The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-01-08

sire 10 nave SUBMARINES lot ucltuSt.
IL their present psychology had been
taken into account at the start there
is a strong probability that this situa-
ton would never have come about.
II the representatives of the United
States are TO work successfully with
other nations in international con-
ferences. as the present administra-
ton seems to intend. then they must
learn that diplomats can no more
afford to overlook the susceptibilities
of other nations than an engineer c-l
afford to overlook the susceptibilities
of iron, steel. all the materials which
he employs Frances acute sensitive
ness. her black imaginations. may
irritate the American who knows
nothing of invaded and devastated
territory, who has not had to sit
through five long years with the,
sound OF bursting shells continually
in his ear. But il he has not the
imagination andthe sympathy to tell
him what the results OF such an ex-
perience are. then let him accept the
judgment of physicians and realize
that in whatever negotiations he has
with the French people at this time
their shell-shocked minds and souls
must be taken into account.
Failed of Plenary Session.
Mr.. Hughes lost a second great
opportunity in the submarine mat
ter. II he had seized 1t IL. might
have helped him materially with
the public in the holiday week. A
few days before Christmas, when II
became obvious that the subma-
rine was in danger of destroying
the American delegations plans for
a glorious Christmas present to the
nation. Mr.. Balfour asked for an
open session in which to discuss the
matter. For some reason not at all
clear Mr.. Hughes did not consent.
Our Secretary of State has proved
himself a superior dramatist, but
he was poor psychologist in this
instance. For look at the situation
in the sixth week of the conference
the scene with the French over
the capital ship ratio had set every
body by the ears; the Presidents
unfamiliarity with the meaning OF
the four-power pact had given the
malicious faterial for tales OF in
trigue, and it had also aroused the
solemn and narrow minded few in
Congress, who feel that the in
tegrity Of the nation is in their
hands alone, to renew their pestif-
erous agitation and eloquence; the
press was peevish. for IT looked as
II nobody was going to get even a
day off without feeling that they
were losing touch with the situa-
ton. II there was to be no holiday,
then an open session with a chance
to hear Mr.. Balfour. Lord Lee. Mr..
Sarraut, Admiral De Bon, Senator
Schanzer in the free discussion of
matter in which the whole coun-
try was tremendously interested
such an open session would have
been a Christmas present in itself,
have cleared up the thick atmos.
phere.
Segregation Irritated.
In such conferences as this the
atmosphere easily becomes heavy
with suspicion. The sight Of a
group of eminent gentlemen of va
rious nationalities, shutting them
selves up morning after morning in
the Pan American Building and for
hours considering matters which
concern the peace and happiness OF
the world. if too long continued,
stirs up resentment in the best OF
us. If you are an impersonal, de-
tached, philosophical, fairly we'll
Informed person it Is not difficult
for you to visualize what those
gentlemen are doing: II you take
the trouble. you can even build up
in your mind what they are say
ing. suppose it is question of
the ratio OF capital ships. You
know that they are listening to
disputes over tonnage and the way
II has been computed. are studying
long arrays of figures. matters
dull in themselves and requiring
the closest attention. Most of us
would not remain a half hour un-
less We were compelled to when
such discussions were going on.
But il you are a suspicious person.
II you've been trained In the
cynical school of sensational jour-
nalism to look for mischief and
intriEue-and often. II must be con-
fessed, finding it-you have dark
thoughts about the gentlemen shut
up in the Pan American Building.
The only way in which such
suspicion can be cleared up-or bet
ter. preyented-is nv frequent open
session and much freezer discus
sions at those sessions than we
have SO far had. Some of the
Americans prominent in the pres
ent conference have in the last
two years frequently criticised the
secrecy with which the Paris con-
ference was conducted, but up to
date there has been very little diff
t. h.
in Paris. The work there as here
was done in committees There as
here there were daily cemmunica-
lions to the press. They have been
more satisfactory here. fuller. but
that has been made possible by the
fact that the situation here is far
less complicated and by the rigor
with which Mr.. Hughes has kept
one thing at a time on the table.
AS for the press conferences, in
Paris. as here, they were held daily
by the Americans. and frequently
by all of the other delegations. No
body in Paris. of course. was so
satisfactory to the press as Mr..
Hughes. His candor, his good
humor. his out-and-out, man-to-
man conduct of his daily meetings
can not be too highly praised. He
has set pace for this sort of
thing very hard to follow. There
was no American in Paris in a posi-
ton to do for the press what Mr..
Hughes is doing. President Wilson
had not the time. The other mem
bers of the delegation were not in
Mr.. Hughes position. Nobody else
in our delegation here would have
the authority, even ~ he had the
ability, to do what Mr.. Hughes is