The Sunday Oregonian., November 13, 1921, Section One, Image 1

96 Pages
Eight Sections
Section One
Pages 1 to 22
VOL. XL NO. 4G
Entered at Portland (Oregon)
PORTLAND. OREGON, SUNDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 13, 1921
PRICE FIVE CENTS
IDELEEATES PRAISE
I JAPANESE EXPECTED
ADMIRAL KATO LAUDS
PROSPECT NEVER SO
BRIGHT, SAY WOMEN
4 IvlhVW
WORLD IS AID
10 CURB NAVIES
BRIAND IS DELIGHTED
AMERICAN PROPOSAL
JAPANESE REFERS MATTER
TO FAVOR NAVY CUT
ENTHUSIASM AMONG PEOPLE
WITH ARMS OPENING!
PARLEY Oil
HUGHES' PROPOSAL TO SCRAP
HEAD OP ITALIAN DELEG.1
TO NAVAL EXPERTS.
IS PREDICTED.
WARSHIPS CHEERED.
TIOX ALSO PLEASED.
HUGHES THRILLS
ARMS DELEGATES
Shirt-Sleeve Diplomacy Is
rnoniAi itvdiii cc
UUIIUIIiLIII HULLO
HARDING'S SPEECH
AlS
Delegates Are Stunned
by Drastic I). S. Plan.
TEN-YEAR HALT
Scrapping of Capital War
ships Also Suggested
to Conerees.
MR. HUGHES GIVES PLAN
Reduction Would Be Started
Within 3 Months After
Agreement.
WASHINGTON, D. O, Nov. 12,
(By the Associated Press.) More
drastic and far-reaching . than the
most ardent advocate of disarma
ment dared hope, America's pro
posals were suddenlv laid before the
arms conference today at its first
session by Secretary Hughes.
A ten-year naval holiday is the
proposal, and the United States,
Great Britain and Japan shall scrap
66 capital ships aggregating 1,878,
043 tons.
Within three months after the con
clusion of an agreement, the United
States would have 18 capital ships,
Great Britain 22 and Japan 10. Ton
nage of the three nations, respect
ively, would be 500,650, 604,450 and
299,700,
Ships Might Be Replaced.
Ships when 20 years old might t
replaced and the replacement scheme
is 500,000 tons for the United States,
500,000 tons for Great Britain and
800,000 tons for Japan. No replace
ments could exceed 35,000 tons.
The United States would scrap 30
capital ships, aggregating 943,740
tons; Great Britain 19, aggregating
683,375 tons, and Japan 17, aggre
gating 448,928 tons.
The figures include old ships to
be scrapped, ships building or for
which material has been assembled.
Proposal Is Like Bomb.
Characterized by Barton Eato,
chief Japanese delegate, as "very
far-reaching," but probably suitable
as a basis for discussion, and by Mr.
Balfour, head of the British delega
tion, as "a statesmanlike utterance,
pregnant with infinite possibilities
and most hopeful of satisfactory re
sults," the American proposal, con
crete and detailed, fell on the open
ing moments of the great confer
ence like a bombshell. Foreign del
egates were stunned.
The principal features of the
American plan propose:
That for not less than ten years
competitive naval building cease as
between Great Britain and the
United States and Japan.
That all capital ships building or
planned be scrapped and a few re
cently placed in the water be de
stroyed within three months of rati
fication of the agreement.
That the older ships also be de
stroyed, reducing the British force
to 22 battleships, the American to 18
and the Japanese to 10, each ship to
be retained being named.
That during the agreement no
capital craft be laid down except un
der a detailed replacement scheme
included in the proposal which would
provide for ultimate equality of the
British and American fleets and for
a Japanese force at 60 per cent of
the strength of either of the two.
That all other naval craft be simi
larly provided for in the same ratio,
specific figures for aggregate ton
nage in each class being laid down.
That naval aircraft be disregarded
in the scaling down processes as a
problem incapable of solution owing
to the convertibility of commercial
aircraft for war purposes.
Capital Ships Restricted.
That no naval building be under
taken in any of the three countries
on foreign account during the agree
ment. That no capital ships hereafter
laid down exceed 35,000 tons.
That the life of a battleship shall
be fixed at 20 years and that ships
to be replaced be destroyed before
Mikado's Officer Suggests That
Island Forts in Pacific
Be Dismantled.
WASHINGTON, D. C.. Not. 12. (By
the Associated Press.) Japan's arm
ament delegation Is preoared to reach
an agreement on naval limitation In
dependently of the question of the
naval bases In the Paclflo or settle
ment of far eastern political prob
lems, also to be discussed in Wash
ington, Admiral Baron Kato, heading
the Japan fee group, said tonight.
The Japanese government has not
contemplated submitting a counter
proposal. Baron Kato said, adding
that determination of this question
would await a more complete study
of details of Secretary Hughes' plan.
Baron Kato added that although it
was too soon to express a definite
opinion on the subject, his impres
sion was that "Japan will comply
with the American proposal as far
as possible.'
The American plan has been turned
over to his naval experts her by
Baron Kato.
Stating his own Impression aa to
Mr. Hughes: proposals, the baron de
clared they were "the most complete
and logical" suggestions for limita
tion of naval forces he had heard.
He vii In favor of the general prin
ciples stated br Mr. Hughes, he added,
and could say Japan was "prepared to
carry out the desire contained In the
proposals to the extent possible."
He said he proposed, to Insure peace
In the Pacific, the dismantling of out
lying Inland fortifications by both the
United States and Japan.
3 ROBBERIES REPORTED
Masked Footpad Obtains $ 1 0 From
Standard Oil Station.
A masked man held up the Standard
Oil station at East Forty-second and
Division streets last night and ob
tained 10.
Paul Walker, 41 . East Fortieth
street, was knocked down at East
Fifty-third and East Stark streets
by two men, who dragged him Into
the bushes and robbed him of $6.
M. Wasserman. J71 North Thirty-
first street, reported that two men
In an automobile had held him up at
Thirty-first and Thurman streets and
robbed him of a watch, a diamond
ring and 12 cash.
WOMAN HANGS HERSELF
Wife of Rancher Uses Rafters,
Chair and Box as Gallows.
RAINIER, Or., Nov. 12. (Special.)
Mrs. Joseph' Hacicenberg, wife of s
well-known rancher living six miles
southwest of Rainier, committed sui
cide yesterday afternoon by hanging
herself. The deod wan done while
tea men of the family were at work
aud was discovered upon their return
in the late afternoon.
A rope was tied to the rafters tn
sn upstairs room and a chair and
box were used for a scaffold. Mrs.
Hackenberg was said to have been
mentally deranged.
CHURCH SUPPORT URGED
Presbyterian Backing Is Asked for
Arms Conference.
ATLANTIC CITY, N. J., Nov. 11.
The executive commission of the
Presbyterian general assembly was
urged by Dr. Robert Brown, general
secretary of the board of foreign
missions, to support the Washington
conference. He also made a plea for
15,824,000 to carry on the work of the
board next year.
Dr. H. C. Swearlngen of St. Paul,
the moderator, expressed doubt about
ths aggregate budget's reaching the
total of last year, (12,000,000.
FRENCH AIMS DISCUSSED
Buenos Aires Paper Says America
Must Enter European Field.
BUENOS AIRES. Nov. 12. La Na
sion, discussing the Washington con
ference, considers It is a continuation
In effect of the Versailles peace con
ference. It believes that the United
States will have to consent to give
France guarantees before France
would consider a reduction In land
forces
"Thus." continued the paper, "the
United States must Involve itself
again In European questions."
WEEK GENERALLY FAIR
Occasional Rains Are Predicted for
North Pacific Coast.
WASHINGTON. D. C, Nov. 11.
Weather predictions for the week be
ginning Monday follow:
Rocky mountain and plateau re
gions: Generally fair with tempera
ture near or above normal
Pacific states Normal temperature
and generally fair except for occa
sional rains on the north coast.
DINNER GIVEN DELEGATES
First of Series of Functions Is Held
at White Bouse.
WASHINGTON. D. C. Nov. 12.
Disarmament delegates were enter
tained at dinner tonight by President
and Mrs. Harding and afterward there
was a reception in the east room for
the delegates, members of their ad
visory committees and attaches.
The function was the first of a
series.
Sincerity, Honesty Win
Applause of Foreigners.
BALFOUR HIGHLY PLEASED
Picturesque Appearance of
Members Is Impressive.
SETTING IS BEAUTIFUL
President's Plea for Less of Arm
ament and None of War Evokes
Long Cheering.
BT MARK SULLIVAN.
br
Post. Inc. Published br Arrangement.)
WASHINGTON, D. C, Nov. 12.
(Special.) Stated In the order In
which they came to this reporter, the
impression made by the armament
conference were these:
First of all. how Infinitely more
beautiful Is this American building
than the glaring gold and red of the
room at Paris, where the peace conference-was.
This American room is
nearly all white paneled wood. The
only gilt was the frames of the only
two paintings on the walls and the
backs of just a few of the chairs.
The only other colors in noticeable
degree were ths green -of the tables,
the mulberry plush of some of the
seats, and the flags. At Paris even
the seats of the chairs were glaring
red brocade. American art. when at
Its best, is incomparably superior to
much French art.
The first official American to ap
pear la senator Lodge of Massachu
settes. I thought again when I saw
him yesterday at the burial of the
unknown soldier, how many, many
memories he must have of official
ceremonies through bis moreethan 28
years In the senate and more than 40
In public life. Senator Lodge is
satisfying in his dignity and the
quality of his appearance.
Japanese la Friendly.
There, among the reporters. Is
William Allen White of Kansas with
his broad and smiling countenance.
In his wholesomeness, his optimism
and his friendliness he Is as Ameri
can aa anything in the room.
The first official Japanese to ap
pear is SaburL It is often said that
the Japanese ars inscrutable. Saburi
la as friendly looking, as smiling, and
as open faced as an American village
storekeeper.
There is Lord Lee of the British
delegation. He looks the friendly
and sincere college professor more
than anything else. He spent five
of his earlier years as Professor in
a college at Kingston, Ont. Lord Lee
makea a strong and Instantly deep
Impression of simple sincerity. -His
countenance and bearing are a prom
ise of good.
Frenck Admiral Orunesttl.
There is the French admiral, very
much bewhiskered, very much gold
laced, and very ornamental alto
gether. His name is De Bon. The
American paragraphers and cartoon
ists would have a good deal of fun
with variations of that name, and
with the gold lace and the whiskers,
if he were an American.
Hers comes Bryan into ths press
gallery, silk hat, black cape, narrow
black tie. Bryan, in his own way, has
done as much for peace as anybody
in this room.
Ths cabinet la coming Into the gal
lery. Hoover isn't among them.. He
Is on the floor next to the confer
ence, because he is on the advisory
committee.
Weeks appears as substantial and
dependable as a war department
fortress. How thoroughly American
Denby's face la. East, west, home's
best.
Here entering the reporters gallery
la Stuart Bryan of the Richmond
News Leader, a thoroughly typical,
lean American of best Virginia type.
There is another fine American type,
Justice Holmes of Massachusetts.
Massachusetts is. very strong in this
room today.
There are more Japanese reporters
than from any other nation except
America. Japan baa some 40 news
paper men here. Moat of them are
young men, as unsophisticated as
were most of the 111 of our own
American newspaper men who wcra
at Paris,
There Is Vice-President and Mrs.
Coolldge. She is as pretty and softly
feminine looking as he is austere.
There is the first burst of applauae.
It Is for the American delegation en
tering aa a group. They seat them
selves at the head of the table. The
press arrangements are excellent.
Patching of the state department is
distributing advance copiea of tile
president's speech, translated into
French for the benefit of foreign
newspaper men. The British come in
and are seated at the left of the
Americans. There is Balfour, Lords
Lee and Geddes. Balfour looks the
professional diplomat of the Earopeas
type. Lord Lee and Geddes have
countenances more quickly under
stood by Americans than Balfour.
Geddes and Lord Lee both look Amer
ican. In point of fact, both spent
some of their formative years in
Canada.
All the Americans, and especially
Member of Diet Says Common Folk
Are Ready to Give Support
to Drastic Measures.
BY ADACHI KINNOSUKE.
(Noted Japanese Writer on World Affairs.)
(Copyright by the New Tcrk World. Pub
lished br Arrangement.'
WASHINGTON, D. C Nov. 12.
(Special.) The reaction of the peo
ple of Japan, not that of our delega
tion here in Washington, mark you.
nor that of the imperial navy of
Japan, nor yet tne government of
Japan, but of the general run of the
people of Japan to the American
proposition "for an agreement on lim
itation of naval armament," as pre
sented this morning by Secretary
Hughes, is something like this:
1. An open-mouthed wonder at the
heroic sweep of the proposition.
2. An intense desire of examining
Just what this means to the defense
of the empire, and that in the light
of what might or might not come out
of chaotic China, and out of equally
disturbed Siberia on the west, and
on the other side, the Infinite possi
bilities arising out of the Pacific.
3. Then, if they are reasonably as
sured In their minds that the national
existence of Japan as a nation of
peace, and the meeting of its needs
In a peaceful manner, is safe and be
yond danger, I believe most pro
foundly that the people of Japan
would rise en masse and face the
whole business In a spirit as heroio
as the proposition itself. More than
that, they would rise and call the
author of it blessed.
The Important thing which should
be pointed out Is the difference be
tween the way the Japanese people
look at their navy and the way the
American people look at theirs. They
are radically different.
For one thing, the people of Amer
ica have never missed their three
meals n order to build the ships of
their navy; the Japanese have. To
throw 30 capital ships of more than
845,000 tons into the discard and put a
white stone over the grave, which his
tory is likely to remember for a long,
long time, would only evoke the emo
tion of exaiyuion among the people
of this land, where millionaires are
about as cheap as soda fountain aris
tocracy. But with the people of Japan all is
different. They have been taught from
their youth up that every rivet, every
ton of metal which entered into the
building of their navy was as essen
tial for the national life of the empire
as skin is to the body. - We are not a
nation of millionaires over there;
quite the contrary. Our people 'have
sweated blood in building up their
80,000. 000-yen super-dreadnoughts.
Naturally they would feel something
like a man called upon to chop off I
one of his arms when they are called
upon to face the actual destruction of
the ships.
And yet I believe they would meet
this heroic surgery .in a spirit of sac
rifice all the more noble because it
would be so downright human and
touching and quits worthy of their
traditions.
Once they are convinced that It Is
(Concluded on Page 2. Column t. )
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather.
TESTERDAT'S Maximum temperatute, IS
degrees; minimum 44 degree.
TODAY'S Cloudy.
Department.
Editorial. Section S, pare 8.
Dramatic Section 4, pare 6.
Moving picture news. Section 4, pare 1.
Real estate and building news. Section 4.
page 9.
Music. Section 4, pare 5
Churches. Section 5. pr 2.
Books. Section 5. pare .
Schools. Section 8, page ft.
Automobiles. Section 6.
Chess and checkers. Section 4. pare 10.
Women's Features.
Society. Section 8,
Women's activities. Section ft. page 10.
Fashions. 'Section 5, page 4.
Miss Tingle's column. Section 5, pare I
Madame Rlchet'i column. Section ft,
page 4.
Auction bridge. Section 6. page T.
Child welfare column. Section tt. pare 4.
Special Fefttarm.
The rhost who changed his mind. Mara
stne section, page 1.
Who will win tbe richest widower? Mara
sine section, page 2.
Major Wllbrshara. fiction feature. Maga
zine section, pare ft.
News of the world as seen by the camera.
Maraslne section, page 4.
Seek in entry In Brad treat's. Magmaine
section, pare ft.
Ace of woods filrta with death. Magaalne
section, pare 6.
Steps to make all business honest. Mar
sine section, pare 7.
Hill's cartoons "Among Us Mortals.
Magaxine section, pare ft.
Chrysanthemum show is remarkable. Sec
tion ft. pare 11.
Art association has rare laces. Section 4,
pare 4.
James Montague feature. Section 4, par T.
George Ade fable. Section 4, page 7.
Views taken at livestock show. Section 4,
pare ft.
Daughter of Mark Twain to sins; in
Munich. Section 4. pare 10.
Tumulty's article on Ex-President Wilson.
Section ft, pare 1.
Poor circulation causes red nose. Sec
tion &. page ft.
Home construction and arrangement. Sec
tion 5. page 7.
Darl ir. g's cartoons on topics of the day.
Section 6, page ft.
Kinglet has voice like fairy bells. Sec
tion ft. pare 10.
Forelrm.
Anglo-French olasnes rcgrettsble and un
necessary, says Andre Tardieu. ejection
1, pars ft.
Domestic,
Blnnlnrham grows despite more or less
general depression, say Spillane. Sec
tion 1. page 7.
Voice In capital thrills New Tork. Section
2, page ft.
Paclflo Korthweeft.
Mrs. Southard yet defies accusers. Section
1. pare 8.
Dairymen to call on board to reslrn. Sec
tion L page ft.
Oregon state treasurer accused of playing
politics with public funds. Section 1,
pare ft.
Return to pre-war system of rail rate
makina; opposed. Section 1. page ft.
China roes to conference for Just to. Sec
tion 3, paft- 2
Leaders of Many Organizations
Voice Confidence of Success of
Conference at Washington.
WASHINGTON. D. C. Nov. 12.
(Special.) Women expressed keen in
terest in the proposal of Secretary of
State Hughes for abandonment of
shipbuilding programmes.
President Harding, members of con'
gress and delegates have been bom'
barded with resolutions from women's
organizations demanding a definite
programme for disarmament, but the
plan as worked out by the American
naval advisers came as an over
whelming surprise.
Commenting on ths proposals of
Mr. Hughes for the immediate cessa
tion of America's naval construction.
Mrs. Charles T. Winter, member of
the advisory council, said today, after
the opening session of the conference:
"Now tt looks as if the conference
would really accomplish something
America's programme as voiced by
Mr. Hughes is showing the world that
we are In earnest. Women all over
the country will feel that their de
sires and demands have had effect.
It was a thrilling moment when the
announcement was made. We . will
give up building ships. We will scrap
our old ships. What will England
and Japan do?"
Mrs. Harriet Taylor Upton, vice
chairman of the national republican
commlteee. was Jubilant over the an
nouncement. "It's perfectly fine." she said. "The
specific definite proposals of Mr.
Hughes' programme will have an
especial appeal to women. They have
been making resolutions, adopting
if solutions and bombarding congress
with resolutions; now they will be
delighted to hear Mr. Hughes' state
ment that the time for resolutions Is
past and the day for action here.
"Another thing that especially
pleased me was the straightforward
way in which Mr. Hughes made his
proposition. They have said that it
was America's opportunity and duty
to lead In the plan for limitation of
armaments, and now America is tak
ing the lead In unmistakable sincer
ity. There is nothing behind the
plan; no other meaning can be read
Into the proposal. We have laid our
cards on the table and it is not
America's fault if the conference does
not succeed. '
"The way the programme was re
celved was encouraging. All the mem
bers of congress' were on their feet
in unrestrained enthusiasm.
"One thing that has been an an
noying note is that every one wanted
naval reduction, but every one said,
It can't be done.' Now, by George,
we can do it."
Miss Alice Robertson, representa
tive in congress from Oklahoma, was
enthusiastic over the programme and
said to a group of friends:
"For the first time since I have'
been in congress we, all members of
congress from all parts of the coun
try, were united in a way that seemed
to me - almost incredible. There was
no north or eouth, east or west, no
party lines. We were all Americans
In overwhelming sentiment In favor
(Concluded on Piise 2. Column 3.)
Dlsnrmnment Conference,
Prospect for armament limitation never
so bright, say women leaders. Section
1, page 1.
Drastic reduction In world navies proposed
by United Statea Section 1. page 1.
Japanese people expected to favor navy
cuL Section 1. page 1. '
Let preparations for offensive warfare stop
here and now. says Secretary Hughea
Section page 4.
Hughes thrills arms delegates. Section 1,
page L
Delegates praise Harding's speech. Pag 1,
section 1.
Harden puts Russian problems forward for
conference to solve. Section 1. page 7.
Premier Brland Is delighted with arms
opening. Section 1. pare 1.
Real cordiality marks openlnr of arms
conference. Section 1. pag L
Fighting- strength of five great powers
shown. Section 1. pace 4,
Leaders of both parties in senate commend
Secretary Hughes' proposals. Section 1,
par io.
Admiral Kato lauds American, proposals.
Section 1, page 1.
Xatlonsi.
New senate tax measure declared to be
failure. Section 1, page ft.
Sports.
California Bears beat Wash! or ton, 72 to 3.
Section X pare L
Martin has chance to make fortune. Sec
tion 1, pare ft.
Princeton defeated by Old Eli, IS to T.
Section 2, page 2.
Washington high eleven wins Portland In
terscholastlc pennant. Section X page ft.
Oregon-CorvaMls game promises to draw
record crowd homecoming- Saturday
Section 2, pare 1.
Portlanders to organise fourth coif club.
Section 2, page 4.
Multnomah club eleven faces three stren
uous games. Section 2, page 2.
West Point coach ex -star for army. Section
2. page 2.
Betting d eel a red menace to baseball. Sec
tion 2, page ft.
Commercial mmd Marine.
Business of week shows Improvement. Sec
tion 1. page 20.
Open rates result from rapidly lessening
cargo offering for Europe. Section 1,
pace 20.
Northwestern growers offering apples free
ly. Section 1, page 21.
Chicago wheat advances with persistent
buyinr. Section 1. pare 21.
Oils and equipments festur of stock mar
ket. Section 1. pare 21.
Port land and Vicinity.
Officials for 1925 exposition parade named.
Section 1, par 12.
Stage Is set 'or national granr conven
tion. Section 1, pars 17.
United States troops enact battl of Ar
gon ne. Section 1. page 1ft.
Booster for fair urtre all to vote. Section
1. pare 12.
Portland clubwomen Indorse 1929 fair and
proposed special tax levy. Section 1,
page 1ft.
Civic learus hears fair debated. Section 1, ;
pare 1ft,
$229,000 budret reduction p aisle. Section i
1. page 1
Livestock exhibits at international show
. being entiained. Section 1, page ft. j
Police seise $68,000 in drugs. Section 1. I
page 10. i
Record livestock exposition closes. lee
tion L pars 14.
Declared Vindicated.
OVATIONS INTERRUPT SPEECH
American Comes to Point in
Way That Surprises.
SESSION GASPS AT TIMES
Harding Wins Hearts of All by His
Self-Abnegation and Bryan Has
Celebration of His Own.
BT CHARLES C. HART.
THE OREGONIA.N NEWS BUREAU,
Washington. D. C, Nov. 12. Thrill
after thrill swept through the select
assembly at the first session of tbe
conference on the limitation of arma
ments today as Charles Evans
Hughes, secretary of state, proclaim
ing a new day in world diplomacy,
l!i Id down to ths delegates the con
crete proposal of the United States
for a ten-year naval holiday. It was
an event with the one great essential
of a good story. It had the wallop,
American directness was exempli
fied and shirt-sleeve diplomacy vindl
cated. The first hint that the sec
retary of state Intended to reverse
the usual order of such International
conferences by advancing at once to
a point in the discussions ordinarily
reached after 0 days of parleying
came when the secretary of state, lift
lng his voice somewhat, asserted that
"the time has come not for mutual
advice but for action."
Delea-atea Catch Breath.
Delegates and audience alike seemed
to catch their breath when Mr.
Hughes, In less than one hour after
the meeting had been called to order
aner before1 he had been speaking ten
minutes on the general question of
the limitation of armaments, said:
"I am happy to say that I am at lib
erty to go beyond these general prop
ositions and on behalf of the Ameri
can delegation acting under the in
struction of (Tie president of the
United States, we submit to you a
concrete proposition for an agreement
for the limitation of naval arma
ment." The British, French and Japanese
delegates glanced quickly toward
each other and then turned their
eyes to Mr. Hughes. The audience
seemed stunned. William Jennings
Bryan, sitting In the press section,
almost jumped to the ceiling. Oswald
Garrison Villard, New York publisher.
gasped, and then thunderous applause
followed.
Roosevelt la Sliest.
One man 'did not applaud. He was
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, assistant
secretary of the navy. He shook hla
head as If In dissent aa the color
in his face took on a reddish hue.
Secretary Hughes, easily the com
manding figure of the conference.
seemed to put all of the power of his
sonorous voice with his perfect enun
ciation of the word "concrete" as he
declared his readiness to announce a
"concrete proposition."
Critics of the conference had been
saying for several days that this was
simply to be a meeting In which a
lot of foreigners were to come to
gether with some Americans and
"just talk and talk." It had been
said that the conference was meet
ing without a" programme and that
for months the delegates would be
doing nothing but floundering In an
unknown maze.
At one blast Mr. Hughes had
floored all the critics by saying that
ths United States had its proposal for
a naval holiday In concrete form and
was really to prescribe what was to
be expected of the other two big
naval powers at the conference. Great
Britain and Japan.
And, Incidentally, the American
premier, with one smash, answered
the oft-repeated assertion of Wood
row Wilson that ' unless the United
Statea went Into the league of na
tions this country must arm to the
teeth. Mr. Hughes, with the United
States assuredly ont of the league.
It was commented on every hand at
the close of the reading of hts pro
posal, had told definitely how the
further arming of the world could
be halted regardless of the Interna
tional "covenant carried In the Ver
sailles pact.
Applause resounded from every
part of ths auditorium, with the
handclap of Secretary of the Navy
Denby, well in the foreground, as
Secretary Hughes told the delegates
from Great Britain and Japan that
the United States stood ready to scrap
15 capital ships on which $330,000,000
already bad been expended. Mr.
Hughes needed no better cheer leader
than William Jennings Bryan, who
must have impressed observers as
the most keenly affected man in the
hall. Bryan tried not to lose a word
from the time the president began
speaking until Hughes finished. He
had got himself In good trim for
applauding Hughes by practicing ap
proval of Mr. Harding's address.
Presldesfs Ovation Great,
And, of course, the president Is a
very necessary part of this picture.
There was nothing shabby about the
ovation he received when he entered
lCoUuded on I' an fi. Column 1. 1
Secretary of Navy Denby Declares
American Administration Uas
Approved Proposals.
WASHINGTON', D. C, Nov. IS. (By
the Associated Press.) Premier Brl
and of France came out of the confer
ence animated and Intensely Interest
ed in what had taken place.
"It is an excellent beginning," said
he. "Just what I ahould have ex
pected from an American statesman.
Mr. Hughes took resolute hold of the
question, boldly and courageously.
No time was spent over phrases. He
closed at once with realities and laid
down, a clear, straightforward pro
posal about which there cannot be
any Interpretative doubt. It Is funda
mental in principle.
"As for me, I think the American
government has begun the conference
In the right way with frank pro
posals that go to the bottom of the
naval armament question."
"Do you think the British and Jap
anese delegations will be able to give
their replies Tuesday?" M. Brland
was asked.
"Oh, I should think we will have
replies from which some inferences
may be drawn," he replied.
"What do you think of ths pro
gramme?" 1 shall have to study It more in
detail." he replied, "and I think I
should not announce to the press pre
cisely my considered views until I
have given them to my fellow dele
gates. "The proceedings today did not
touch the question of land armament.
Wo have not changed our point of
view on that question, which Is that
we must have security."
The American armament plan wes
characterized by Secretary Denby "as
the approved plan of the American
administration."
"The navy department has been In
co-operation with the American dele
gation in furnishing Information and
in the preparation of the plan." he
said. "I cordially approve the Ameri
can proposals. I hope they will be
approved by the conference and meet
wishes of the peoples represented In
Washington."
Senator Schanser, head of the
Italian delegation, said to the Asso
ciated Press:
"No other conference was ever
started with so much courage, frank
ness and clearness. The precision
with which Secretary Hughes outlined
tbe American proposal la roost won.
derfuL I must manifest all my satis
faction "for the sincerity and broad
mindedness with which America laid
the cards on the table, has laid the
question of limitation of naval arma
ments, not only before the conference,
but before the publlo opinion of the
world.
"This happy beginning Is a good
omen for a happy solution of tha
problem which the conference will
have to discuss and for a rapid dis
patch of Its work."
PAPERS LAUD ARMS PLAN
London Sunday Express Says
Brotherhood or Man Is Near.
LONDON. Nov. 1!. (By the Asso
ciated Press.) The American sugges
tion at the Washington conference,of
io-vear naval holiday came as a
surprise to the people of this country.
the Washington correspondents or tne
nrlfi.h n.wnnAn.ra havlna led the
readers to believe that no definite
American plana were ready. Hence,
th. nrnfrramme for the wholesale
scrapping of capital ships created an
enormous sensation.
Th. Sundav ExDress halls armistice
week as "a week of moral wonders,"
and says:
v.... in fhtt hl.torv of mankind
has the world been nearer Its dream
of brotherhood. Surely there Is some
thing not ourselves shaping the world
soul and leading It to the light."
Th Wnekiv DisDatch says President
Harding's eloquent speech has given
the right lead to the conference, add
ing: "He takes his stand firmly on facts."
ITALY SENDS MESSAGE
Premier Says People Place Peace
Aspirations In Front Rank."
ROME. Nov. 12. Premier Bonoml
today gave the Associated Press this
message for the American people:
"The desire for peace compels the
governments of the world's strongest
nations to discuss in hospitable Amer
ica the ways and means of solving
the knottiest questions of world In
terest and preparing for the coming
era In which arms can be limited to
the strict necessity of defense.
"It is to the credit of the American
government and people that they
have assumed this highly humani
tarian initiative to which the Italian
government and people, placing aspi
ration for peace in the front Tank,
unite in wishing th. conference a
happy success."
DIPLOMATS DODGE POST
German Government Cannot Find
Envoy to Washington. 1
BERLIN, Nov. 12. (By the Asso
ated Press.) The question of Ger
man diplomatic representation at
Washington is still unsettled, the cab
inet not yet being able to find an ell
gibls politician willing to undertake
the expense at the present rate of sx.
change.
A cabinet official today permitted
tbe inference to be drawn that the
Wirth government still hopes that
Washington will dispense temporarily
with the naming of a full-fledged ambassador.
Mr. Balfour Is First to
Strike Harmony Note.
Foreign Delegates Take No
table Part in Spontane
ous Demonstration.
MR. HUGHES MADE CHAIRMAN
Choice Without Election Is
Unusual Tribute tq Secre
tary and United States.
WASHINGTON, D. C, Nov. 12,
(By the Associated Press.) Seldom
has a conference of nations assem
bled in an atmosphere of greater
cordiality than that which enveloped
the opening session of the armament
conference.
From the moment Secretary
Hughes called the conference to or
der until the last delegate had de
parted the deference everywhere ap
parent was a notable feature. Even
the astonishment of delegates and
spctators at the naval reduction pro
posal of the American government
failed to halt the exchange of cour
tesies or develop any manifestation
of doubt that the negotiations would
be crowned with success.
A. J. Balfour, head of the British
delegation, was the first among for
eign delegates to strike the general
note of harmony.
Prolonged Applause Won.
He received prolonged applause
when he proposed that as an ex
traordinary tribute to Secretary
Hughes and the United States the
secretary of state act as chairman
by common consent and without a
formal election.
The galleries helped the spirit of
good feeling along by calling for one
after another of the distinguished
delegates until every head of a vis
iting delegation had spoken.
Premier Briand of France was the
first brought to his feet. Then fol
lowed similar demands for Prince
Tokugawa, head of the Japanese,
and for representatives of Italy,
China, Belgium, Holland and Portu
gal. Members of congress took a
leading part in the spontaneous dem
onstrations. France's Heart in Task.
Premier Briand declared France
was entering the conference "with
all her will and with all her heart,"
and was ready to make any sacrifice
for success, providing only her own
safety were kept secure.
"Here with our friends," he con
tinued, "we shall speak heart to
heart, and looking into each other's
eyes we shall tell you in what
situation we find ourselves and we
shall let you know all we can do."
Only a few sentences in English
were spoken by Prince Tokugawa,
declaring the readiness of Japan to
enter wholeheartedly into the nego
tiations. "All humanity," he said, "is inter
ested in the great purpose for which
this meeting has been called. We
are here to compose difficulties, not
to create them. We mean seriously
to promote true and honest friend
ship among nations, not to impair
it. We propose not to prescribe
terms or to dictate a constitution to
a dubious world, but to carry out the
plain dictates of common sense.
Peace Needed by World.
"The world needs peace. It calls
for political and economic stability.
And to co-operate with the powers
here, so worthily represented, for the
accomplishment of such a lofty end,
under the guidance of the distin
guished presiding officer, will be for
Japan a source of greatest pleasure."
Senator Schanzer assured the con
ference that Italy "will be second to
no other nation in working with faith
and diligence to the end that the
purpose which has inspired your
president in calling us to this assem
bly may achieve a full triumph for
the good of all mankind."
For the Belgians, Baron de Carter
declared his country would work in
the conference, "with all her heart,"
(Concluded en Tag. 2, Column I.)