Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-11-08

OF the GuuGIICG VI CNCAlS TIA tG0
up to the recent published CORE
| spondence-between Lord Curzon and
Secretary Hughes was neither in
Washington nor London, but near
the Canadian border where David
Lloyd George talked with the Amer
lean newspaper men accompanying
him on his trip ia Canada and the
United States.
Among the newspaper men as
signed to travel with him were some
who knew that the crucial thing In
world history at the moment was
that seething turmoil of conflicting
economic and political ambitions
whirling about the r~eparations ques-
ton. They knew something of the
ardent desire in England that Amer
lea should step forward to help right
matters abroad. They knew, too, of
the political difficulties at home that
involved any attempt by the Amer
lean government to go further than
it had already done without success
in proffering American aid in this
world crisis.
So in the conference with ~. G."
as the newspaper men styled the
distinguished visitor, the reporters
sought expressions from the for
mer permier as to ways and means
ny WIlCH LI6 OllllCuH oLobCO iASA
again hold out O. hand to perplexed
Europe. They found 81. G." quickly
responsive to this line of question
ing. The gray-haired little man
was prompt to assert his belief that
the destiny of civilization was in
American keeping. Day by day, in
these conversations, he developed
his plea to America and day by day
the press of the continent and OF
Europe spread his words broadcast.
Finally there came from the Wis
itor such urgency for American in
iative toward some new conference
of the allied and associated powers
to avert the horrors OF a new war
which he unhesitatingly predicted
as approaching, that in Washington
the newspaper writer's began to take
it UP. They sought information at
the State Department as to the pos
sibility of reviving Secretary
Hughes proposal for an economic
INQUIRY into German capacity to pay.
There seemed to be zone. The plan
rested where it was left when
France rejected it ten months be-
fore.
Then the Washington writers
turned to the White House. 1t was
before President H~arding's death
that the original suggestions were
made by Secretary Hughes, and the
news writer's believed that President
Coolidge's views as to American
helpfulness in Europe would be
timely. An authoritative statement
of his attitude would be news"
even though it should coincide pre-
cisely, as 1t did, with the position
taken bv President Harding.
A question, calling attention to
the published reports of the pleas
for American help being voiced by
Lloyd George was prepared. After
the cabinet meeting, as is custom
airy, the President received the
newspaper men and made such state
ments as he could in reply to their
inquiries. In the course of his talk
to them, he came at last to this par
ticulat question.
The President made his declara-
ton on October 9 that the United
States would be willing to join the
alli d powers in a new conference
to adjust the reparations tangle.
The declaration was coupled with
the restrictions which the American
government has from the first at
tached to its adherence to
any plan; that the repa-
rations difficulty must be dealt with
On its merits as an economic sit
uation, and that the American
government could have no part in
any conference that considered Euro
pean factors in the snarl.
There was nothing new in the
statement of the President, 10
did he attach grave Importance to
his u~tterance. But it was timely
a., rinxrr Af srvhoN noNiA T1nNTd GnnrUn
was saying from day to day. So the
news writer's fastened to send out
bulletins over the wires to their
papers reporting indirectly what
President Coolidge had said. The
greatest press association flashed O.
fifty-word summary over it's thous-
ands of miles of wires to hundreds
of American papers and over h
Atlantic cables to England and
France where European papers gave
it prominent display.
Mr.. Lloyd George, on that day,
was speeding across Canada in a
special train to keep some of his
engagements. His car was equipped
with, radio receiving set and news
and music were buzzing in the air.
1t CHANGED that IL. G." picked up
the instrument just as an announcer
in some distant radio broadcasting
station began reading from the af-
ternoon papers a summary OF the
news of the day. :,
As the former premier clamped
the receivers to his ears, the an
nouncer came to the bulletin from
Washington telling OF President
Coolidge's declaration. IL. G." lis
tended eagerly. Because of his inti-
mate knowledge of affairs in London
and in Paris, the Presidents words
had for him a significance they did
not have for the news writer's in
Washington, Or probably for the
President himself. Mr.. Lloyd George
evidently realized that the psyche
logical moment for making a new
attempt to bring France to agree
ment on some form of conference,
with America sitting also at the
conference table, was close at hand.
His swift mind singled out Presi-
dent Coolidge's statement as the pos
sible needed stimulus to bring mat
tiers to a head.
At once the former premier sum-
moned the newspaper men on his
train. Through them, he issued a
statement to the world backing up
and supporting the American Pres
dents assertions. virtually demand
ing of the British and French gov