The New York herald., 1921-12-24
new CONFERENCE
MEETS APPROVAL
American Proposal Grows Out
of Keen Debate Over
Submarines.
REGULATION Is NEEDED
Insistence on Visit and Search
Rule Agreed To by
Delegates.
REGULATION IS NEEDED
Special Dispatch to THE NEW York HERALp.
Neuv

ASAetiSo Aoi the LlfIllldtlOu Oh Arma-
ment is preparing to submit a project
for a new international conference
which will be the outgrowth Of the
present one. In this proposal is seer
the association of nations which
President Harding has been suggest
Ing as a possible result Of the present
parley.
The new conference which the
American delegation has in mind will
include Powers other than those now
participating. 1t will aim to obtain
world approval Of the agreements
reached here, and will take into con-
sideration the development in naval
science which may render new naval
agreements necessary.
This important development, ac-
knowledged by spokesmen for the
American delegation, has the approval
Of the delegates of the five naval
Powers now represented.
FOrego Christmas Holiday.
An additional conference on Far East
ern matters already has been sug-
gested in Point Ten of the Chinese pro-
posals, which is supposed to have the
approval OF the American delegation.
The decision to submit plan for a
new conference is the outgrowth of the
debate over submarines. which has as
sumed proportions which threaten to
dwarf in interest the debate over capt.
tai ships.
The delegates were unable to reach an
agreement to-day on the submarine
problem. The failure to arrive at an
understanding forced a continuance OF
the sessions and eliminated the hope of
Christmas holiday.
The delegates are determined to &c
through with their work with the least
possible delay. They intimated to-day
to Chairman Hughes their willingness
TO forego the Christmas holiday Mon
day Will be their only holiday. After
that they will continue their work with
cut interruption until 1t Is completed.
The submarine debate to-day followed
the line inaugurated yesterday and was
confined chiefly to the question of the
utter elimination of the undersea craft
dS Il weapon or war.
Admiral dc Bon. for the French dele
gatlon, presented the viewpoint of
France, which is diametrically opposed
to that taken by Lord Lee for the Brit
ish delegation, that the submarine is
not properly weapon of defense. The
French and italians united in opposing
Limitation OF the cruising radius of the
underwater craft. Admiral de Bon took
occasion to state Frances figures on the
submarine tonnage she thinks necessary
for her defense.
The American delegation continues to
withhold expression OF position on the
elimination of submarines pending the
threshing out OF the subject by the
other powers.
The report OF the American advisory
commission recognizing the value of the
submarine as a weapon of defense
against enemy war ships, as scout and
as a mine layer still stands and appears
to represent the viewpoint OF the Amer
ican delegates.
The Americans. however. will be
guided by the opinion OF their experts.
who are listening to the debate with
keenest interest and Weighing the ar
guments for and against the undersea
boat.
Arthur ]. Balfour entered the arera
to-day on behalf OF the British con-
tention that the undersea boat should
be outlawed in every respect The re-
ports Of the debate were to the effect
that Mr.. Balfour was at his best. The
French and italian contention that the
submarine was necessary to their de-
fence was combated by Lord Lee and
Mr.. Balfour. who insisted that in the
late war the submarine was of no
avail either 10 italy or France AM
that II the British naval personnel
recruited from the fishing folk and
other seafaring persons OF England
had not come to the rescue. both France
and italy would have been utterly de-
feated by the German U-boats. The
British argued that the question OF food
and other supplies was as importan.
TO italy and France as TO England
and that without Britain's help in the
war period resistance would have been
crushed.
The debate to-day developed still fur
ther the absolute unanimity OF opinion
in favor OF perfecting international
regulation OF the submarine AMI insist.
ing that the doctrine OF visit and
search should apply TO submarines In
tho future.
The necessity OF having this doctrine
formulated IN such manner that All
nations would agree furnished tho lasis
for the suggestion for the new con
ference. II Is pointed out that smaller
nations may build undersea flotillas,
which will be extremely dangerous TO
those countries which have agreed TO
limit their own building. For example.
4. was urged that the scandinavian
countries and Greece have large sea
interests and a large seafaring 1opu-
Iation. The cost OF building submarines
Is not prohlbItive and they can bo built
secretly.
Tho five great naval Powers might
agree among themselves. II Is acknowl-
edged. to limit the building OF capital
Continued on Page Two.
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