The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-11
HOPES OF HUGHES AGAIN SHATTERED
Suffers Second Great Disap- pointment When France
 Rejects Conference Plan
By RAYMOND CHAPTER (Leased Wire to The Age-EeraI6

WASHINGTON, Nov 9.-Great dis appointment, politically speaking, has come into the life of Charles E. Hughes just twice, each time on the heels of apparent success. The first one came In the cold November dawn of 1916 when he woke up in the Hotel Astor to find that he was not-as he had believed when he went to sleep the night before-the President elect of the United States. The second one came in his office at the state department when the French ambas- sador brought him the word that Poincare had refused to budge-and that meant the collapse of the proj- ected separations conference. Both of these disappointments have come crashing through unawares just when their victim seemed about to step up to a new pinacle.
 Two weeks ago Hughes appeared to have been chosen by the fates to be the Moss who was to lead a war-torn, shell-shocked world back to a peace ful, rational life. For exactly five years, almost to a day, Europe has played with lighted torches among the powder kegs. Unable to face the terrible disillusionment of the morn ing after when the fiddler must be paid, continental leaders have wan dered over and over the fields of four years of carnage.
 Makes Economic Farley offer.
 Finally, when France was about to plungee into the Ruhr year ago, Secretary of State Hughes came for ward with the proposal that the allies and the United States organize a body of. economists to find out how much Germany could fairly be ex- pected to pay and then proceed to rebuild that chaotic country and col lect this sum. French leaders had unframed their people, German leaders had inflamed theirs, the conciliatory efforts of Great Britain who sought to bring about adoption of the Hughes plan were unheeded. So the United States again took up it's domestic af- fairs.
 But the Idea left loose by Hughes failed to wither and grew slowly but steadily. Now and then some person of wisdom would refer to 1t as the only source of hope. Then Lloyd trumpeted the Hughes plan to the ears of the whole world again. In five years consideration, world states men had no other plan which seemed as feasible. Great Britain, seizing the psychological moment. brought it
  erted every sort of subterranean pressure to bring France into line. Appeared To Have Won.
 For a few fleeting hours France appeared to waver. Misled-or per haps misinformed-Presi Coo lidge and Secretary of State Hughes believed the American plan had been accepted by all At last American statesananship-the samo statesman ship which mustered world sentiment for reduction of naval armaments- appeared about to exert other decl- sive influence on world affairs. The ideas of Hughes appeared to have triumphed. He was about to become, in less dramatic way of course, the same key to salvation which Wood row Wilson became in 1917, when he led the allies out of the valley of de- feat.
 Then cume the cables from Paris bringing complete disillusionment. diplomatic language looked bad, but Hughes, still clinging on hopefully. asked for further explanation in the hope that Poincere would finally leave the door open. Ambassador Jusserand brought the final word The writer saw Hughes come out of the Presidents private office. The
  The twinkling eyes which the writer saw tighten up with satisfaction at the armament conference were seri- ous. For. the second time within a short span of years. Hughes has seen the cup of victory snatched away.
 Passes off World Stage.
 There are nothing but minor routine matters now before Highes in the state department. The mat ter of reopening the American con sulate at Newcastle, the negotiation of an agreement with Great Britain over searching ships for liquor, and such like will fill his mind from now on. The administration which brought him into the state department is coming around to it's close. France is now absorbed in preparations for her national election next year, as the United States Is. So far as his present term of office is concerned. Hughes has practically passed off of the world stage. The achievement .r~xhich might conceivably have car ried him into the White House-or at least into the republican presi- dential nomination, had Coolidge de- clined to run. now is frustrated.
 The German ambassador, Dr. wied- feldt. called on Secretary Hughes. principally for the purpose of secur- ing confirmation of the authoritative press reports that the United States had rejected the French restrictions on the proposed expert Inquiry. The German envoy was given the same version of the situation as was an- nounced last night.
 It also was understood that Wied- feldt discussed with Hughes the dis turbed internal situation in Germany.
 O O O
 All Awaiting Instructions.
 None of the representatives here of the powers party to the negotiations which sought to bring about the rep arations conference, Great Britain. France, Italy or Belgium, conferred with the state department today. All were awaiting instructions from their governments.
 The general feeling in Washington Is that any hope that the Hughes plan for American aid in a repara- tions settlement may be revived in some satisfactory way is vain one. Secretary Hughes conferred with President Coolidge st the White House today for the purpose of giv- Ing the chief executive complete report on the unsuccessful move of the United States in the European situation. He refused to comment In any way on leaving the White House except to say that there was noth- ing new in the situation.
 Many Spectators Hurt When Stands ColLapse