The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-02-06
FINAL ACT
in DRAMA
f FINISHED
in AN HOUR
Delegates Sign Treaties and
Hear President ExtoI Their
Accomplishments.
BY GEORGE Il. HOLMES.
International News service.

The Washingtno conference
passed into history today at 11:l5
a. m, with the echoes of its
Ipraise as "the greatest step in
history toward world peace" ring
ing in the ears of the chief figures
in the three months drama.
The end of the long and ardous
grind was simple and lacking in
the dramatic tenseness that might
! be expected to accompany such
momentous event in the worlds
history. 1t was very much like
a group of tired and happy work
men laying down their tools after
the whistle had blown to signalize
the end of the days work.
Final Session Brief.
The final session was short and
| extremely business-like. Signing
the five treaties was begun i'm
mediately after the conference
opened at 1910 q. m, and II was
completed in half an hour. Then
President Harding took the center
of the stage and briefly bespoke
his praise and gratitude at the
achievements of the meeting.
There was a solemn hush when
the applause that greeted his re-
marks had died away. Then the
Rev. John 8. Abernethy. pastor OF
President Harding's Church, said
brief benediction, asking divine
blessing on the works of the par
ley.
! Amid the rustic and stir OF the
audience that marks the end OF a
hnnn1a6 hn Of
Chairman Hughes"
The conference is adjourned sine
die"
Over in Hour.
And that was all The whole
session lasted an hour and five
minutes.
In the same brilliant setting that
saw the conference open three
months ago, the worlds leading
statesmen gathered this morning
about the green horseshoe table to
ratify their work.
II was a brilliant assemblage that
saw the finale of the conference
Scattered throughout the packed gal.
lcries were cabinet members, justices
of the supreme court of the United
States, members of the House and
Senate. and virtually the entire dip
pomatic corps of Washington. The
boxes were jammed with women.
Hall Filled Early.
Every seat in the great square
room was filled at 9:45, the spacta-
tors having been warned that none
could enter after that hour The
center OF the room was filled with
chattering. laughing diplomats. The
tension that marked previous ses.
sions was gone, ana the joy felt al
the end OF the long drag was appar.
ent in every face. Even the solemn.
visaged, owl-like Chinese and Jap
anese Joined in the light banter and
small talk.
Each OF the delegations was greet.
ed with an outburst of applause
when il entered Smiles were on
their faces. Everybody smiled, from
the clerks to the principal actors In
the conference drama. Everybody
vas glad the long grind was just
about over.
Ovation for Hughes.
There was a tremendous burst Of
applalIse as Secretary Hughes en-.
tered at 1905. II was 1909 when
his gavel fell. opening the session.
lie lost no time in getting to busi.
ness. At 1910 he said he was
happy TO announce the Shantung
treaty had been signed on Saturday
I'VE will now sign the other
treaties" he said, "in alphabetical
order-America, British Empire,
Belgium. China, France, Italy,
Japan. Netherlands, and rortsR1.