Evening star., 1921-12-30
Submarine Oua

uL LUWALM
is reached. Article I also explains in
authorized form the existing law and
can be brought forward when the
public asks what changes are pro-
posed. In proposing a change 1t Is
necessary to mako clear what the law
now is. 1t is very important to link
this authoritative statement in
article I with the new principle pro-
posed in article H.
Examination Desired.
Sir John Salmond said:
while not doubling the substan-
tial accuracy of the resolutions pro-
posed by Mr. Root and while I am
Of opinion with him that it is un-
! necessary to appoint committee Of
jurists to determine the law as re-
CARDS merchant ships in war of the
capture of private property at sea.
| at the same time the resolutions as
biguities and formal defects. AL
though reference to such legal COM
mittee is unnecessary, / think there
should be opportunity given for Ver-
bal amendments. For example: Para
graph three of Rule 1 that a mer-
| unless the crew and passengers have
been first placed in safety. Is this
intended to give absolute immunity
to the merchant ship from attack un-
less the crew and passengers are first
placed in safety even although the
warned? Read literally this would be
| the effect of the rule. Secondly, the re-
lation between resolutions l and
2 does not appear in the text and
a verbal explanation by Mr.. Root
| was necessary to explain it. While,
therefore, / am in absolute agree
| ment with the substance of Mr..
Roots resolutions and support his
refusal to put off the matter by ref
erence to committee Of lawyers, l
| justify our not being given oppor-
! tunity for the examination and for
! NAL amendment Of these resolutions"
Lodge Asks for Policy.
| Senator Lodge said:
| "Mr. Chairman, / should not ask to
take up the time of the conference II
l could attend the meeting this after
noon. l hope we may have a reason
| ably speedy decision in this matter
and do not like to have a decision
reached without having expressed my
feeling in regard to it. / have great
respect for experts. but there are
some Of us here at this table who
have given attention to international
law for some time. and among the
delegates here there are several ca
pable of putting these resolutions In
proper form. l believe the first thing
to aim at is simplicity of statement
The rules laid down by Mr.. Root
| especially in article l, are elementary
Any one who has read a textbook OF
international law knows them. I shall
not attempt to add to the powerful
argument presented by Mr.. Root. who,
| though / say it in his presence. is one
of the greatest international lawyers
now living. AS far as his arguments
go. will follow historic British ex,
ample and say ditto to Mr.. Burke
| What l should like to see done by
the conference is to decide on a
policy-for this is question OF
policy. We can easily take care OF
amendments suggested by MIR. sal
mond. We are here to settle a policy
and must do So This policy has been
| world today wants an unequtvocal
declaration against the sinking of the
| ILusitania. l take the LuSitanla as an
example summing up the horrors OF
/ the submarine as 1t was used In the
war with Germany.
Il know the opinion of my country.
! The feeling aroused here as Well as
! in Great Britain was intense. l want
a declaration showing the represent
ative opinion in this matter and
preventing, SO far as we can, the use
| OF submarines for the destruction OF
commerce and against innocent non
combatants. women and children. We
can at least erect a standard. After
! the Constitution Of the United States
was adopted by the constitutional
| convention in 1887 George Washing
ton wrote to a friend: We have
erected a standard to which the wise
and good can repair. The rest is In
the hands of God" I think we can
erect a standard here to which the
civilized world can repair, in the
matter of submarines. / believe the
world will rally to it. What will be
the alternative if We fail to reach
this decision? We shall leave the
door of uncertainty open-open to
the type of man commanding the
submarine which sank the Lusitania
l-open to people who wish to wage
war in that way; We shall give op-
portunity to them to trample under
foot the laws of nations relating to
merchant vessels and leave matters
in that most dangerous of conditions
| without any settled law upon the
subject. But if, after formulating 1t
at this table. we declare in most
clear and solemn manner that sub
. marines must not sink merchant YES
/
board. hope and pray we may adopt
| it and send it out to the world. The
people of the United States desire
this declaration to be made, and that
| the world may hear the voice OF this
conference speaking clearly against
f, the continuance of the use of subma-
rines for the destruction of merchant
vessels and innocent lives. those OF
women, children and non-combat-
/ ants"
At Dividing of Ways.
Mr.. Underwood said:
| Il want to take a few minutes tc
| express my hearty concurrence In the
statement of my colleague, Mr.. Root
| in regard to this matter. l hope this
resolution, controlling the unlaw1ul
use of submarines, with such amend.
ments as may be necessary, may be
! passed before this conference ad-
! 1ourua I believe we have now reach
! cd at this table the dividing of the
| WAYS as to what the conferences
stands for. Are we to proclaim thai
we are still tied to the dead body OF
the war that is past, or that the
civilized nations of the world desire
| to attain and accomplish new ideals
of peace; that we intend to put wal
behind and peace ahead? If we are
| only met here for temporary arml-
stice, If we are only temporarily tired
| of war, with our treasures exhaust
ell: if we agree to fly the white flag
, for a few years until we grow strong
! for war again, let US adjourn now
and let the horrors of the next wal
! teach statesmen the lesson which is
I necessary, that civilization may pro-
gress again toward the ideal OF
permanent peace. If We are only met
| here to save dollars or francs OF
shillings for few years we had bet
ter adjourn.
| my country has never particularly
| nrided itself on military eXpendf-