<P> At the first plenary session held November 21 , 1921 , US Secretary of State Charles Evans Hughes presented his country 's proposals . Hughes provided a dramatic beginning for the conference by stating with resolve : `` The way to disarm is to disarm '' . The ambitious slogan received enthusiastic public endorsement and likely shortened the conference while helping ensure his proposals were largely adopted . He subsequently proposed the following : </P>
secretary of state responsible for the successful negotiation of the washington naval treaty of 1922
Charles Evans Hughes