Evening star., 1924-08-10

| In f1rst-handed promotion of confidence
in the disinterest of this nation has
made interested disinterestedness" a
new force to be reckoned with in future
diplomacy.
Only through the belief that Ameri-
cans had no axes to grind and were
honestly seeking some settlement that
would insure the economic and financial
veal of the Old World, were statesmen
OF various contending nations brought
into line and agreement reached in Lon
don giving some promise of insuring a
peaceful future. And, though Ambas
sador Kellogg, Col. Logan and Ameri-
can bankers labored to make their dis
interest plain, it was not until Secretary
Hughes appeared in England as a visi-
tor and traveller. denying official import
in his visit, did statesmen of allied
| powers renew their tasks of settlement
win optimism and real satisfaction.
conference in London.
| Though not representing this Govern
| ment, as has been repeatedly stated
secretary Hughes conferred here and
there In the highest places of the
British government. The French pre-
mier, Herriot, and other distinguished
Frenchmen sought counsel in his cham
oers during his London stay Belgians
and Italians likewise turned to him for
advice as to future courses Officially
| Secretary Hughes said nothing. I'm
officially. and as man to man, Secretary
Hughes is declared to have said MANY
things. The gist of remarks was The
| world has seen what contentious ma
| uonai feeling has brought about There
must be comfy, there must be real eff
fort toward good will National inter
EST Is as nothing compared to general
interest which will insure a going world,
! one that can live in peace and prosper.
Here is the Dawes report. 1t insures the
! thlng' we all wish. Let's settle our dis
putes in a compromising way and open
the highroad to general prosperity for
the whole world"
| HaIken Back to Speech.
Statesmen of the Old World bark
ened back to the day when in New
Haven Secretary Hughes made it
plain that the United States could not
be expected to do anything in any
way until Europe should first set her
own house in order. Here in London
was a chance to do so, possibly the
last chance for many years. At least
1t was an auspicious occasion. That
the psychological moment had ar
rived few could deny, for, first of all,
there was will to do if combative ele-
! ments in various nations could be
sllenced- Secretary Hughes learned
that Herriot at heart wanted nothing
better than peaceful agreement that
would insure economic and financial
advance. But Herriot was beset by
| political enemies at home. Secretary
Hughes took note. During his stay in
London the American statesman made
it plain that although the American
government could not and would not
be committed. nevertheless there was
in America a great force demanding
that something be done toward the
restoration of Europe. These Amer
leans could be counted upon to make
the Dawes report a living thing, and
financially were able to do so. If
there were any qualms or misgivings
previous to the arrival of Secretary
Hughes in London, these faded, and
as result all England agreed that
nothing should be done there to haz-
ard the success of the conference or
impede Premier Ramsay Macdonald
in his efforts the reconcile the British
and French viewpoints on the Dawes
report.
Makes Paris Optimistic.
Secretary Hughes, having healed
many contentious sore by his fore
looking attitude in regard to the
Dawes report, then went on to Paris.
Here he met the arch-enemy of Her
riot, the man expected to bring about
the overthrow of the present premier
for concessions to England. and, as a
consequence, treated Germany with
moderation. That man was Poincare.
Again, unofficially. Secretary Hughes
talked with leaders of conflicting po-
litical thought. Almost as il by
magic clouds of pessimism faded. The
French press reflected new note of
confidence, a new note of willingness
to make sacrifices for the common
good of all nations Herriot, in Lon
don, felt these reactions. He took
new courage and proceeded with as
surance, at the same time with a
compromising attitude on all points.
which up to that time had been OF
sorely contentious nature, and by
their very character designed to
throw the London conference on the
rocks.
Secretary Hughes must have
chuckled as he took train from
Paris and fitted toward Brussels.
there again to advance the cause of
compromise in the general unpromis-
ing situation. In Belgium again he
was permitted to meet the leaders OF
thought in governmental and busi-
ness circles. Having confidence in
the man as a man and the man as
Secretary of State whose philosophers
as to what was necessary to bring
about a new state of things in Europe
were respected. 1t was Immediately
noticeable that after Secretary
Hughes left Belgium the Belgian
delegation in London thought less of
clinging to the Poincare theses in re-
/ gard to the Rhineland and the Ruhr
and adoped a modified attitude, one
easily blending with the general tone
of the conference.
4 But Secretary Hughes was not con-
tent. He penetrated enemy country
as well. just as Chancellor Marx and
|
were about to depart for London al