New-York tribune., 1921-12-29
Agree Underwater Raids
on Merchant Vessels
Violate Law of Nations
and Constitute Piracy
i. S. Offers Check
On Auxiliary Craft
No Cruiser To Be Over
10000 Tons; Guns
Restricted to 8 Inches
By Carter Field

w <ACAt AAS ~ 4 Wv, CCts <o---l dilCE
to-day made it impossible for the
present Conference on the Linaita-
tion of Armament to impose any
limitation whatever on the construc-
tion not only of submarines but of
all craft used in combating subma-
rines. This will certainly apply to
all auxiliary craft with the possible
exception Of airplane carriers. The
British have taken that question un-
der consideration, with a strong
probability that they will insist that
as the airplane carrier is one of the
most effective means Of attacking
submarines they may have to re-
serve the right to build all the air
plane carriers they need.
The demand of France for a sub
marine tonnage of 10000 and
her refusal to recede from her de-
mand brought on a deadlock in the
Armament Committee cf the confer
ence. Frances attitude was charac-
terized by Arthur j. Balfour, heat.
of the British delegation, as "a very
great menace" 10 the security of
Great Britain.
Outlaw Submarine Barred
After it became apparent that
France could not be induced to ac-
cept a lower submarine tonnage
Elihu Root, Of the American delega-
ton, offered resolution intended to
outlaw barbarous submarine war
fare by providing that submarines
could not be utilized as commerce
destroyers under the laws Of ma
ticns. Violation would be punished
as piracy.
Coupled with the fact that Score
tary Hughes and Ambassador shids-
hara, of Japan, arc discussing ID modi-
fication of the forr-power Pacific
treaty which may result in a modiiica-
tion of that document 80 as to ex-
clude the main islands Of Japan, thus
meeting the objections voiced n the
Japanese press and the United States
Senate, to-days developments define
rather sharply the results whica the
present conference viii attain. These
are:
/. The ending of the competitive
building of big expensive battleships
by the acceptance Of q ratio of 5-53
for the battle fleets o. Britain,
America and Japan. with naval
holiday, 50 far as japan and the
United States are concerned. Of ten
years. Britain may build two ships
during that period.
2. The ending of the Anglo-Japa-
nese Alliance, believed by the Ameri-
can government to be "A disturbing
element in all American relations in
the Far East
3. The removal OF the expectancy
CT war with Japan, and the setting
up of the four power Pacific treaty.
by which the four nations Britain.
Japan, France and the United States
agree not cnly 10 respect each
others rights in the Pacific islands,
but to hold q conference il there
should be any disagreement
Anglo-French Episcde peplorcd
These might be termed the GOOD re-
suits Of the conference There liz also
result, oh which the limelight was
centered to-day, which IS legaaded bv
delegates from every country here AZ
deploraoie- That is, the feeling be-
tween Great Hritaln ara France result
ing from the French insistence unon
building 3 large submarine feet.
Tne remarks Of Arthur J. Balrour
head of the British delegation. in the
meeting of the committee on armament +
to-day after hearing .he french answer
on submarines, wee littlc shcrt If ~
founding TO the expe- need diplornats
present, IN view of Their scathing ma
ture. Perhaps the best ilisstration NJ
the thought in British minds tonight
! IS shown by two corrections ,nade i,
! the statement given the press. Il he;ne
borne in mind that each nation Ieciaas
"nat to give out as TO TIE statements
| @ ,ts own spokesmen, and. naf.raiiS,
Snat eacn nation makes its own corree'
| tions. ie0
Therefore the two corrections were
made by tne British, after studviny
me text already given out, and com.
ing TO the conclusion, obviously. that
y was not quite strong enough in its
the corrections: a.
On page 5, after seftenco read;no
It must be acknowledged that th;s
/ the French submarine deeisian1 enn
| stireted q somewhat singular eont~ih,,.
sion 70 the lahors of conFerenc.
called Tor the diminution Of armament
sIhird line from bottom of pace9 as,
following: Considered in eoniunctias siss
WIN sne refusal of the French dele
gaMoh 10 discuss land armament. hi,
posaeioh must Gauss anxiety aud dis
appointment to those wnu bad co,n,
TO the conference with high homes re- re-