Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1921-12-30

-ghe naval committee of the Washing
ton conference debated the Root reso-
lutions throughout the day before ar
irving at its decision to turn article l
Of the resolutions over to a committee
with instructions to draft its language
without notifications Of the principles
stated in the original proposal. Secre-
iary Hughes invited the discussion imme-
diately upoR the converting of the naval
committee and Mr.. Balfour for the
British group declared that providing
that article ! cid in fact really embody
, The existing rules Of war" he PERSONAL
Ny believed It destra'le that these
should be reafirmed n their relation to
submarine warfare
In the course of the debate. Senator
Schanzer pointed out that article l and
article > Of the Root proposals appear
ed 10 conflict inasmsAlh as article l adj
mitted with certain reservations of the
destruction Of merchant craft by sub
marines while article definitely pro-
hbits" use of submarines for destruc-
tion OF merchant ships.
Il should wish, therefore" he said,
"to know in what way the second res
oluiion tallies with the first"
The Italian spokesman also suggested
that a clear definition of merchant
craft might throw light on the ques-
tion involved. He invited an explana
tion from Mr.. Root
Replying to Senator Schauzer's in
ouiry. Mr. Root sand it was obvious ar
-ticle could not be consistent with ar
ticle !, since It proposed ? change in in
tcrnational law"
Article 1 m said, us a statement
NJ existing law article ., if adopted,
would constitute a change from existing
law and therefore it is impossible to say
it is not inconsistent
As 10 Senator Schanzer's suggestion
that merchant ships BE- defined in. the
rroncsed five-DoweI declaration, Mr..
Root said:
Nothing Is more clearly or better un-
dersfood than the subject we call mer-
chant ship. The n archant ship, its
treatment its rights its protection and
It's immunities are at the base of the
aw Of nations"
Tie added that definitions of merchant
ships would "only serve to weaken and
confuse" the proposed declaration.
He had hopes yesterday, Mr.. Root con-
tinued. that ,he delegations would seek
expert legal opinion on his proposals
overnight and that I'VE would have had
here today the results Of that inquiry
'T would IKE "a say" he continued,
that I am entitled to know whether any
delegation questions this statement OF
existing International law You are all
in favor Of the princiole of the resolu
zion If II is correct. Does this, or does
it not state the law of nations as II
exists7 IF it does. you are all in IA
vor of II. What, then, hinders its adop-
tione"
Mr.. Root read again the brief princi-
PIES cf his article and again asked
II there was any question as to the cor
rectness
NJ the British legal advisors, "s there
srv doubt abort that?"
hr MalkrS replied that in principle
-her' was no doubt at all"
Nj. Root then took IN his resolution
proposing strict Application of the rule
he had set forth for submarines as wei
as -tter naval craft.
THE public on Mon Of the world says,
ne added, that the submarine is not un
dor anv Circumstance exempt from tn
rules above stated. That is a mega
ton of tho assertion of Germany in tn
war that if ? submarine could not cap
tura a merchant vessel in accordanc
with established rules the rules mus
Fail and the submarine was entitled f
make the capture. The public opinio
Of the civilized world has denied thf
and has rendered its Judgment IN tn
action that won the war It was TIL
n Germany that led to Germanys de
feat
MY friends and collea CUES, this
real life We are dealing with here. Thi
Is no perfunctory business for a com
mittee' of lawyers. It is a statement Q
action and of undisputed principles uni
versally known and not omen to discus
sion. nut in such form tlSat it ma
rrystalliza The public orin on of TIL
q
Bny future war whether the kind of &C
tion that sent down the Lusitania
legitimate war or piracy
I'VE cannot Justify ourselves in ser
aratins without some declaration ths
will give voice TO the humane Noninio
Of The world upon this subject, Nwhic
was tho most vital the most heartfelt
the most stirring to the conscience an
20 the feeling of the neople of all ou
countries Of anything that occurred dur
ing the late war. 7 should be asha me
to go on with this conference withol
Forne declaration some pronouncemen
which will give voice to the feeling an
furnish an opportunity for the crysta
lzation Of the opinion Of mankind in II
establishment OF a rule which will mai
St plain tn all the world that no ma
can commit such an act (as the sinl
ing Of tha Lus;tana) again without b.
ing stigma tzed as pirate"
Mr.. Root brioblv rehearsed the r
lection by the assembly of the league
nations Of the proposal of the advisor
committee Of iurists assembled by II
council of the league that "a conferen
for the adva nccment Of tnternation
law" be created.
The door was closed" he sal
"Where do we stand? Is this not to
world regulated by lcw?"
The speaker said thege was no ad
uuate law TO govern Submarines, al
craft or poison gases and "somebot
must move" His resolution, he sal
proposed to restate the rules. of war tn
have been trampled under foot, hout
and disregarded."
rs there a delegation here" he co
tinued, that can afford to go back
It's owr peop!e and say to them. up
he pco. ossl being presented to us
referred It = a committee of lawye
and adjourn nd
II am MT going to be buried under
somrnittee q lawyers myself, and the
EsIes cannot be buried under them. Eit