Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-01-30
The Memoirs Of CordeII Hull
CHAPTER 5.

don Economic Conference in 1888
had few lighter shades. Mrs. Hull
and 7 /, attended King Georges re-
ception. We had also planned a
much-needed little outing, which
required us to 60 from the recep- |
ton to a country place some miles
distant. The strain OF trying to
build something at the conference
with inadequate materials was
wearing me down, and I felt obliged,
in justice to my condition, to get
this rest at all hazards. -
I found the King very democratic.
He received me cordially and spoke
highly of the American people. We
then had an easy, friendly CONVEX
sation of some 30 minutes on the
conference and its detectives We
agreed on the importance OF the
topics listed on the agenda and the
necessity for a suitable solution OF
each. King George remarked he
expected to see me further at a.
later stage of the conference. That
moment, unfortunately, did not ar
rive.
The conference began to show
unnnistakable signs Of begging down.
At that moment we got word that
the President was sending Ray
mond Motley to London as a liaison
man to inform us about the latest
developments in Washington. Vivid
press dispatches began to flow in
about Moley's dramatic airplane
flight to see the President on Mr..
Roosevelt's yacht and the hustle and
speculation attending Moleys de-
parture from Washington and New
York.
Conference Marks Time.
It was made to appear to the pub
lie everywhere that he was coming
with new instructions or q message
from the President or possibly even
to take over the American delega-
ton. From that moment on for the
seven days he was on the high seas,
the conference marked time. The
press in London carried big head
lines that Moley, the man who con-
trolled Presidents" was on his way
to London to look after American
interests there. The Paris press
became highly wrought up and raw
nided me in rough fashion, indicat-
ing that I had proved incapable OF
handling the situation for my Gov
eminent.
Moley's reception in London was
surpassed only by those given to
kings. Delegations of high officials,
newspapermen and others, their
emotions reused, hurried down to
Plymouth to meet him and vie with
each other in paying him tribute.
Upon reaching London he called at
my office, shook hands, paid his
respects and met the delegation.
The press desiring to interview
him, I accompanied him to the
meeting but kept in the background
while he appeared as the only per-
son among the Americans whom
they had the slightest interest IN
seeing. Thereafter I saw little OF
Moley until the explosion &C.
Cured. I decided to give him all
the rope he might want and see
how long he would last in that
London situation.
Soon after his arrival, Moley sent
word to me requesting that I con-
yey to the delegation a message to
the effect that he intended giving
his attention to the currency sta
bilization question. He immediately
launched into conversations with
the Chancellor Of the Exchequer
Neville Chamberlain, and Sir Fred
erick L,eith- Ross, economic adviser
of the British Treasury. The first
meeting was reported to have taken
place at the American Embassy,
where Moley was stopping.
Remained in Background.
During the few days that fol-
lowed, Prime Minister and other
tor officials of governments flocked
after Moley as If he were the PIED
Piper. I continued to keep IN the
background as If I were the most
insignificant individual hanging
about the conference.
Prime Minister Macdonald asked
me. at one time: Can you send
Moley over to me? I'd like to talk
to him" Then he added, as an
afterthought, And you can come
too, If you like =.
Some days later, Macdonald
called me aside and spoke to me
like a schoolmaster lecturing q pu-
pill. do you know" he said, that
it Is not customary to issue press
statements at a conference like
this?" Il had issued one or two.)
ct just isn't done"
I retorted, cts no more unusual
than for the chief Of another dele