The New York herald., 1921-12-17
BALFOUR TODEMAND
BAN ON SUBMARINES
Will Present Britain's Plea,
Telling of Possible Abuses,
at Next Open Session.
ANTI-GAS MOVE GROWING
100000 Americans Against
Outlaw Weapons-Action of
Delegates in Doubt.
pcciar Despatch TO THE Nrw YORK HrrA1p.
New York Herald Bureau
Washington. ID. C.. Dec IL

Special Despatch TO THE NEW YORK HrrALp.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. C., Dec. 18.
The proposal to outlaw completely
from modern warfare as uncivllized
and barbaric the use of submarines
will be the next big naval question
before the Conference on the I.imita-
ton of Armaments, Pacific and Far
East questions.
That Great Britain, through A. j.
Balfour. her chief delegate, will ask
the abolition of submarines was dis
closed to-day officially by the British
conferees.
The British proposal probably will
be laid before the next plenary public
session of the conference 1t will be
framed in such manner that 1t can
be taken as an appeal to the peoples
of the world, it was indicated to-day.
England IL was explained, wants the
world TO know the possibilities for
abuse of the submarine weapon that
may happen In another war.
That opposition to the complete out
lawlng of the submarine may be ex-
pressed by the delegates of the United
States. France and Italy has been in
dicated for some weeks, although no Off
cial statement has come from any Of
these groups. This makes II possible for
the American delegation to take a stand
either way. for or against the outlawing
OF undersea warfare. The action OF the
A dofa 20 ad tn
the deciding vote in the conference.
Influenced by Navy Officers.
The attitude Of the American dele
gates is based. it Ia understood, on the
advice Of high naval officials who feel
that the submarine Is essential TO the de-
fence OF the long American coast line.
As a weapon of defence merely. the
American naval experts contend. the
submarine can be employed economically
by Italy. France and small nations. Its
use, they declare, will make IL easier to
reduce che tonnage and strength OF great
navies, and, In that sense, make the
work of the conference more completely
successful.
The American delegates thus are un-
derstood to have been convinced that
the use OF the submarine should be re-
hibited. II is considered likely that II
the Americans take this stand, the
conference will find compromise un-
der which the submarine tonnage al
lctted by the Hughes proposal will be
reduced. Under this allotment Great
Britain and the United States would
have 10000 tons OF the submarines
each.
How great o. reduction from the
Hughes programme will be proposed by
the Americans depends. Il is believed,
upon the sentiment developing through
out the United states for restriction or
complete abolition of the submarine
weapon That this sentiment may, In
the next few weeks. become strong
enough 90 result In complete abolition
ls regarded as a possibility.
Movement Has Grown Fast.
Letters OF citizens in all parts of the
country asking the conference to abolish
the submarine have filled the delegates
mail and flowed into the offices OF Gov
ernment officials for weeks. Many OF
theze letters have been addressed to
President Harding.
Tie conference, up 10 to-day, had re-
-eived from citizens 1000 letters asking
bolitlon of the submarine. At the same