New-York tribune., 1921-12-30
Root Resolution, Reaf-
frming Present Enierna-
tional Law on Seas, Is
Adopted in Principle
Second Rule Bars
War ON Commerce
French Policy of Delay
Explained as Linked TO
Farley on Reparations
By Carter Field

W Atoi1l4N1 YIN, DSC. LS.---fS ti13 :
hope that an agreement not to use
submarines against merchant ships
under any circumstances will be
reached by the five naval powers at
tending the armament limitation
conference was held out tonight.
Confident that this would be
adopted, British spokesmen declared
that the conference had recovered
lot of the ground lost yesterday
when the French prevented any
agreement as to limitation on eithcy
submarines or auxiliary craft.
The original proposition to protect
merchant ships from submarines, as
discussed in to-day's meeting of the
committee en- armament, was made by
Elihu Root and proposes a change in
international Jaw, to take effect when
all the nations have ratified it, just
as an amendment to the United
States Constitution takes effect if
and when it is ratified by three
tourthS of the states.
Existing Rules ReaiTirmed
Pending the acceptance of his pro-
posed change in international law, Mr..
Root asked that the existing rules
governing the activities OF surface
| craft in warfare, with application to
submarines, be reaffirnied. This pre-
posal was agreed to IN principle and
sent to a subcommittee Tor drafting.
! This resolution reads:
"The signatory powers desiring to
make more effective the rules adopt
cd by civilized nations for the protec-
tion of the lives of neutrais and non
combatants at sea in time OF war in
vltc the adherence Of all other civil
lized powers to the following state
ment Of established law TO the end
that there may be Il clear public un-
derstanding throughout the world Of
the standards of conduct by which
the public opinion of the world IS to
pass Judgment upon future bel
IgerentS.'
The text Of Mr. Roots second pro
posal, or which agreement could not
be reached to-day, reads:
The signatory powers recognize
the practical impossihility Of using ,
submarines as commerce dpstrovers
without violating the requirements
universally accepted by civilized ma
tions for the protection Of the lives
of neutrals and non-combatants. and
to the end that the prohibition of
such use shall be universally ac-
cepted as a part OF the law cf ma
tions they declare their assent to
such prohibition and invite all other
nations to adhere thereto
British Urge Pledge of Five
The British. asserting to the second
Root proposal, urged that it should ga
further and should provide in the
mean time that the five nations attend
ing the Armament Limitation Confer*
encc should covenant with each othe7
that the submarine should not be used
by any one of them against any othet
! in the event Of war between any 81
the five Before there had been much
discussion the meeting adjourned until
tomorrow. but the British were ra,
diant tonight at the prospect of ac,
complishing this, and the Americas
delegates were not far behind them ip
their enthusiasm
Senator Root compared the Britist
campaign against the submarine to the
prohibition issue. saying he supposed
very broad prohihstion like that we
now live under here was necessary in
order to make simple rule whicJ
would prevent people from doing things
in an Objectionable way. In this case
If they tried to make the prob ibitios
IN detail it would be impossible I'd
enforce it, and so it was impossible
to have a glass of wine at dinner be
cause 1t was necessary to have broad
prohibition to prevent y lot of poor
fellows from getting drunk on bad
whisky. The British had tried ts
abolish submarines, but had not sue
ceeded, so now they were trying t.
get rid of the evils by detailed insteai
of general prohibition
AS matter of fact, the British op,
tlmlsm as to the success Of the agree.
ment among the five powers not I,
usej the subm~4-1e IN attacking eacE
others merchant ips scarcely seemed
to be justified by the conversation.i
around French headquarters late 20
night The British based their or
timism as to French acceptance on
speech which Albert Sarraut, head a
the French delegation, made at To
gay S session. This speech, however
was made not The proposal to out
law All submarine operations againr
merchant ships, but on former pre-
posal, quite generally approved, whie,
world restate the old law of the so,
with respect TO visit and search. qua.
anty of the safety Of passengers ar.
crew, etc 1t was after the approval :.
this proposal that Mr.. Root made hf
1urther proposal, with view to o.,
talniag the agreement of all nations
cnange international law, and Mr. Bas
our Tor the British, sought to amer,
~ py hsEiag IN the mean time an agres
"'eht OF 1ne fve powers represented
France Silent on PROPOSAL
After this stage of the proceed;ns
no word was heard from the Frenei
eltner OF assent or dissent. the t;,S,
after. that being es4sirelv consumer al
Messrs- Root and Ralfour. ''eu y
Later, however, hints around Frend
neacquarters were clear that ~
would nave to take their time .hn..
s .ais business Of agreeing not t. 80
TACK merchant ships at all, nucn les