Evening star., 1922-01-21
PRESIDENT SEES
PARLEY JUSTIFIED
CounseIs Patience and De-
clares Work Shows Confer
ence Progress.
BY y. O. MESSENGER.

President Harding's latest word on
the Washington conference-not to
be quoted. but to be referred to-is
In effect. patience, and yet a little
more patience; let the conference go
unremarked for awhile: it is doing
well and will vindicate its existence
by works accomplished.
This admonition came at a time
when there was one of the periodical
swings Of the pendulum away from
the optimistic pivot. 1t was not the
first instance in the life of the con-
ference. The pendulum swings back
and forth, but ever the hour hand
moves steadily toward the striking
point. the high noon Of achievement.
Believes in Faith and Works.
President Harding believes in faith
and works. He has seen the work.
ings Of the conference and he has
undimmed faith in its further effici-
epcy. 1t might be said without be-
ing trite in expression that the con-
ference is running true to form OF
normal affairs in this world; a few
PAGES forward then a slip back, but
ever onward.
1t was the original design of Sec
retary Hughes. the leader in the
working out of the agenda, to take
up first the questions easiest of Ap-
proach- and this has been carried out.
So. 1t is quite natural. it is argued,
that the admittedly difficult problems
should be attended with embarras-
1Cn -
turb for the hour but do not seriously
threaten the success of the under.
taking as a whole.
Not Blindly Optimistic.
1t is not sought to represent the
President and Secretary of State in
the light Of blind optimists They are
practical men and would not delude
themselves nor mislead the public by
indulging in fatuous hope-in think
ing that they could get results by
merely wishing them on themselves.
But they are in position to appreciate
what has been done and what can be
done. They ARE in the know
1t is considered a great deal more
likely that those who wish the con-
ference ill luck and failure will find
that they are not in tune with the
drift Of affairs. which. even in this
hour of rebuffs and seeming stagna-
ton, is said, in authoritative qrar.ers,
to be still onward and not backward.
Significance is attached to an oc-
currence in the Senate yesterday
when Senator Underwood and Senator
Lodge. respectively leaders of the
democratic and republican forces,
found themselves in accord in de-
ploring suggested interference in the
settlement of the Shantung affair, and
agreeing in the forecast of de-
termination of that problem along
lines which will be satisfactory to
the United States.
Interpreted N Serving Notice.
The expressions Of the two leaders
were interpreted aa practically serv-
ing notice on all concerned that the
government of the United States is
positive in its stand on Shantung and
that there are no political ditisions
of sentiment. The government, it
was made plain, expects g. settlement
and of a character consonant with its
insistence and stand from the first
presentation of the ISSUE.
The far-reaching effect upon the
other achievements of the conference
Of the success or failure of the
shantung negotiations was clearly
forecast and is supposed to be gener-
ally realized.