Evening star., 1922-01-12
Who's Who e:s':::s:: e::s: ss%:
XLIX-Basil Miles.

The secretary Of the. American dele.
cation to the limitation Of armament
conference. Basil Miles. was a wise
choice on the par: Of the state De.
psrtmtnt, as has been proved by the
excellently smooth manner in which
the conference has been carried out.
No hitch has occurred In the physical
plans that were devised before the
delegates assembled to make possible
tho successful manipulation Of tho
meetings. and the methods worked
out for the machinery Of the confer
enco aavc been praised highly BY all
Of the foreign visitors who have had
experience with other such affairs.
For this work Basil Miles must re-.
ceive most Of the credit.
Last July. only = Short sirne after he
hed arrived Ia America from 4 trip
around the world nc was drafted tnto
the service of the state Department
by Assistant Secretary Fletcher, and
given the tremendous task OF setting
the stage for the conference. His
prologue or tho librs;to or choosing
the dfamAtis persohae. but to prepare
thc setting and act In the capacity
OF stage manager. AS assistant to
Nj. Fletcher last summer. his duties
we're many and varied. and entailed
an ani:nasinnhle amount Of detail. His
y,oush and vsgov and capacity for g.t.
ting Things dene. getting them done
as they should be done and when they
shcr.d bs done. made him Of i,,es;i-
mabss valne. II r'as he that obtained
fh- H. =. z. building and Parchment
can building for the conference. ard
was In. chetye OF having then, iitted
out an6 arranged to accommodate the
open sessiors AMI committee meetings
and al that Went With tl,er,l--press
facift.es. coiveniences for the dele
Fatss and aec"mpodation for the
pubic at the plenefy sessions. All Of
which involved many minor details
that would pase unnoticed By the on
lockers. bu: which we're necessary
for the proper functionins OF the
meeting. lie obtained the use Of
which the delegations have their
Offices supervised The great work Of
transforming the rooms into suitable
crfices end arranged for the care OF
the newspaper cori respondents. with
work room. telephones and telegraph
connections. etc. Besides this. he had
to zee to a vast amount OF printing
and arrange for and supervise the
personnel. the great number OF people
needed to run the machinery Of the
conference In all itA rafrtiicRtions.
The many little things that have
CONE under his hand are too numerous
TO try to enumerste. but they have
been done and IN such thorough
manner AS to make them seem almost
automatic.
When the conference started No.
Vember IL, Mr.. Miles became score.
tary 10 the American delegation. but
besides all the duties involved IN that
position. he also undertook TO be
assistant TO John Garrett. the secre-
tary general of the conference. and
in that capacity has handled the
machinery Of the plenary sessions.
beer, In charge Of al! the CORE
epondence. the records. the minutes
OF the meetings and the bulletins
and ccmmuniqGes issued % the :"sss.
Also. he has supervised the personnel
and been responsible for the expense
accounts OF the conference and an
endless number OF other details con-
stantly shifted to his Shoulders.
Although Mr.. Miles in only just
forty-foar years old, his experience
both AS an Organiser and In executive
rasi ions md his many Year. ,:."nt
in the diplomatic service. made him
well qualified to take over a position
demanding such varied duties. calling
for both tact and energy. and his
Yorcefal personsiity made il possible
TO accomplish things in a hurry.
After graduating from st. Marks
School and the University of Perrsy'-
vania, where he was interested in
both athletics and literary pursuits