Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-12-20
WASHINGTON
DAY BY DAY
From oar Special Correspondent

Washington, Dec. 20.-The eyes of
the delegates to the conference on
Limitation of Armaments and Pacltlc
and Far Eastern questions were turn.
ed today to the important meeting OF
Premiers Lloyd George, OF Great
Britain, and BRAND, of France. 1t
was the feeling here that there would
be important decisions at this con.
ference affecting the prospects OF
the proposed Five-Power naval
limitation agreement.
Much of the edge has been taken
off the absurdity of the French naval
demands by the explanation that they
contemplate the building of this 35o,-
600 ton capital ship fleet by l94l,
instead of by 1881. This would still
give France much greater navy
than it is intended she shall have, but
since all the nations eventually Will
be compelled to replace capital ship
tonnage by $4,000 ton ships when the
period of replacement begins, Frances
advantage in having post-Jutland type
ships would be somewhat disslpated
by her not getting more than five OF
them by 1881, when the replacement
period begins.
Lord George Riddell, who was sent
to Washington by the British news
paper proprietors association to OBJ
tain and disseminate news of the con-
ference has made emphatic denial OF
reports directed against himself as
the instigator Of propaganda against
the French.
One of these reports intimated that
Riddell, when he broke the news Of
Frances demands for 350,OO0 ton
navy, did so at the instance of the
British delegation which desired to
put France in false light before the
world. Riddell explained that he was
not employed by or obligated to the
British delegation and that when ne
gave out the news Of Frances de-
mands did so because of his natural
desire to discourage secret diplomacy
and let the public in on the news OF
the conference. He explained that he
had always opposed secret diplomacy
at Paris, in Washington and at var
ious peace conferences which he has
attended.
Close friends of Will H. Hays, post
master general, were unable today to
verify reports that he had decided to
accept an offer that would virtually
make him head Of the moving picture
industry in the United States. They
said they knew the heads of several
large moving picture concerns had
made him definite offer of large
salary, supposed to be 100000 a year,
with contract to run two and one
half years. They said they under
stood the picture magnates had de-
posted half the total salary in bank
as evidence of good faith in making
the offer. Knowing Mr., Hays ideas
well, his closest friends are reluctant
to believe the report inasmuch as ne
has turned down several offers that
were as attractive financially as that
made him by the moving picture men.
If Royal A. Haynes, United States
prohibition commissioner; Wayne B.
Wheeler, the most fanatical of all pro-
hibitionists and even William Jen-
nings Bryan-known to most Demo-
Gratis and to some, people-could have
passed by the British embassy on
Connecticut avenue shortly after S
o'clock yesterday afternoon, their eyes
would have been opened and no doubt
each would have given vent to large
and copious tears of anguish. A huge
truck. tonnage unknown, backed up
outside the Offices of the embassy and
two husky men were busy unloading
very suspicious cases direct into the
embassy building. A policeman stood
on guard.
you're right. bo," he said as he
looked upon the gaze of several
passers-bye. "This is the real stuff
and plenty of it. Christmas supply,
no doubt. How'd you like to be an
Englishman?"
The poor, over-lawed and over
governed Americans admitted that
their faith in their country's. flag had
weakened as result of this deluge of
"booze" protected from seizure by
American prohibition officials and in
tended for the consumption of those
who don't even cast vote in this
country.
Isaac Gregg