Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-12-30
Warmly Defends Resolution for
Restriction Of Submarine
Warfare.
HOW THE DIPLOMATS
ARE PRONE TO HEDGE
Refrain From Giving Definite
Answers Even TO Ordinary
Queries.
NOTHING DRAWS THEM OUT
ny Charles Brower Farmer.

Washington. Dec. 30.-Elihu Root
gave a few lessons I'm the A y C's Of
international law TO the delegates al
the Conference yesterday, when. in
rather heated terms, he defended the
resolutions 70 restrict future sub
marine warfare which he had present
ed to the Committee on the Linjta-
tion OF Armament tfe day before.
A remarkable incident about that
meeting was that after it has passed
into history a full and complete
stenographic report was given 10 the
press. Last week--and for weeks be
fore typewritten comruuniquosi
Of two and three lines had been issued .
after each session. reading in this
wise:
The committee met at If o'clock
this morning and discussed The
question Of limiting capital ship
tonnage. The meeting was con-
tinued at o O'Clock and al go ad-
jourred until tomorrow.
News OF what occurred behind those
closed doors was obtained by closely
accommodating tho representatives
Of each power at tho daily newspaper
conferences. Sometimes one member
would let slip an idea. which, when
broachcd 20 another delegate, might (
bring out the truth. But that procodu a /
was not necessary yesterday. A o. I
page communiaue In two parts was
issued TO every newspaper correspoa -
don't present, and copies were even
sent 10 the National Press Club in the
hope that no one would be overlooked.
That communique gives one an IN
sight into tho exact state OF affairs
Of the Conference today. ana elbows
how the diplomats present are hedg-
irg on every possible question. To read
it one would say that II Mr.. Balfour.
Senator 5chanzer. Admiral do Bon or
Mr.. Hanibara was asked whether .hi5f
was tho month OF December that he
would reply.
"On my own personal authority Il
should be inclined to so state, bat
owing 10 the exigencies Of the case I /
believe that justice TO my people com
pels that I submit your conslderate te
question to my experts who are better
prepared to give an accurate and
lucid answer on so important a sub
ject. However. thank you for your
courtesy in choosing to make your re-
quest for Information OF me-" /
II was honoriflcs Of that character
that Senator Root torpedoed when he
fguratively unburdened his soul Of
the feelings in Il.
The first clause OF Mr.. Roots pr,-
posals clearly stated c1e existing rules
o. war as they apply TO submarines.
Mr.. Balfour arose and said that le
vas not lawyer enough to say whether
the existing rules were clearly sum
married., and on this he would have
to consult his own legal advisors.
Admiral de Bon took the floor and
declared:
I'VE are thoroughly imbued wich
the high humanitarian motives which
have dictated the resolutions pre-
scnted by Mr.. Root TO which We g,ve
in principle our general adhesion. But
we have no jurist in our delegation.
and We recognize that certain Of those
resolutions have bearing on the com
p!icted rules of international law.
" But as this law is OF a very
special nature it seems TO US that the
most practical solution would be t.
refer the consideration of the text
submitted by Mr.. Root to Il committee
OF jurists which would advise US as tc
its opinion in regard to the wording
to be adopted
Senator Schanzer, speaking c,r
Italy, was not bit backward in pou ..
ing out honorifcs. either. said IN
Senator, in part:
Il entirely associate myself w,1h
MIR. Baltour's and Admiral dc Goa's
remarks. We gave yesterday our "a!
adhesion TO the aim to which NJ.
Roots proposal tends, but We also
think that the question Of formulatir
rules for the use Of submarines in
war is, above all, a legal questio:
which ought to be examined by
competent committee Of jurists."
OF course no one can be potter than
the Japanese, SO Mr.. Hanihata rose
to- his feet ard suavely declared:
The japanese delegation is in en- +
tire accord with the substance OF
Article I. Of the proposed resoluti ".
As regards the suggestion whet ie-
Continued on page :.