Evening star., 1921-12-30
ROOT GIVES SHARP
REMINDER Of DUTY
Demands Definite Rules on
Submarine Attacks ard
Condemns Clubbing.
sTIRS ENJOYS TO ACTION
Either We Speak Clearly Voice Of
Humanity or That Voice Speaks
Without US He Says.
KX IIrNIIS u. WOOD.

BY JUNIIS Il. WOOD.
"s:ither we speak clearly and intel
lisibly the voice of humanity, which
has sent us here and to which We
,, mus report or that voice viii speak
for itself and, speaking without us,
will be our condemnation, was IN"
sharp reminder of Elihu Root Nesttr-
day which prodded the conference,
| hesitating on technical!ties and quib-
bling over phraseo!ogy, into positive
action for laying down rules on fu-
ture submarine warfare.
1t is . reminder which may be
voiced with increasing frequency as
the conference endeavors to take
definite action on other subjects while
! hurrying through the few remaining
weeks.
General principles. noble in motive
and uEseitish in purport, have been
adopted with aIaCr:ty in the weeks
that have passed. but the lasting re-
suits which are the conferences goal
will not be attained unless thsx ills of
the present and those which can be
forescea for the iutnre are removed.
Until Mr. Root spoke at yesterdays 5
meeting his resolutions, defining such
strict rules for suhmaIia-s LhNt ,hey
would become only hghLinS craft in
stead OF commerce destroycrs sGcrIed
doomed for dissection by Il commit
tee OF legal experts. The four other
nations IN the conference were en-
tnu>iastic in iuGorSing them il prIn
ciple. but unanimous in recommend
ing that they be turned over to Il
committee of lawyers. The least
drastic suggestion came from Mr..
tis niiara--that the lawyers be in
structed not to toucn the substance
of it
Both this conference and my own
life are approaching their termlna-
ton said Mr.. Foot. - do not want
these resolutions TO be IN the hands
of a commission. even of lawy ers,
after we al djourn.
His tribute TO the profession of
which he had been member for
more years than ] care to remember
as the salt of the earth did not
his plea.
This conference was called for
WHAT" he continued. For the limi-
tation of armament. But limitation
is not the enIl-oniy the means. 1t is
the belief of the world that this con-
pe;tce of the world--to relieve man
kind of the horrors and the losses
and the intoierable burdens OF war.
We cannot justify ourselves IN sep
arating without some declaration that
will give Voice TO the humane opinion
of the world upon this subject.
L know that all my countrymcn
feel the same, and 1 should Dc
ashamed to so on with this confer
cnce without some aeciara.i ion. some
Eronouncement, which will give voice
t" the feeling ana furnish an .oppor-
tunity for Che specialization OF the
opinion of mankind III the cst:t hiish-
ment of a rule which viii make it
plain to all the world thai no man
can commit such an act again without
being SLle natiZed as pirate.
Refers to INsitania.
The speaker was referring TO the
sinking OF the Lusitania as an cA-
ample. The first ciJuse OF his r.so-
luton reafiirncd the existing rules Oh
surface warfare, when Germany de-
ciared annuiled as Impractical 1or
SubmarineS-that a vessel must be
searched, that it must not be nred
on unless it refused to obey signal
to stop. and that it must not he de-
StrOyed before passengers and crew
are placed in safety.
When the Seconu clause of the reSo-
luton which would pIuulDiL subma-
rIne warfare against commerce was
reached, Mr.. Root referred at length
to the refusal OF the league of ma
tons to reconvene The Hague tri-
bunal to discuss the subject.
The door was closed" he said. rs
this not to be a world regulated by
law? What are our diSarmam aments
worth if we give our assent TO the
proposition that the impulse Of the
moment. the unregulated and uncon-
strained instincts of bru,e force, shall
rule the world and there shall be no
law? If there is to be law, SOMEBODY
must move. There is no adequate law
now with regard to submarines. There
is no law now regarding aircraft
There is no law now regarding poison
Gus gases These resolutions speak
with voice that will continue i'll
sistently. 1t will not down.
New International Law.
The delegates from America spoke,
supporting Mr.. Root. The delegates
from the other nations spoke again and
committed themselves TO what may be
a new international law. Arthur Bal
four went even farther and suggested
that it be accepted as q law so far as
the five nations are concerned.
Mr.. Root dissented to that, advising
tional law until accepted by all ma
tions of the world. The committee
which will draft the proposed law for
final presentation to the conference
comprises Mr. Root for the United
States, Sir Auckland Geddes for Great
Britain, Vice Admiral de Bon and NJ,
ka,nmerer for France. Signor Ricci for
Italy and Mr. Hanhara for Japan.
Under this law Frances new sub
marine navy could not attack Eng.
lands merchantmen. They could be
used only against other warships
However, one gun on deck or a case
of ammunition in the hold might put
a mercilantman outside the definition
of commerce, and rules Of peace are
flexible under the stress of war