Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-23
BY FRANK H. sIMoNDs.

n ONDON.-when one compares
the Naval Conference with prev
ious great international gather
IL ings, such as the Paris Peace
Conference, the Washington as
sembly of 1921, and the Geneva session
which admitted the Germans in 1925,
nothing is more striking than the abb
sence Of any dominating personality or,
for that matter, personalities.
AT Paris all other men were over
Swallowed by the famous Big Three
Clemenceau, Wilson, Lloyd George
Here, while Tardieu has certainly play
ed the most prominent role, thanks
primarily to the strength Of the French
position, no one could for a moment
suggest that in any respect he measured
up to the old Tiger whose lieutenant
he was in 1919. He has been an able.
astute, clear-headed representative of
France, by all odds the frankest. most
approachable of all the principal dele
gates. But that is all.
Macdonald, for his part, recalls Will
son much more than Tardieu does
Clemenceau. but Wilson with many
striking differences. To be sure one
must recognize the difficulties of the
British premier's position. For him the
conference is but one Of many problems.
Leader Of minority government in
perpetual crisis and head of the gov
eminent of a nation wrestling with
economic problems of incalculable
magnitude. he has not been able to
concentrate upon the Naval Conference
rs Wilson did on the Peace Congress.
Lacks Wilson's Power.
But this IS by no means the whole
story. Macdonald, for all his personal
suggestions of the former American
President, totally lacks his gift for
great phrases, his power to mobilize the
idealism Of millions for the undertak-
ing which he had at hand. BY con-
trast. Macdonald is an able parliament
tartan, frSt-rate speaker, but at no
time has he given proof of moral or
intellectual mastery such as certainly
belonged to Wilson in his greatest day.
Moreover, to compare him with his
fellow countrymen Lloyd George is
only to indicate at once the contrast
between one Of the most picturesque and
amazingly interesting figures of our
own time and man who is totally
lacking in all familiar appeals to the
crowd. Lloyd George had wit, humor.
INFINITE ingenuity; Ramsay Macdonald
has none of these.
Looking to the Washington Confer
ence, which Is more familiar TO Amer
leans, no one would for a moment
cream OF ascr1bing to Col. Stimson any
tn1ng OF the role played by Gov. Hughes
at the earlier meeting. In a certain
sense Hughes was that conference. He
dominated every session, never for a
moment took his hand of the rudder.
and despite his almost incalculabIe
labors literally devoted hours to the
press Of the world. daily explaining the
progress OF events. subjecting himself
to questions without limit.
Col. Stimson has chosen a totally
different method. He has worked
wholly secretly through the medium of
private conferences. He has been Wis
ible to press and public only on open
sessions OF the conference or upon the
rare occasions when he had formal an
nouncements to be made. He has been
thus as much OF a mystery man as
Hughes was central figure
Robinson Stands Out.
Actually the most important figure
IN the American delegation has been
Senator Robinson. 1t is true that he
possessed certain advantages. Repre-
senttng the minority in the Senate he
was always in position to interpoSe
an effective veto. And in a larger
sense he represented the Senate with
out regard TO partisan consideration.
Here, TO be sure, he was loyalty sup
ported by Senator Reed, so that actu-
ally the Senate was always present in
deliberations of the delegation.
But beyond this, slowly but surely.
Senator Robinson's personality has gone
over. The British have found him the
man in our delegation with whom it
was most easy to talk business. His
senatorial experience spared him a GER
tain lack Of confidence and hesitation
noticeable in our other representatives.
And along with this the press found
him the one man who was ready to dis
cuss the business of the conference in
the same manner he would at home
have talked about political conven-
ton or Senate struggle.
On one or two critical occasions. too.
notably over the battleship issue,
Robinson instantly and naturally took
the lead and his views were those which
prevailed-rather because of their
soundness, to be sure, than because of
any appeal to Senate authority. Again
one must say in fairness that in much
that he did Senator Robinson was back
ed by Reed. who played an important
role; yet, all in all I think Robinson
must be rated the most successful figure
in our delegation.
Morrow Most Active.
If Robinson has been the most con-
spicuous figure, however, no one can
doubt that Ambassador Morrow has