The New York herald., 1921-11-29
AMERICA REFUSES
TO BAR SUBMARINE
London Morning Post Core
spondent Says Delegates
Are So Informed.
USE WILL BE LIMITED
Undersea Craft Not to Be AL
lowed to Attack Unarmed
Merchantmen.
USE WILL BE LIMITED
BY A. MAURICE Low.

BY n. MAURICE Low.
Correspondent the London Morning Post
Special Despatch to THE NEw YoaK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. c., Nov %.
conversations between plenipotentia-
ries and naval experts regarding subma-
rine tonnage have made it clear that the
United States will not consent to outlaw
the submarine or abandon its use as a
weapon of war. That may be accepted
as a fixed principle, and the British. as
well as the other delegates, understand
this.
The maximum tonnage each nation is
to be permitted to possess is open to dis
cussion and, as I have indicated from
the beginning. it will end in compro-
mise. the reduction being smaller than
our delegates would like to see, and
leaving the submarine fleets of the world
larger than at the end Of the war.
Inasmuch as the United States ap-
pears as the champion OF the submarine
it recognizes the obligation to take such
measures as are required to restrict its
use for legitimate purposes and to pre-
vent in any future war.t the atrocities Of
which Germany was guilty.
A proposal advanced by the American
delegation and now under consideration
IS that the subma rine shall be used only
as an offensive weapon against enemy
warships. the submarine getting all the
rights and privileges of any other war
vessel and being allowed, subject to the
law of nations, to make its attack in its
own way and manner.
Submarines shall not be allowed to
attack unarmed merchantmen. An
agreement OF course would have to be
reached that In time OF war guns will
not be mounted on merchant ships. A
submarine operating against passenger
or freight ships will be governed by the
same rules as now apply to surface
vessels. The submarine will bring the
vessel to and exercise the right OF search
and II there is suspicion of contra
band make the vessel a prize and send
her into port either under a prize crew
or escort A merchantmen commanded
to stop and refusing. or attempting to
escape, could be legally fired upon, as
International la now comedies the
right of cruiser to stop a merchant
man to examine her cargo and papers.
= I have not been able to ascertain the
views Of the British delegation on the
suggested American proposals, but the
Americans say that an arrangement of
the broad character outlined would be
really TO the advantage of England In
the next war and insure the lives Of pas
sengers and the protection OF merchant
craft.
The Americans attach great impor-
Tar N ho thyro ;v,a hcl hot
the next few years will see the creation
of supersubmarine as much In ad-
vance Of the present boat as the post
Jutland ship Is superior to the capital
ship of the pre-dreadnought era.
Against vessel of this character.
powerfully armed. heavily armored. with
a high surface speed. what defence
could a merchant ship offer? Therefore.
Americans say, It is to the advantage of
England as the possessor of the greatest
mercantile marine in the world and
In her interest to bring about an agree
ment among the naval Powers to recog-
nize the submarine, but prevent its ille-
gitimate use.
I have asked Americans what would
happen il the agreement should be vio-
lated and the answer Is that the guilty
nation would be condemned by civiliza-
ton and practically outlawed. With the
example of Germany before us. that an
swer Is not reassurins, but it is the
present mood Of America to regard
moral agreements as more bindins
than formal treaties.
Mr.. Harding Is represented as believ-
ing that his new association of nations
can be Brought into existence without
the formality Of treaty because ma
ton that will ignore a moral agreement
will not scruplc to violate treaty. 1t Is
idealistic, but will It work?
Senator Borah, the most powerful OF
the irreconcilables, has promptly en-
tered his dissent and finds that the pro-
posed association of nations Is worse and
more dangerous than the League of Ma
tions, which he so vigorously fought
He declares that any agreement reached
must be in the form sF treaty which
will have to be ratified by the Senate
and he makes It clear that a good deal
of time will be used and much oratory
heard before that ratification Is secured.
Mr.. Harding appears to be approaching
perilously close TO the shoals Of the
Senate.