The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-12-30
A Dispute Over Phraseology
Blocked Formal Adoption
of an Affirmative
Resolution.
tax The Associated Pressl

conference naval committee spent all
of today debating proposals to restrict
submarine warfare against merchant
craft, but got no further than gem
eral understanding to reaffirm exist
ing principles Of international law and
declare strict application Of these
principles in future to submarine op-
Grafton"
A dispute over phraseology blocked
formal adoption of an affirmatory res
olution, and the subject was laid aside
for consideration by a special subcom-
mittee on drafting. The naval COM
mittee itself then began what prom
lses to be a. prolonged debate over the
American proposal to prohibition of
use OF submarines against merchant
vessels altogether.
Meantime the subcommittee on air.
craft decided to abandon any effort to
limit the airplane strength of the pow
ers and to recommend instead that an
attempt be made to agree on restric-
tions that would make air warfare con-
form with considerations OF humanity.
Even such regulations. however, We're
said to be considered by subcommittee
merabers as difficult of formulation.
All the other naval and far eastern
discu ussions before the conference re-
mained at a standstill during the day
except for an intimation from the
japanese that only mediation by the
United States and Great Britain could
save the Shantung negotiations from
final deadlock. 1t was declared both
Tor the Japanese and Chinese that
their governments had< gone as far as
possible toward a compromise, and
hope of a settlement was seen only in
the possibility that some new element
could be injected into the conversa-
tions.
There We're indications that the
naval experts Of the various powers
were far from an agreement On the
proposal that airplane carriers be linn
lied. and all the foreign delegations
We're waiting on further Instructions
as to the American proposal to estal1-
iish 10000 tons as the maximum size
for any auxiliary warship. There was
also a halt on remaining details of the
capital ship agreement itself. a pro-
posal meeting Of experts to work out
a replacement chart being postponed
until later in the week.
So far as the capital ship question
is concerned, all the a-1'egations ap-
pear to regard it as good as settled,
several details sxnain to be
discussed and no draft of treaty en-
bodying the agreement has been pre-
pared. France has aecesSted. subject
to a reservation which she has not yet
fully explained, SO that considerable
discussion may take place befot even
that part of the work of the conference
is ready for final approval
In regard to stiIl another conference
problem. generally considered as set
tled-the new four power Pacific
treaty-there were signs tonight of re-
vived discussions among the delegates
because of the suggestion of Japan
that some action be taken to clarity
the scope of the agreement in its rela-
tion to the major islands of the Japa-
nese empire. Baron Shidehara of the
Japanese delegation after a discussion
of the subject with Secretary Hughes.
took the Japanese request TO Arthur
J. Balfour, head of the British, and it
was said afterward that some definite
clarification scheme might be brought
forward formally in the near future.
In view of the difference OF opinion
the treaty's scope between President
and the American delegates,
the japanese think there at least
should be an exchange of formal notes
among the four powers setting forth
tee lns'1ning OF the pact Beyond dis
pute. They are said to desire that the
main japanese group of islands be not
included under the treaty but on the
other hand the British desire that
and New Zealand shall be
within its scope.
Although the senate is not in ses-
sion. echoes of the proposed fight on
Of the four pover asree-
ment continues e reach the seiega tes.
Ia g folp sta to eena.or
ratification So lso Ms sis
cassed during tie day between Seaa-
tor Borah. republican. Idaho. a leader
Of tho anti-treaty forces. and Joseph
p Tumulty, former Secretary to
Woodrow Wilson. in conference
which attracted wide attention and
gave impetus TO speculation as to what |
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