South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-03-05

Stateman at Helm of DiplO-
macy Has Solved Many
Affairs, Writer Says.
BY A. l.. BRADFORD
United PRESS stan Correspondent.

hAAFh tNHe HAtAh NNAANHNUAAANAAAs
WASHINGTON, March An the
from rank Of Americas greatest
secretaries of state,
That is the way washington Is
thinking Of Charles Evans Hughes.
chief Of the international relations
Of the United States, whose first
year in this important office is clos
ing with an unprecedented list of
achievements.
Perhaps IL IS too early yet 10 pro
nounce such a judgment on Hughes,
but certain it is that he is wen on
the road Of winning the honor of be
coming Americas greatest secretary
Of state.
For Hughes can look back over
the year upon so many accomplish
ments in the field Of foreign rela-
tions Of the United States, that il is
difficult to record them.
When the lawyer and Judge Of
great reputation and income took Of
flee the burden of work and respon-
sibility that automatically devolved
upon him was tremendous.
1t was a time when never before
in the history Of the United States
had a change of administration
found American policies in interna
tional affairs i'm such an uncertain
state.
The action Of the senate on the
Versailles treaty and the 1920 presi-
Dental elections, with other causes.
had worked completely 20 disrupt
the course Of American foreign pol
icy in the closing days Of the Wilson
administration.
Greatest Accomplishment
Hughes flung himself at this task.
His greatest accomplishment may
be described as follows
During the closing days Of the
Wilson administration the United
states, because Of the Wilson de-
feat, was no longer regarded in fore
ign capitals as the moral leader in
world affairs-this country was
hanging back. not leading or follow
ing. Hughes. IL is conceded. has re-
turned to America the role of moral
leadership of the world.
When Hughes came 20 the state
department, ne naturally did not
have at his command the details and
lens in international affairs facing
this government. But. he deter
mined that he should have this i'm
formation and not simply rely on
the aid of his assistants and tho ex-
perts in the department.
He Immediately ordered 20 his Of
flee all the records from the state
department archives in the cases OF
the various problems which he was
being called on to decide. He spent
long hours going thoroughly into
these records.
The Arms Conference
n OF course, the conference on linz
itatiou Of armament and far eastern
questions. just ended, had been
Hughes greatest achievement; it
viii undoubtedly be the GROWING
work of his career. In the negota-
tiors leading up 20 the conference
and in the parley itself, Hughes s.
regarded as having displayed the
high qualities of statecraft- Among
the great results wrought by this
conference are the naval disarma-
ment treaty the Horsepower treaty
d1ssolving the Anglo Japanese alli-
ance and aimed 20 secure the peace
Of the Pacific. the Shantuug settle
ment the open door treaty on
China. and the other covenants.
When Hughes took Office, an IN
cio!ent war was engaging Costa Rica
and Panama. Fighting was going
on. The new secretary Of state inn
mediatedy sent notes 10 both coun-
tries in effect demanding In the
name OF the United States govern
nent that the hostillues cease al
once
When Panama long held out, even
/ appealing 20 Pres't Harding direct
the question was finally adjusted as
I Hughes had said II should be.
Overruled Pres't Wilson.
The disruption OF the Wilson fore
I ign policy had resulted In an atti-
tude by the allied powers which
/ seemed 70 be aimed al Squeezing
OUT the United States from deci-
sions in after-the-war questions
even those questions where vital
American rights and interests were
] affected. A garing example OF this