Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-12-31
ARMS CONFERENCE
REACHES CRISIS ON
AUXILIARY VESSELS
Hughes, Confers With Har-
ding Before Session Opens
French and British Clash
Stirs Farley Circles

"Aot11NI1ON, Lee. SU.-(By the
Associated Press.)-Its horizon be.
clouded by many elements Of un-
certainty, the arms conference to-
day entered phase of it's negotia-
tons which will determine wheth-
er it is to be successful in impos-
ing limitations on any class of war
craft except capital ships.
The immediate proposal before the
naval committee when it resumed
it's session was a plan Of the Amer
lean government to limit the ton
mage Of airplane carriers to be main
tanned in the future navies of the
powers. 1t is on this proposition,
and on proposals to restrict the use
of submarines and the size of indi-
vidual warships of the auxiliary
classes, that the American delega-
ton now pins it's hope of amplify-
ing the capital ship agreement al
ready reached but to which France
yesterday attached p reservation as
to requirements.
A direct issue as to whether future
submarine warfare shalt be conduct
ed under civilized rules was raised
today by the American delegates.
The Americans all urged adoption of
theeRoot resolution and won the sup
ortVof Great Britain, but the French,
Japanese and italian delegates urged
reference of the matter to a commits
sion of experts.
The Root resolutions, which would
regulate use Of submarines against
merchant craft, were the subject of
spirited debate at the morning ses-
sion, and action on them was post
poned until further discussion could
be had at an afternoon session.
All Of the American delegates
spoke emphatically in behalf of th&
Root resolutions and Lord Lee voiced
Great Britain's support.
The American delegates opposed
the suggestion for reference of the
resolutions t. a commission of eX-
perts, declaring that the question
was one for a declaration of policy
by the conference.
Firm intention was indicated by
the American delegates, it was said,
to obtain exp1 sion from the con-
ference on the straight issue of sub
marine warfare, declaring it was es-
sential that the principal naval pow
ers should now say to what uses the
submarine may be put in the fu-
ture.
The Root resolution was the only
topic taken up at the morning ses-
sion. It was said the French dele
gates had not received INSTRUCTIONS
on the American proposal to- limit
the size and armament Of auxiliary
craft.
Mr.. Root. it was stated, cpoke at
length with respect to the resolu-
tons. The French views were ex-
planned only briefly at the morning
meeting. Mr.. Sarraut, head Of the
delegation, reserving presentation
until the afternoon session.
1t was privately conceded in all
quarters that the negotiations on re-
manning issues of the conference had
not been made easier by yesterdays
pointed exchanges in the committee
session which heard Frances final
refusal to lay aside her submarine
program. The open declarations of
Arthur J. Balfour, Of the British
group, and Albert Sarraut, of the
French regarding future Anglo
French relations were talked of as
forming an unusual chapter Of dip
lomatic history, and as bringing to
the surface of the conference al.
last the embarrassments that have
complicated relations between Lon
don and Paris ever since the armi-
stice.
Open Session Desired
The British desire to present fur
Their their views to the public, and it
was indicated in British quarters to-
day that plenary session of the
conference might be held within the
next three or four days to go over
again the delicate ground covered
yesterday in the committee.
The new angle taken by the nego-
tiations was described to President
Harding today by Secretary Hughes,
who went to the White House before
the naval committee met and was
closeted for nearly an hour with the
chief executive. The trend Of their
discussions was revealed but there
were indications that Mr.. Harding
was seeking some means Of at leae<
bringing the powers together at a
later conference, when present
strains on international relations
may have been removed.
Some Of the delegates are taking
the position, on the other hand, that
no such meeting would me prac-
ticable until there appeared unmis-
taxable evidence Of a change of view
among the disagreeing powers. 1t
was indicated today that in the
American group there was a feeling
that there would be nothing to dis,
cuss in any naval conference in the
near future unless the Root resolu-
tons regarding submarines are
adopted and the adherence Of the
smaller nations to them is invited
The purpose Of the suggested
plenary session would be primarily
to afford an opportunity for a full
statement of the British view in re
gard to submarines and auxiliary
craft, but it is expected that the
Root resolution might also be con
Sidered.
The American delegates attach a
| great deal Of Importance to these
Root resolutions, almost as much
as they do to the Root four-point
resolution laying down principles for
guidance of the powers in thei- deal
| ings with the Far East. Though
unsensational in appearance, the
proposed submarine declaration, in
the opinion of the Americans, mark
ed a distinct advance toward the
movement to divest naval war of its
most repellent and inhuman feature
Remaining Work
The British delegation through
one Of it's spokesman today, while
approving Of the resolutions in prin
ciple, recalled the fact that similar
regulations adopted by The Hague
conference many years ago, had not