Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-12-30

-
attitude may be taken by the for
mer president.
Thus far, no intimation OF Mr.
Wilson's opinion of the treaty Of
other conference issues has figured
in conference circles. Some Of his
friends are said to believe he MAJ
in some way make his position
known before very long. Neither
Senator Borah nor Mr.. Tumulty
would say whether the former
presidents purposes were dis
cussed today.
Submarine Regulation
The debate over submarine regu-
lation today centers about the res
olutions presented yesterday by
Elihu Root, of the American dele
cation. General approval of the
first OF these resolutions, express
ing adherence to the principles OF
search and seizure as already es-
tablished in international law, was
expressed by all the powers.
There was an effort during the
debate to refer the whole subject
to commission of jurists, but the
Americans and British took a de-
terminad stand for definite action
at the present conference. A far
different situation developed when
the second Root resolution, pro-
posing that submarines be prohib-
tied from attacking commerce in
any circumstances, was brought
up. Such a proposition would in
volve a change from the present
understandings of international
law and there was a lively discus
sion over how such a change could
be made so it would be accepted
by all nations. Mr.. Balfour sug-
gested an amendment to make the
prohibition Immediately effective
as between the five powers, and
Mr.. Root acceded to the proposal.
The meeting then adjourned.
Not Prepared to Act.
1t was said tonight that the
French, Italians and japanese all
would be unprepared to act final
~ on the second resolution until
they had further communicated
with their governments, but there
was apparent a tendency among
the Italians to favor, and the
French to oppose the plan. Some
French delegates seemed to regard
the suggestion as a renewal in an
other form of the British request
for abolition of underwater craft
altogether.
Freedom of the Seas.
In some quarters 1t was suggested
the French might accede to the
plan, on condition that the confer
ence take a positive stand for free
dom OF the seas, a proposal which
did not seem likely to find favor
among other delegations. Among
the Italians there appeared to be a
disposition to believe acceptance of
the proposal might be TO Italys
benefit, because of the large
amount of supplies which she must
bring over easily-served trade
routes In the Mediterranean.
For the British, it was declared
that even If the amended Root
was adopted, and sub
marines prohibited from attacking
ships, Great Britain
would continue to organize her
trawlers against possible submarine
onslaughts. The British, 1t was
said by one Of their spokesman,
would not regard such a PROPOSE
ton as tantamount to abolition of
the submarine, because they would
feel that in time Of stress an
enemy might disregard the rules
as Germany did in the world war.
The aircrafts subcommittee
which practically completed its re-
port today, was said to regard the
question Of regulating air warfare
as quite as troublesome as the
problem of drafting submarine re-
The report Is said to
recommend, however, that some
step in that direction be taken by
he Washington conference.