication that they will closely scan any agreement reached which tends to put the United States at a disad- vantage" or which means an even tual alliance between the United States and the countries of Europe.
 Hearsts fight against the confer ence is open and bitter. He charges through the editorial columns of his newspapers that the American dele sation, In proposing the naval reduc- tions, played into the hands of Great britain, which nation, he alleges, is anxious that the American navy be only half as large as the combined naVies of Japan and the British em- plre. He warns the country against England, and openly talks of future war between this country and that country. He predicts, furthermore. that the people of the United States Will not tolerate the scrapping Of defensive" weapons which in thelr construction cost $500, ,000, 900.
 Ihe Knights of Columbus are less outer and more indirect. Their pub licity Is prepared by Edward F. Me sweeney, and Is very intelligent It IS aimed sauarely at England. and talks or war between England and the united States. It stresses what it terms Tact that the British naval Dase Tn the West Indies would pre- vent the confluence of the American Atlantic an6 Pacific fleets.
 Attitude of Delegates
 bnsland is also in the publicity game. Were England not in the con terence there would be nothing on which correspondents could base 4, SiuolohS. EnBland talks all the time. and talks we'll The bulk or speculative matter leaving Wash ington Is of an English origin,
 The American spokesman ia sacra- tary Hughes. He says very little, and Is never quoted. The Japanese have so much at stake, that they exer else the greatest caution in dealinC with the press. China cannot talk because it has nothing to praise. It must criticise or remain silent. It remains silent. When the French delegation agreed to receive the press no one in authority appeared. some 9f the more aggressive core spondents got In touch with M. Briand. but he had nothing to say and was not very cordial The Itai- ians have not been inclined to talk to members of the press, and the Bel gians have made no statement. The Dutch are apprehensive about their west Indies and are saying nothing.
 British Ever Ready
 On the contrary, the British are ever prepared to talk. They are the greatest advertisers In the world. Twice day. Lord Riddel, head of the elaborate publicity machine brought to Washington by the British delegation, receives the press. The third reception Is accorded by Lord Lee.
 This policy of Great Britain has no doubt given cause to the sus- picion which apparently animates the course of the Hearst press-which does not love England--and to the Knights of Columbus, who, it Is thought probable, are active because of their love for Ireland. If the Eng fish delegation has taken notice or the attacks against England, it has