The New York herald., 1921-12-31
THREE POWERS BAN
SUBMARINE PIRACY
French and Japanese Delegates
Await Instructions on
Root Resolution.
LIMIT PLANE CARRIERS
Reach Unanimous Agreement
on RatiO-Naval Commit
tee to Take a Rest.
LIMIT PLANE CARRIERS

Dy the naval cOmmlttee or tne arms
conference included size and aggre-
gate tonnage limitations on aircraft
carriers, and, subject only to French
Government confirmation. on size and
armament of auxiliary craft.
That cleared the committees decks,
pending replies from the French and
Japanese Governments on the Root
resolution TO initiate the banning en-
tirely Of submarine warfare against
commercial craft. Adjournment was
taken indefinitely. but probably only
until next week, when these communi-
cations are expected to have been re-
ceived and completion Of the naval
limitation agreement in committee
made possible.
The Root subcommittee tomorrow will
take UP the drafting of the Root pro-
posal to reaffirm existing rules on naval
warfare against merchant craft and de-
clare their application to submarines and
invite adherence Of all Powers.
simultaneously the committee of naval
experts will work out a replacement
chart for capital ships to complete that
section or the limitation agreement.
The American proposal to limit auxil-
larry craft other than aircraft carriers TO
10000 tons and their armament to guns
Of not more than eight inch bore, was
approved formally by all delegations but
the French, who deferred formal answer
pending advices from Paris.
uatic for Plnne Carriers.
The American proposal TO limit air.
craft carriers to q maximum of $1,000
tons displacement was unanimously ac-
cepted, the basis OF relative aggregate
tonnage arranged being Great Britain
and the United States. 1876 900 tons each.
or Ave carriers of the maximum size
Japan. $1,000 tons, or three ships Of the
maximum tonnage: France and Italy,
$4,000 tons each. or little more than
would be required for two maximum size
ships.
The French tonnage resulted from the
statement OF French experts that on ex-
animation of the question France might
prefer to have three 10000 ton carriers
to two $1,000 ton craft.
When the naval committee met to-day
Senator Schanzer said the Root proposal
to ban submarine warfare against mer
chant ships entirely. as amended by Mr.
Balfour for the British. to be imne-
diately effective as between the five Gig
natory Powers pending its ratification as
a new statement of international law.
had been communicated to the Rome
Government. which prevented further de-
bate by the Italians. NJ. Sarraut made
similar statement for the French
group, and Chairman Hughes agreed
that discussion in the circumstances
would be of limited value, but invited
comment by any delegate.
Lord Lee, for TIC British group. said
he felt there was a misunderstanding"
In the French group as to the Pritish
attitude on the submarine question.
II cannot help feeling" he said. that
here we have a unique opportunity for
the French delegation and Government
to ieassure the British Admiralty and
public opinion in regard to this matter
of which I hope they will avail them
selves
French Views Not Clear.
II want to explain to our French
friends, if | may. why II is we have
these special apprehensions which have
been expressed so forcibly in connection
with France.
1--WE are not clear on what are the
views Of the Frencr naval staff in this
matter OF utilization of submarines in
time of war 1t is true the Views OF
experts do not always by any means
determined the acton of governments II
they did no doubt we should SOME day
be placed In q po Jition which the late
Lord Salisbury once described when he
said:
"Tf we listened to the experts we
should have TO put garrison OH the
moon to protect It against invasion from
Mars
But the views cf naval staffs. OF the
experts. are Of Importance unless and
until they are disavowed by the yoVefn-
ments they serve
Lord Lee then referred to recent arti-
cles on submarina warfare In the French
Revue Mdritime, signed by Capifaine de
Frtgate Castex, at that time chief OF
ono OF the impoi tnnt bureaus OF the
French naval staff" which also di- !
rected public attention OF the Revue, hey
said. These articles. Lord Lee added,
were designed 10 throw ridicuie on
thosc who criticized the German methods
in the late war" He read numerous ex-
tracts from these articles. claiming that
torpedo" warfare was q French inven- !
tion appropriated by the Germans.
''ro sum up" said one extract read BY
Lord Lee. zone can see nothing In the |
attitude Of the Germans which, mill
tariIy speaking. Is not absolutely correct |
Tho failure to give notice before tor
pedoing has raised a storm of protest |
but II Ia no. So inadmissible as at first
sight appears"
Now this officer" Lord Lee con-
tinued. "who Is appointed principal lee |
,urer TO the senior officers course. Will !
no doubt. unless change OF policy !
takes place, be pouring what we regard
as this infamy and this poison into the |
ears of the serving officers OF the
French navy. That is the justification
for what I can only describe as tile
and even the bitterness
that we must feel in the thought that
Continued on Page Two.
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