New-York tribune., 1922-12-30
- p..lalsl b Th. TLLbsl,

NEW HAVEN. Conn. Dec. o.
Charles Z. Hughes. Secretary Of State
and head Of che American delegation
in the Washington Conference on the
Limitation Of Armament and the
discussion OF Far Eastern questions,
reviewed the history Of that confer
enee and told Of It's important results
tonight in his address before the
American Historical Association here.
The Importance Of the conference
he said. lay In the readiness OF ma
tons 10 join in such discussion, In
the frankncss and lack Of guile with
which IL was carried on and in tho
results accomplished. directly and in
directly. He had no hesitation in
saying that he regarded the Indirect
results a. the more important as the
mists Of Misunderstanding among
nations we're cleared. ugly. war-breed-
ing rumors exercised and amity pro-
moted.
Reports No Evasion Of Treaty
He set az rest explicitly rumors that
other signatory powers were IN any
way seeking 10 evade the provisions Of
the agreement reached IN Washington,
saying:
~ am happy to say that at this time
there seems no good reason 70 rear
that any Of the work Of the confer
ence will be lost.
81 am advised that tho competent
authorities Of our government have
no information that any power, pend
ing the exchange OF ratifeations OF
the treaty, is proceeding contrary 70
those provisions
Secretary Hughes made il plain.
however, that in bis option the in
volatility Of the treaty and the oene-
fits derived from Il depended upon the
maintaining Of the attitude OF friend
liness and rcasonablcness with which
the nations concerned entered the
conference.
Probably there never was an inter
national gathering" said Secretary
Hughes. "jn which candor and fairness
more fully dominated the intercourse
OF great powers and where intrigue
had less play ,,..
He spoke OF the panicky distrust
which beset the world at the time the
conference was called, the forebodings
Of evil which arose on All sides ana
the readiness with which bellieoso ru-
mors we're accepted
"There Was instant appreciation ne
said. speaking OF the prompt accept
anee Of the American invitation to a
conference. "of the fact
that the hour had struck not only TO
discuss limitation Of arms but TO do
even a better thing in seeking to re-
move causes Of Misunderstanding. The
Of the two objects was
the outstanding feature Of the Ameri-
can proposal"
Credits Success to -Four Factors
The "large measure Of success" at
tanned by the conference was due, Sec
retary Hughes said, 70 four factors;
First, there we're represented az the
conference a small group Of powers
dealing with problems in which they
had common interests. There was
minimum of dissipation Of energy in
irrelevancies. Discussions we're kept
20 the point and we were saved the
embarrassment OF intrigues and cabals.
Second. there was adherence 10 the
proposal Of a single conference a.
originally presented. We felt IL 70 be
impracticable 10 arrange for pre-
liminarv conference between some OF
the invited powers with respect TO
Eastern questions. other invited
powers might have justly complained
OF such a preliminary meeting. IN
which they would have no share. IL
was felt that II such q preliminary
conference we're announced 1t would
lead to tho feeling in this country that
the important question Of limitation OF
armament had been sidetracked. While
II was deemed desirable 70 give the
opportunity TO deal with both groups
OF subjects. Il would have been q diff
ferent matter 20 postpone the subject
OF limitation Of armament 20 n second
conference, the holding Of which might
be altogether dependent on the success
Of the hrst. II was also believed 10
be OF vital Importance that tho con-
ference should be held In Washington
These reasons held us 20 our original
purpose.
Example Set by United States
"Third, Il was the great privilge OF
our government through its initial pro-
posal to lead the way In suggesting the
proportionate sacrifices which we're
essential to an agreement for tho lin
itation OF naval armament and thus At
the very outset to disarm suspicion
and 20 create the atmosphere essential
to harmonious ondeavor.
"Fourth, the representatives OF the
powers. intent on limited and practical
aims which they knew would contribute
to their peace and security, exhibited
remarkable spirit Of cooperation and
a mutual confidence rare In interna.
tonal gatherings They expressed
their views both with candor and with
the assurance that the conference was
dominated by the desire 10 deal justly
with every important national interest.
In spite Of these advantages, said
Secretary Hughes, the conference
lAbored under many difficulties, some
Of which men Of vision regarded as
insuperable.
while the Shantung settlement lay
outside the conference" he said, 1T
is not too much to say that the success