Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-01-02
HUGHES HAS GREAT
MIND, BUT WITH
n SERIOUS DEFECT
Continued from page 1


had done that. would not all have
been well,
But that was just what Hughes did
not do.
Ot course his logical program was
vastly pleasing to the British. 1t kept
France In the which was
one OF the things the envoys of His
Most Christian Majesty" desired.
The pig Navies Of the world were
reduced on paper. without word OF
advice from France.
The French diplomats sat back. 81
lent and humiliated. while the Japan
ese took their place "a great world
lower.
This lack Of Imagination extended
to another phase OF the conference.
The United States Great Britain and
Japan conceived a Pacific pact. They
worked out the details OF Il. They
discussed II at length, and then de-
cided that France must come into II,
because Of her minor affairs In the
Far East So France was asked 10 step
forward and sign her name to that
Treaty-after tho big Three
Hughes. Balfour and l<ato-had ne
sot,ated II. France signed.
But that was too much for Niviani
HIS pride was sorely injured. Tic
had been virtually ignored until the
last moment. when he was informed
that France was Included. and that
me should sign. So he departed for
home, humiliated. feeling that France
was being Disseminated against. Since
when had yellow man taken tht
place OF white man OF centuries
glorious history In the affections OF
the American nation9
Then. the Conference being virtual.
nded. excepting for settlement OF Fa
eastern matters. France was aske,
10 accept a naval ratio assigned to her
Vengeance is mine. sayeth the
Lord. and France.
France wanted ten new capital ships
a modification of the replacement
plans, and a smaller naval holiday
She would speak on submarines later
The conference gave one gasp, ane
almost expired.
Why France was breaking up the
whole scheme.
Not so. her delegates retorted. Tha'
was her desire all the while. but th'
honorable gentlemen had not been dis
posed TO consult her. II she had beer
asked on the first day she would hav'
! given the same answer, and then III
matter could have been threshed on
. amicably. France was not such
fourth rate power after all. eh?
{. While those delegates were sitting
b about the conference table, dazed;
! little bird few out from the British
section and informed one OF England
{ lnohlemen, who was not an official dele
r gate, just what had happened beh!n
- the closed doors OF the Pan-Amerioai
. Union.
So France was up 10 her trick
] again. what say? Then France sha
tR SisNtktl ny lublAt tlfsAAttis
- Forthwith that suave and oily gen
> tleman sat in at a Conference {
!. journalists. and calmly told all {
Frances demands. which. mind yoV
- were supposed 10 be kept in confidence
/, Not being an official delegate an
!. having gathered his informatio
i. through the air, he could not be &C
cused of violating a sacred confidenc
lOf course, II the world wanted I
e know. why all right. eh, what?
;, Unfortunately for Truth. that Ems
e lishman did not present Frances view
n in the right light. He eXaggerate
= certain phases. and put the soft ped
,. on others But so long as England
great, glorious England-could tai
10 a slap az France. what was the di.fel
I 'ence? Those bloOmin' French are froS
eaters anyway. my word!
Ships in Successive Stages.
OF course France wants these shiI
in successive stages only. and not a
al once. But why should an Englisl
q man worry TO state Frances CLAIM
i exactly?
SO France was placed in a mistake
light by the English ~ Mr.. Hugh'
might lack in1aginati~a. but the FL
slishman had oodles OF II TO spar
y, He knew what the reaction would
10 the information that was given OF
Z France was spanked by the world
n opinion. and today IL is being said {
J. the street by some folks who haver
been within 80 miles of the Conferen
that France almost wrecked the Co
q ference.
50 France didn't rock the ConferenC
?. ?. II was Mr.. Hughes lack OF imagin
nt ton in dealing with a high-spirit'
sensitive people. who resented deer
n being considered OF minor importan
." beside Japan. The British. throul
y. that unofficial spokesman, added
m the danger Of the hour by mis-repr
=. senting Frances position TO the wor
h. To give credit where IL is due,
is must admit that France did accept b
~ naval ratio. but all the balm In I
az world cannot heal that wounded pri'
And 20 state truth again, France {
y, not accept any Limitation whatsoes
upon her submarines. Perhaps Fran
,e. felt that the British Lion was grow
-. ing too close AZ her. Anyway, she h'
on out until the submarine incident "
closed.
j am convinced that IL Mr.. Hugh
-- had possessed a bit OF imaginati
'te that the situation might have been d
''' ferer.t. II France had been invited
. sit in as an equal, and had been &C
suited on every point, j do not belle
T. that she would have taken the sta
~ that she did on submarines. OF coul
one may retort that the submarine
10 be a trading point at the Canr
Conference. Perhaps 50. But /
- l.eVes not. 1.-THE incident at least