Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-01-16
PHEAVALS Are
LOOKED FOR IN
ERENCE
Leaders Are Showing Re-
suits of Prolonged Strain
of Negotiations
RUMORS OF TROUBLE
Strong Probability That Sessions Will
Last Well Init Next Month-far
From Agreement

Washington, Jan. 15.-The Confer
ence on the Limitation of Armament
will start tomorrow on its tenth full
week, and it is to become gathering
of statesmen who are wearing thin.
Because they are wearing thin, and
so are all the people about them, the
possibilities of sudden upheavals are
increasing, and the probabilities OF
the sessions running we'll into F'ebru-
ary are stronger than at any time
since Mr.. Hughes cut through the
conventions on the opening day and
gave an example Of speed.
Right now and for the last several
days this condition has been causing
a flood of rumors of trouble. There
was one that the japanese were using
the naval treaty as pawn to check
Mr.. Hughes in the Far East; there
was one that serious difficulties were
encountered in formulating the scrap
ping provisions, with suggestions
that efforts were being made to pro-
vide loopholes: there is one current
that Mr.. Hughes may hold up the
naval treaty until the Chinese treaty
is in shape, and there have been
others bearing on the naval situation
and dozens dealing with the Far East
Very largely, perhaps. these rumors
are simply the inevitable corps that
arise when any such gatherings as
this Conference reach point where
details are being whipped into shape
as in naval matters at present. At
those times the people on the outside
begin thinking about ghosts and talk
ing about them. Scores of things that
may conceivably happen are pushed
to the front, and stay there until
something important shunts them
aside.
But it is by no means certain that
I'll the disturbing things heard have
been or are mere ghosts. The fact
| that the men who are carrying the
! load in the Conference are wearing
thin, coupled with the possibilities in
the Far Eastern situation, may lead
to all sorts of trouble before the Con-
/ ference ends, and may have led to en-
] barras assments already that will be re-
vealcd in time.
/ The Administrative and the Amer
lean delegation are under pressure
/ from the public and the Senate for
/ important accomplishments in the
East that is passed on more or less
concretely to the delegates Of the
other important powers, and they
naturally react according to their
national interests. 1t is easily think
able that men whose nervous resources
are beginning to sag may seek to pro-
tect what thS regard as national in
terests by moves that would COM
plcate work already done.
Mr.. Hughes, it is known, recognizes
the necessity of guarding against
such possibilities. He is understood
to have observed that the strongest
men wear out if they are pushed too
hard and that men worn out are not
the men to guide negotiations that
REQUIRE calm judgement and farsight-
cdness. That is the reason. it is
stated, that he has not called the Far
Eastern committee into session in the
last few davs when the naval treaty
has been held up awaiting advices
from London and Toxic.
! He felt that it was unwisn to ask
the Chinese and Jananrse delegations
To start on the work of the Far East
ern Committee while they wore en-
ragged upon 50 sensitive subject as
Shantuno. The matters that are COM
ing IN in the Far Eastern Commit
tee. it is very likely. will t"nd to
arouse the feelings of both the Chinese
and Tapanose and it did no harm to
give the other delegates breathing
snrll. for the INGENUITY Of tn" British
and American delcoatns will be taxed
by these same matters.