Evening journal., 1922-01-27
SAYS HARDING
AVERTED WAR
His Address Prevented
Trouble With Japan, w.
T. Ellis Asserts
SPEAKER AT CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE DINNER


today Is the Mediterranean, the
same as IL has been for four thou
sand years and not at the Confer
ence at Washington" This statement
was made before members Of the
Chamber OF Commerce in the Hotel
DUPONT last night at the annual
meeting Of that organization by Will
liam T. Ellis. Of Swarthmore, Pa,
noted newspaper man.
In speaking Of the fruits of the
Peace Conference so far obtained
by any Of the world powers, Mr.. Ellis
said that Japan alone stands out as
the one nation that has benefited
but he added the United States
through President Harding and Sec
retary Hughes had astounded the
world, especially Japan by our at
.titude in fostering a world peace.
Mr.. Ellis who is well known to
Wiimingtonians as a lecturer was
listened to with interest by the
members OF the Chamber OF Com
merce and at the conclusion of his
remarks he was congratulated for
his masterful address in which he
outlined the workings Of the Confer
ence at Washington which he has
been attending.
In speaking OF the Conference,
Mr.. Ellis said he was indiscreetly
candid and he considered the Amer
lean nation as the only one that
despite rumblings yet stood ready
to go forward again and guard
against those things for which we
had fought.
In referring to Japan, the speaker
said that President Harding at the
beginning of the conference had
thrown the switch that laverted a
war between this country and Japan.
Both nations. he said were on a
single track plunging head on when
the war was averted and he hoped
that il had been sidetracked for all
time.
The war left the world in a hor-
rible mess and We are not sure yet
how we are coming out For eX-
ample we have but to recall the res
ignation OF BRAND and the restora-
tion Of the militant party in France.
Then we. as a nation may not be
represented at Genoa"
Continuing Mr. Ellis said; Look
at the lack Of solidarity in the old
world with its deprecated currency
and the discord."
II was here that Mr. Ellis said
the center OF the world conflict was
in the Mediterranean. where 1t had
been for centuries and that while
our allies had been sleeping at Con
stantinople or playing their game OF
double crossing each other the Turk
had been making his inroads. H'
said that the action of the Frencl
in signing a treaty with the Turks
relative to the Bagdad railway, wal
a step in the wrong direction and h'
recalled the recent outbreaks In
Cairo against the British as signs OF
unrest. growing out OF the action OF
the French government in becom-
ing the protector of Moslem.
MIR. Ellis said that while we today
hear much Of the restoration of
Palestine. It is a fact that no Jew
can enter there. In concluding MS
views on the question Of the Near
East. the speaker said that the
power OF Europe has vanished in
that section. OF the world.
In referring TO the questions af-
fecting Japan and the great world
powers. Mr. Ellis said that Amer
lea had shown TIE world a better
way of adjusting their difficulties
that of talking them out instead OF
fghting them out. In calling the
conference at Washington, Presi-
dent Harding. he said. had accom-
plished something although tho
representatives OF the governments
there would have come here to dis
cuss fourth dimension or the Elm
stein theory. because to come her,
was TO come where the money is
At this conference. the first bis
thing happened in the first twenty
four hours. when war between thi
Government and Japan was averte'
by President Harding. who threw
the switch.
Mr.. Ellis referred to the attitud
OF the foreign representatives VIII
appeared to be wondering who woul
be the dominant spirit az the Con
ference as Lloyd George was nc
present, but while they were wonder
ing he said. up the Potomac cam
one who was welcomed by IN
Presidential salute OF twenty-on
guns and revered by the Presiden
the Cabinet the judiciary and I
whom the mothers brought wreath
! of flowers and children their stream
ers OF blooms the unknown her
dead. II was his spirit that domiT
, ated the Conference.
The speaker referred to Presidei
!, Harding's opening address at Il
/, conference as one OF the best az
! dresses recorded in the history
the American government and tn
was followed up by the govern
ment's plan to scrap the navies
{ the world in furthering the spirit
y peace.
He told Of Secretary Hughes SUI
r gesting what vessels should
e scrapped by England, France an
Japan and he said that such Ia
e ten years before would have mea
:. war. The Japanese. he said, a
B. peared ruhed the first time he ev
2. knew them as a nation TO be su
and he had served with them in bl
tie md in riots.
In speaking Of Japan, the speal