Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-12-30
LAY DOWN RULES
FOR OPERATION
Of SUBMARINES
Roots Resolution to Protect
Merchant Craft Is AC-
copied In Principle BY the
Naval Committee.
tBy The Associated Press)

Washington, Dec. 20 (by the AS
ISOLATED Press. "A resolution by
RElihu Root, reaffirming existing
xuIes of naval warfare for surface
craft and strict application of this
1 code to submarines operating
3against merchant craft was accept
ed in principle today by the naval
committee of the arms conference
Mr.. Roots second proposal that
new rule of international law be
initiated outlawing entirely sub
marine operations against mer-
chantment was still under discus
sion when the committee ad-
journed for the day. 1t had been
urged in addresses by each mem
Der of the American delegation and
approved formally for the British
group by Arthur J. Balfour. The
other delegations still are to be
heard on this subject.
Rules of visit and Search.
In the form in which the first
proposal was approved in princi-
pie and sent to a Subcommittee
for final drafting, the Root pro-
posal sets out anew rules of visit
and search belligerent craft
observe in dealing with CONNER
cial vessels and couples with this
the declaration that submarines
must be governed by these rules,
AT the suggestion of Mr.. Balfour
the original preamble was amend
Ned in arrangement to read as fol-
1ows:
1.-THE signatory powers desiring
to make effective the rules adopted
by civilized nations for the pro-
lection of the lives of neutrals and
non-combatants at sea in time of
war invite the adherence of all
other civilized powers to the fol-
lowing statement of established
law, to the end that there may be
clear public understandings
throughout the world of the stand
ards of conduct by which the pub
lie opinion of the world is to pass
judgment upon future belliger-
ents."
Committed.
In committing the resolution to q
subcommittee headed by Mr.. Root
for final drafting, Secretary
Hughes said he hoped it would
mot be overlaid with lawyers
niceties when it re-emerged No
one, he said, could write anything
which lawyers could not improve
but when it came to "the express
sion of vague fears, to which law
yers so like to give expression" he
added. he hoped that such verbal
criticisms would receive scant at
tention."
1t would have seemed "extraor-
binary indeed" Mr.. Hughes de-
clared, If the conference had not
voiced "a most emphatic condem-
nation" of the "abhorrent prac-
tees" in submarine warfare in
dulged in during the recent war
But such a declaration as was
planned, he added, was timely
and necessary also because the
conference had failed to reach an
agreement either to ban subma-
rines entirely or to limit each ma
TONS tonnage in these craft.
Law Should BE Observed.
"Such a declaration az the one
proposed in the first (Root) reso.
luton" he added, will go to tho
whole world as an indication that
while the committee could moi
agree on such limitation. there was
no disagreement on the question
that submarines should never BIZ
used contrary to the principles Of
the law governing war. The adop.
ton of the resolution might, fur.
thermore, avoid misunderstanding
on the part of those who were
looking to the conference with
great hope"
Mr.. Hughes also declared the
resolution was of value because the
signatory powers must remember