The New York herald., 1921-12-30
Conference Agrees to
1t, but There Is OPP
position to Barring
All Attacks.
DRAFTING is ORDERED
Delegates Evince Desire to
Align Public Opinion
Against Illegal Use.
PERIL IN FRENCH STAND
American Participation i'm Fu-
ture Conferences Deemed
Doubtful.
BY LOUIS SEIBOLD.

Special Dispatch 10 THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington. ID. G., Dec. 90.
Acting on the assumption that the
French Government will adhere to
its adverse submarine decision and
that nothing can be accomplished in
the direction of limiting tonnage of
that type Of warship, the conference
naval committee of fifteen to-day de.
voted itself to the task of defining
the status OF undersea boats and pre-
scribing rules to govern their opera
ton.
The belief that existed among some
Of the delegates that the French de
cision may be modified in the coming
conference at Cannes between Lloyd
George and NJ. BRAND is not shared
by the representatives of the French
Government; nor are the delegates
of this country optimistic regarding
such an eventuality. AT any rate the
matter has been set aside for the
present and the American. British,
italian and Netherlands delegates at
least persist in asserting that confer.
ence conclusions will be mainly salts
factory despite the attitude of the
French Government in the submarine
controversy.
1t is quite probable that for the
next four or five days the attention
of conference delegates will be CEN
tered on the activities of the general
naval committee in promoting agree
ments relating to the capital ship pro-
gram and the regulation of the sub
marine as an agent of warfare
One Regulation Adopted.
The Root resolution submitted yes.
terday by the American delegates for
the regulation of submarines was
used as the basis for discussions to-
day. The first clause of Mr.. Roots
resolution was accepted in principle
by unanimous decision and turned
over to the drafting committee to be
reduced to technical form.
Substantial progress was also made
toward disposing of the second
clause of the measure presented by
Mr.. Root, although there is marked
division of sentiment as to the neces.
sity of it.
The consideration of the two points
in Mr.. Roots resolution was marked
by the frankest exchange Of views re.
garding submarine warfare. During
the exchange of opinions between Mr.
Root, Senator Lodge, Senator Under
wood, Mr.. Balfour. Lord Lee. Pre-
mier Borden OF Canada, Mr.. Salmon
of New Zealand, Admiral de Bon. Mr..
Hanihara and Senator Schanzer, the
whole submarine issue was generally
debated.
The consensus appeared to be that
regardless of the question of limiting
submarine tonnage, the conference
should take a decided stand against
the policies adopted by the German
Admiralty in employing submarines
to illegally destroy merchant ships
and human life.
This in fact is the purpose of Mr..
Roots resolution. 1t was described
tonight by spokesmen of the Ameri.
can Government as an effort to pro-
vide "a deterrent on the illegal use OF
submarines which will be recognized
and observed by all civilized coun.
tries"
The comments made by the dele.
gates who discussed the matter be.
fore the naval committee to-day indi-
Gated pronounced appreciation OF
the object OF the measure and gen.
eral sympathy with the necessity for
1t. There was, however. some uncer-
tainty as to the application OF the
second feature OF the resolution.
Doctrine OF visit aud SEARCH
Two distinct questions rel
Mr. Roots suggestion v
the conference to-day
that submarines m,
doctrine of vis'
capturing or
ship, ar