The New York herald., 1922-02-02

t to their death by wanton murder
as 1t were, that was presumably a slip
of the tongue. 1t was that the restora-
ton Of Wei Hal Wei 10 China was
"a defense against China" whereas he
meant TO say "a defense Of China"
Lord Lee, who was sitting beside
Mr.. Balfour, nipped the coat sleeve
of the British statesman and the lat
ter leaned down to hold brief COLO
guy with the head of the British Ad-
miralty.
What did I say?" asked Mr.. Bal.
four audibly. Lord Lee informed him.
With a cheerful grin. Mr.. Balfour
Strengthened up and said "Oh. well,
know the reporters will overlook that
slip. They knew what I meant"
Later, in describing Wei Hal Wei,
Mr.. Balfour provoked a smile by say
ing that Wei Hal Wei had not been
of much value to the British Empire
anyway. He described the circum-
stances that attended its lease to his
country by China, saying at was
taken on" to offset the influence of
Russia, which had seized Port Arthur
and was TO terminate when the
Russian control Of the latter port was
abandoned.
British Obligation Ended.
"The collapse Of Russia he contin-
ued, had ended the British obligation
and it is therefore with very great
pleasure that the British Government,
had decided to return without condi-
ton the leased territory to the control
Of China"
He said the chief value of Wei Hal
Wei to the British Government was
that it provided "a sort of summer
resort for the officers on the ships
of the China station" He further ex-
pressed his pleasure at the tribute
paid to Mr.. Hughes and himself for
having contributed to the settlement
of the 'Shantung controversy.
In doing so he pulled another
bone" by failing to acknowledge the
thanks extended by Baron Shidehara
to Secretary Hughes and himself
Lord Lee called his attention to this
omission, too. Then he most gra-
ciously made amends for 1t by ad-
dressing himself to the Japanese dele
gates, sitting on the left side of the
council table and asked them to ae-
cept his sincere appreciation of their
kind and happy expressions"
Ambassador Shidehara, Baron Kato
and Mr.. Hanihara leaned forward in
their chairs and bowed in solemn ac-
acknowledgement Thereupon Mr., Bal
four closed by saying he regarded the
settlement of the Stantung contro-
versy as the crowning work of Secre-
tary Hughes and the delegates of
Japan and China.
Mr.. Hughes added word to ex-
press his appreciation of the thanks
rendered to Mr.. Balfour and himself
for assisting in the Shantung settle
ment. Then. in his role of reading
clerk, Mr.. Hughes said he was author
lied by the committee on armaments
to present the treaty of the United
States, Great Britain, France, Italy
and japan covering naval armaments
on all types of craft. He said he
would not read the treaty itself be-
cause that had been prepared in Eng
lish and French for the information of
the delegates and for their signatures.
American Proposal Maintained.
He read the exhaustive summary
containing most comprehensive
statement of the agreements 10 be in
cluded in the treaty He prefaced II
with a statement that was made with
manifest pleasure. It was that com
parison would show that the proposal
of the American Government for the
limitation Of naval armaments had
been maintained not only as to capt.
.al ships but as to auxiliary craft.
mo more extraordinary treaty has
ever been made" said Mr.. Hughes
with emphatic gestures of his left
hand. I'VE no longer talk of limiting
ornaments, but we have limited them
in fact. The agreements in this naval
treaty will result in an enormous saw
ing to all OF the people of the world
who are now compelled to bear stag
fering burdens of taxation. We talk
of limitation of armaments no longer,
but we have. in fact, limited them"
In describing the new schedule for
capital ships, Mr.. Hughes provoked a
laugh by saying: I'VE might cali this
the denaturlng of capital ships" The
best thing about the naval treaty. he
added. Is the spirit displayed by the
nations which had agreed to it,. They
have all instanced a sincere desire to
contribute to their fullest extent to
the promotion of peace.
Camerlynck ratified off into French
the brief address made by Mr. Hughes
and as he sat down M Sarraut. thin
wiry. bald, with graying mustache
and high straight collar, around
which was knotted a black four in hand
tie, arose. The French spokesman Is
quite as sincere, though perhaps not
| as magnetic, as either M. BRAND or M
viviani, who had earlier addressed the