The Columbia evening Missourian., 1922-03-04
HUGHES FIRST
YEAR ONE OF
ACHIEVEMENT
Washington Ranks Secretary as
One of Greatest Men Who
Have Held the
Position.
HIS TASK GIGANTIC ONE
Craftsmanship Proven in Arms
Conference, Chinese Prob
lem and Repara-
ton Crisis.


Americas greatest Secretaries Of State!
That is the way Washington is think.
ing Of Charles Evans Hughes. chief OF
the International relations Of the United
States, whose first year in this important
Office is closing with an unprecedented
list of achievements.
The action Of the Senate on the Yer.
sailles Treaty and the 1920 Presidential
elections. with other causes. had worked
completely to disrupt the course Of
American foreign policy in the closing
days of the Wilson Administration.
Hughes flung himself at this task His
greatest accomplishment may be de-
scribcd as follows:
During the closing DAYS Of the Wilson
Administration, the United States. be-
cause of the Wilson defeat. was no lon-
ger regarded in foreign capitals as the
moral leader in world affairs. This
country was hanging back. not leading
or following. Hughes. it is conceded,
has returned to America the role of NOR
ii iedutfsnip Oh Inc Worlu
When Hughes came TO the State De-
pariment, he naturally did not have al
his command the details and historical
facts of the many problems in inierna-
tional affairs facing this Government.
Tie Immediately ordered to his Office
all the records from the State Depart.
ment archives in the cases of the various
problems which he was being called on
10 decide. He spent long hours going
thoroughly into these records.
THE ARMS CONFERENCE
OF course, the Conference on Limita-
lion of Armamen, and Far Eastern Ques-
tions, just ended, has. been Hughes
greatest achievement; it will undoubt-
edly be the crowning work of his career.
In the negotiations leading up 10 the
Conference and in the parley itself,
Hughes is regarded as having displayed
high qualities of statecraft. Among the
great results wrought by this Conference
are the Naval Disarmament Treaty, the
Four-Power Treaty dissolving the Anglo
japanese Alliance and aimed to secure
the peace of the Pacific, the Shantung
settlement, the Open Door Treaty on
China, and the other covenants.
Hughes had been in the State Depart.
menf only a few weeks when he dis
patched to the Allied capitals lengthy
note dealing with the entire mandate
question. Ii insisted that, despite the re-
jeciion of the Versailles Treaty, the Unit
ed States had succeeded to equal rights
as the result of the war; it protested
against the attitude Of the Allied Powers
regarding inundated territories and in
sisted that the United States must be
consulted on the disposition Of these
mandate rights; il declared that the
United States could not recognize the
zap mandate as it had been awarded to
Japan. This question has since been
settled by treaty.
THE MEXICAN ENIGMA
''Should the United States recognize
the Obregon Government of Mexico?"
was a big question which faced Hughes.
''Thc fundamental question" Hughes
said, between the United States and
Mexico was the protection Of private
property. This question was to have
been settled in the new treaty by adequate
and complete protection Of American
rights and interests, and this treaty was
to effect recognition. The treaty was
proposed to Obregon, but because Of
false reports at the time. which made a
twisted issue Of the question in Mexico,
the Mexican chief executive has not yet
accepted it.
The first real test Of Hughes person
al craftsmanship was during the re-
parations crisis Of last spring. Germany
was behind in her reparations payments;
France was threatening to send her army
into the Ruhr in retaliation. Germany
appealed to the United States that Presi-
dent Harding arbitrate the reparations
question.
Hughes achieved two big things
France did not carry out her desire to
occupy the Ruhr, and shortly afterward
the Allies. prompted by the attitude Of
the United States. arrived at a repara-
iions settlement in London with Ger
many. which was regarded as the most
just and practicable that had been work
ed out up TO that time.
Hughes was faced with the all-import-
ant question of what sort Of peace
treaty should be worked out between the
United States and Germany. The secre-
tary had held the view that the United
States must be a party to many OF the
economic provisions Of the Versailles |
Treaty, because Of their tremendous ef- |
feet upon American interests.
Because Of the Senate situation, with |
feeling still running high against the |
mere name Of the Versailles Treaty, the |
President and Hughes later decided TO
have a separate treaty with Germany. !
This Treaty of Peace with Germany is
regarded as one OF the most unusual doc
uments in history.
Hughes has been consistent and
strong champion of the traditional poll
cy of the Open Door,"
Japan's military occupation Of Siberia |
was serious problem for Hughes With.
drawal was promised Japan at the Arms
Conference.