The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-30
Limitation Program Rapidly
Falling to Pieces.
Even Air Cut Proposal of U. s.
Is Doomed Now.
CODE FOR SUBS IS PENDING
Five Nations Asked for -Ap-
prOvaI of New Code.
Great Britain HurriedIy Accepts
New Root Proposal.

Washington, Dec. 3O.-Adoption of
rules and regulations that seek to
"humanize" warfare-in the air, on
land and sea, and under the sea-ap-
peared today to be all that is left for
the armament conference to accom-
plish so far as Limitation is concerned.
Only Minor Details Remain.
Ii only minor limitation projects re-
main to be considered. One is the
proposal of the American government
to limit auxiliary naval craft to 10000
tons in size. Another is also American
suggestion. that the ratios of airplane
carriers be approximated on the same
general lines of the capital ship agree
ment. with $4,000 tons each for the
United States and Great Britain and
$4,000 tons for Japan.
This proposal has not been formally
disposed of yet, but there is every in
dication it will go by the boards, along
with other Limitation projects.
Decision on the American proposal
to outlaw entirely the use of submar-
ines against merchant craft was await
ed today from three of the five powers
France Italy and Japan-when the
naval committee of the arms confer
euce resumed discussion Of the second
Root proposal. for a new rule in in
ternat;onal law to accomplish that
purpose.
Brl1S1 Give AppFONhA.
Formal approval of this proposal
was given by Great Britain yesterday
during its brief consideration which
followed agreement in principle by all
the powers to the first article of the
Root resolutions reaffirming existing
rules of naval warfare and their strict
application to submarine operations,
against merchant craft
The proposal to prohibit submarine
operations against merchant vessels
went over for further committee dis
cussion today with a proposed amend
ment by the British delegates whereby
the five powers would agree finally
between themselves to such prohibi-
ton without awaiting world assent to
such a PROPOSAL
Want Subs Made Illegal.
Having failed to attain their first
aim, the abolition of the submarine.
and having also failed to attain thelr
second aim, the Limitation of under
sea craft, the British are concentrat-
ing every effort at the outlawry of the
submarine.
II is the British contention that the
British submarine is incapable of legal
or moral use against commercial yes
sells and her statesmen here will leave
no stone unturned to commit the
other powers and ultimately the world
TO this viewpoint
1t is believed that the submarine
ends of the naval program will occupy
the rest of this week and most of
next.
Far East In Deadlock.
Meanwhile, the Far East problems
await the ending of the naval discus
..ions The deadlock between China
and Japan over the return of Shan
tung persists. with an ultimate agree
ment daily appearing more doubtful.
China is merely biding her time to
Hn for 20
consider the validity of the twenty
one demands. the cruX of the Far
: Eastern case SO far as China is con-
cerued.
1t is virtually certain that the con-
ference will refuse point blank to
consider these demands. The Chi
nese recognize this fact, but they will
present their claim, anyhow to Save
their faces" with the public opinion
Of China.
British Utter UItlmatuni.
So long as submarines-the assas-
sins of the sea-are permitted to form
an integral part of the worlds navies,
Great Britain's naval strength will be
measured by her great fleet of mer-
chant vessels.
An official spokesman for the Brit
ish delegation indicated this deter
mined policy of Great Britain today
by stating that Britain would never
send her merchant ships to sea un-
armed in war time, regardless OF the
restrictions which the washington
conference places on the uses of the
submarine in warfare.
While Great Britain wants to see
the submarine legally outlawed by
the Washington conference and her
delegates went into today's session
to wage a determined fight for it,
she, nevertheless. would not be pre-
pared to risk Aer merchant vessels
on any agreement which the powers
may evolve.
Past experience in the world war
taught the lesson. it was stated, that
nations are liable to fight with any
weapon they possess in any way they
can. international law or no interna-
tional law. when they get their backs
. to the wall.
The five big naval powers today
agreed to limit the size of their ,auxil-
larry naval ships to 10000 tons, thus
preventing the construction of capital
ships under the guise of auxiliary YES
sells.
No limitation was placed OF will be
placed on the number of auxiliary
vessels any nation may have. the
agreement covering only the size of
the vessels.
The limitation was proposed by the
tContiuned on Page TWO.l