Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-26

~ NE who seeks the word or term
most aptly describing the con-
duct of Charles Evans Hughes
~ as chief of the American dele
CATION to the Havana Confer-
ence is faced at the outset with some
difficulty. Skilled diplomacy, mastefiul
strategy, clever generalship-all OF these
present themselves. But diplomacy
suggests dexterity, strategy suggests
deceit and generalship suggests omnlpo-.
tency. None of these fits the case OF
Mr.. Hughes. For at Havana he fol-
lowed the most obvious course, though
it may not have been the easiest. he
was simply honest. And while 1t may
be trite it is none the less true that
honesty pays. J.,
While the Havana Conference was III
session and after it adjourned. those
whose business 1t Is to attack the Latln
American policies of the United states
have found themselves IN a rather seri-
Gus. but highly amusing. predicament.
In the first place, the expected trounc-
ing of Uncle Sam by the Latin Amerl-
can bloc" did not materialize, Tor there
wasn't any bloc In the second place,
these attempting to administer TINS
trouncing individually found themselves
out in front of the crowd, all alone.
Such a situation could not be blamed ON
Mr.. Hughes Mr.. Hughes did nothing
to prevent any one from talking VINO t,o
wanted to talk So the critics, unable
to hop or Mr. Hughes. have hoped on
the Latin Americans for their mode OF
attack. They should have chosen some
thing goes the lament. that would nave
put Mr. Hughes in the wrong. Inc
trouble was, they cry. that MIR. Hughes
was always right.
What has been the result?
Six weeks ago there were indications
on every hand that the time for reckon
ing was at hand; that at last the worm
was about to turn and soon the CoiosSos
of the North would be downed and
chained by a revolving and outraged
public opinion in the fiery nations south
of the Rio Grande Here in the United
States the critics were fguratively lick
ing their chops. The prospect was rosy
At last the United States, for the COM
mission of crimes repeatedly charged.
was about to go on trial before jury
of its peers and there was no doubt OF
the verdict Only by holding out for
strict Interpretation of topics on the
agenda; by using its power and prestige
to smother criticism. by throwing the
cover of secrecy over committee meet
ings. could the American delegation,
with Mr.. Hughes in command. hope to
stem the tide.
But six weeks have come and gone
The Sixth International Conference Of
American States is history now. In
stead of gaining enemies. the United
States has won friends. Instead Of
having its policies beaten down with
criticism 1t has seen them Endorsed as
an almost universal conception Of pam
Instead Of leaving
Havana Inundated and defeated. the
delegation returns in triumph
not as conquerors. perhaps, who have
won great victories. but as representa-
tives of a country whose motives and
actions have been tested and found not
wanting Much of this can be traced
TO Mr.. Hughes. He armed himself with
frankness, courtesy. honesty and good
common sense He went among friends
them friends. He dealt with
them as friends and found that they
were friends
Mr.. Hughes prepared himself for the
A man who has ac-
in the 60 years Of his life
what he has accomplished is never I'M
for the next thing. But early
In the proceedings it developed that
Mr.. Hughes had read and digested the
minutes OF the FIVE preceding Pam
American Conferences, Stupendous
feat in itself. He knew what it was all