The New York herald., 1921-11-18
by EDWIN c. HILL.
| Special Despatch to THE NEW YORK HERALD
| New York Herald Bureau.

New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. C., Nov. IL.
What. really, is China? Diplomats
say that correct solution of this riddle
will be a sure guarantee Of the peace
of the world. Behind the great bronze
doors of the Pan-American Building
Hughes, Root, Lodge. Underwood, Bal
four Lord Lee. Geddes. BRAND. Viviani.
Kato, Tokugawa and many others wres-
tie with It. 1t is the Irish question Of
the Far East, bristling with difficulties,
formidable with dangers.
Nevertheless the conference. very con-
scious of the forefinger of public opin-
ION, approaches the puzzle energetically.
confidently. This, in remarkable
sense. is a peoples conference. The big
men concerned admit, privately of
course, tina. they are not leading but
are being led by the sentiment of their
peoples. They are nervously aware of
that fact In every embassy. in every
headquarters, the newspapers. reflecting
world estimate of the proceedings day
by day, are studied intently. One of the
conferees said to this writer; "The world
may not know just what it wants. but
it is absolutely sure it knows what it
doesn't want"
This sensitive, receptive attitude
makes for what one might term the
characterization" of Ambassadors. At
other world councils of similar aim
newspaper men, go-betweens for the
people, would have found it difficult to
present the apples of Hesperides in
golden basket to any No. l plenipoten-
tiary. Here Ambassadors seek the re-
porters and frequently talk with the
utmost frankness. The Japanese and the
British have set the fashion. Il shall
put Lord Lee on the rack for you to-
day, gentlemen" said Lord Riddell
little while ago. do not spare him"
Balfour, amiably submitting himself
to one of these free for all, hit or miss
press conferences, made his inquisitors
aware of the unreiability of old saws
such as when the age is in the wit is
T.,
the felicity of his bearing. II am grow
ing old and a little deaf" he apologized
smilingly. Out of the drumfire of ques-
tions (some OF which in their downright
franlxness made our British colleagues
wince) a Chinese reporter fired this
shot "What is meant by the open
doorY'
Balfour replied: 80 many eminent
gentlemen have explained that 1 can
scarcely add anything
Excuse me-" the Chinese countered
swiftly: chat is why / asked. ] have
found 1t impossible to understand the
explanations of the other eminent gen.
tlemen."
Perhaps the first enthusiasm of the
conference Is past. Possibly the thrill
ing novelty OF such historical episodes
as the first and second plenary sessions
has dulled little. Croakers and
grumblers pull long faces. Like the
Tories John Bright excoriated. they
would have complained of the Ten Com
mandrnents." But such as these are
merely shadows that serve to prove the
sunlight. The spirit and atmosphere OF
the conference remains buoyantly con-
fident. The men who are doing things
are not cast down. The Hughes and
Brands and Balfours tell us that
there will be something substantial at
the end of this with which TO reassure
the world. Pollyanna is still with us.
The attitude of Congress is interest
ing revealing as 1t unquestionably does
public confidence. Several Senator's
told this writer to-day that reams OF
oratory have been pigeonholed and that
nothing whatever will be done or said to
embarrass the confidence. Borah, who