Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-24
BY DREW PEARSON.

special DlSpdlcu VI LIE
GENEVA. July 23.-When the his
tory of the Geneva naval conference is
finally written, it will be found that
the failure of the British embassy in
Washington and the foreign Office in
London to keep informed on the state
of American public opinion had much
to do with the blunt and vigorous An
glo-American conflict at Geneva, with
it's inevitable setback Of mutual good
will in both countries.
Coupled with this, Anglo-American
harmony was seriously impeded at
Geneva by the presence of a paid
American big-navy propaganda, who
disseminated the most violent anti
British propaganda among newspaper
men, and who appeared to be en-
couraged by some of the American
naval experts.
Had it not been for these two fac
tors the conference, even though dead
locked, would not have so reused pub
lie opinion in both countries.
In the past the British foreign Of
fee has kept its finger constantly on
the pulse of American public opinion,
and furthering of Anglo-American
friendship had much to do with the
signing of debt agreement distinct
ly unfavorable to Britain, the abroga-
ton of the Anglo-Japanese alliance
and the Fastening of Irish peace. An
glo-American friendship has been the
corner stone Of British foreign policy
and the state of American opinion is
considered a barometer of that friend
ship.
Japan Gagged Sentiment.
Japan, although less concerned with
American
caption to gauge 1t before the opening
of the naval conference. Mr.. Sadao
Saburi, one Of the chief delegates,
Travelled across the United States on
his way to the conference and spent
considerable time in Washington with
his ear tuned to catch the trend of
American opinion on naval disarma-
ment. In the same manner, Charles
MacVeagh, the American Ambassador
to Toxic, returned to Washington Just
before the conference in order to in.
form President Coolidge and Secretary
kellogg of the state Of Japanese opin-
ion. He returned to Toxic before the
conference opened in order to be able
TO act between the Japanese foreign Of
fice and the State Department in case
any difficulty arose at Geneva. Am
bassador Houghton also visited Wash
ence, spending an evening at the
White House to bring President Cool.
ldge up to date on British opinion, He
returned Immediately to London.
on the other hand, Sir Esme How.
ara, British Ambassador in Washing
Ton, was on tour of the Pacific
coast shortly before the naval con.
terence opened, and during the time
ne spent in Washington after his re-
TURN. ne was, unfortunately, not in
the best of health. Just the week be.
Tore the conference opened. the entire
BRITISH embassy packed it's archives
and files into large wooden packing
cases and moved up to Manchester.
Mass, fashionable resort far re.
moved from the heat and pulsation of
official Washington.
Ready to Meet Challenge.
At this time it would not have
taken a very keen observer to sense
that American public opinion favored
parity with Great Britain, at least on
paper. American opinion, it could
easily be seen, was not anxious to
build on any considerable scale. but
was at point where it would be
reused by any building challenge by
rival naval power. This was unmis.
takably proved when President Cool.
idSe.s plea for economy in cruiser
Duliolng was overridden roughshod
by congress. To challenge the right
Of the United States to build. there.
fore, was simply to feed ammunition
to the big-navy group.
This could not have been fully an.
preciated by the British foreign office.
usually so solicitous of the America n
public pulse. Or, If it was. the infor.
nation was not sufficiently empha.
sized to the admiralty and their dele.
gates at Geneva. For challenge the
American right to build was exactly
what Great Britain did.
On the opening day of the confer
ence the British delegation let it be
distinctly inferred that they consid.
cred parity between the United
States and Great Britain on the mat
ter or cruisers foolish and absurd
IDEA. Moreover, as the conference
wore on they failed to correct this
inference, but strengthened it in
private interviews, despite the storm
or public opinion in the United
States and the unfavorable reaction
against Anglo American friendship.
Nobody at Embassy.
About this time a telegram from
AllpdsSduoT OlpSoh 10 secretary KEEL
logg suggesting that some intimation
of the seriousness of aroused public
opinion be conveyed to the British
embassy received the irate reply from
Mr.. Kellogg that there was nobody at
the British embassy except a third
secretary, with whom it was useless
| to confer.
Thereupon the Washington CORE
Spondent of the London Times. Mr..