Evening star., 1921-12-30
NEED OF CRXSIALLZZZzVG
PUBLIC OPINION URGED
People Expect Action Is New 1aken-Sen-
ator Underwood Warns That Farley Must
Not Reach Dividing Of the Ways.

NOt HeUcH DLDL(
rines which the powers there repre-
gendered by those experiences. to
declare in the most concise terms
that such a declaration would be
of the greatest value. He believed
that the rules of international law
should be observed. He hoped that
when the resolution was referred to
the drafting committee it would not
There was, he knew. nothing which
any one could write which could not
be improved by lawyers, but when 1t
came to the expression of vague
fears. to which lawyers SO like to
give expression, he hoped that such
verbal criticisms would receive scant
attention. Anything genuine and di-
rect which carried the real point the
world would understand-such as the
resolution proposed by Mr.. Root.
Another important point was that the
powers. should a difference arise be-
tween them, would have to remember
that the weapons which they possessed
were not to be used as in the past with
out reference to the laws Of God and
the value of a submarine fleet, for when
nations counted their weapons they
counted not only their number but the
manner in which they could be used
Such a declaration would help the uni.
versal endeavors Of diplomatists, charg.
ed with the conduct Of affairs to settle
difficulties without strife. and he hoped
that the resolution would be agreed te
with the understanding that, II it coulc
be improved, it should be. but that the
principle was recognized and adopted
as sound in substance
Unless there was objection, therefore
he would put the first resolution in this
form. l. E., that agreement was request
ed in substance, with reference to 9
drafting committee (to consist of z
member designated by each delegation
to consider the form of expression ant
such verbal changes as might be deem
ed advisable.
Resolution AdOptde.
The chairman, after announcing the
assent of the American delegation Il
the first resolution, as amended by Mr.
Balfour. put the question to the Other
delegations, to which each assented il
turn
The chairman therefore announced
the unanimous adoption of the reSoiu
Root to represent the American dele
CATION on the proposed committee ant
requested that the other delegation:
should appoint their representatives 81
that the matter could be referred to tha
committee for consideration Of forms o.
expression.
The chairman then said that the Sc
cond resolution would be considered il
the form presented as follows:
sTHa SiPn2tOrv nOwers racnPnfZf
the practical impossibility of using
submarines as commerce destroyer:
without violating the requirement:
universally accepted by civilized
nations for the protection of tn,
lives of neutrals and non -combatants
and to the end that the prohibition o
such use shall be universally &C
cepted as a part of the law of ma
tions they declare their assent Il
such prohibition and invite all othel
nations to adhere thereto"
AS Mr.. Root had explained. thi.
was proposition to change the law
The first resolution attempted to state
the law. the law which had bee,
ignored and which had been trampiet
under foot, but which nevertheless!
had been and still was regarded a:
international law. This resolution
the practical impossibility of using
submarines as commerce destroyer
without violating the requirement!
universally accepted by civilized ma
tions for the protection of neutrali
and non-combatantS. He assumed thu
resolution to mean that. while tn
rules Of war were as it was th'
sense of the powers there represented
that they should be adhered to ant
clearly understood. the civilized
world should be asked to outlaw tn,
submarine as a weapon against com
merce.
Question OF Assent.
The point had been made tha
morning that there might be a ques
ton in regard to the assent of tn
powers here represented to the pro
hibition, that is in relation to the las
, words of the resolution which pro
vided that the powers here repre-
sented were to invite all other nation
to adhere. He supposed that thi
meant that the prohibition would re
ceive the assent of the powers her
represented, if they adopted this res
olution in the hope that ii would b
niede a part of international law upo
the adherence of all the other power
mot that it would become binding
upon the powers here represented,
it did not become part of interna
tional law, and if others by their re
fusal to assent prevented it from be
coming a general principle. He as
sumed that the intention OF the reSo
luton was not that these power
should try to make international iaS
for themselves. which, of course. the
could not do. but that they shoul
use their influence to obtain the al
herence Of nations to new rule O
law outlawing the submarine as de
stroyer of commerce.
Mr.. Root said the chairman had cor
rectly stated the sense of the cioslni
words of the resolution: it was to tn
end that the prohibition of the use
submarine should be universally ac
cepted. Two things were done in tn
! resolutions. First. declaration wa
made. then an assertion. If singl
nation were to lead with such pro
posal 1t might have no effect. 1t re
orired universal assent to establlSl
law of nations. There was dif
ference between the second and tn
first resolutions. The first was
declara ton of existing law and ere
ated nothing, merely certifying t
what existed. The second resolutio'
called for an act which did not TAX
erect until assent had been received
Suggestion From BalfOur.
Mr.. Balfour said he would like t
make a suggestion to Mr.. Root. II
understood Mr. hool we" " pe tha
the powers represented on this com
mitfee were only endeavoring to ini
tiate q great reform Of internationa
law by declaring their own view an
pledging themselves to induce othe
nations, If possible, to support 1t. H
desired to ask whether he could no
go a little farther. Why should no
the five nations represented her
agree between themselves to act Of
fp1, Mr. Root nrnnO9en
This suggestion was not inconsisten
with Mr.. Roots plan. On the con
trary, it would greatly promote II
Nothing could be better as an exam
pie than that the five states. instea
Of merely adopting resolution