The New York herald., 1921-12-26
MONDAY. DECEMBER as. 1921.
The Only Way to Save Its Face.

The Only Way to Save Its Face.
In the present situation the only
way for the Washington conference
to save its face with the American
people and the peoples Of the world
on the submarine question is to shunt
it Off to another international con.
ference called specifically to consider
and act on the status of the subma-
rine and all other demoniacal instru.
ments of outlaw warfare.
1t is a great pity that the present
conference as a whole is so callous
to it's plain duty to man that 1t does
not with wholehearted unanimity take
the plunge in favor OF humanity and
sweep these accursed things from the
world once and forever.
England in her stand for the total
elimination Of the submarine from
the waters Of the world is right,
splendidly right.
America with her passive accept
ance Of the submarine is wrong,
dead wrong.
France in her insistent demand
for the submarine is wrong, dead
wrong.
Japan and Italy, we gather. would
not stand out against the abolition of
the submarine if France and America
would join England In her demand
for scrapping all submarines and the
prohibition Of the future building
of submarines.
AS things stand now the confer
once is at a deadlock with regard to
the amount Of submarine tonnage
france shall havc and the relative
submarine tonnage the flve nations
shall have. England has yielded
from her stand of vigorous opposi-
ton to the retention of the subma-
rine solely in the interest of har-
mony and Of getting through the far
reaching agreements already ac-
cepted by all the nations represented
IN the conference.
In this situation wouldn't it be the
part of wisdom to delay action on
the submarine. making provision for
its special consideration by another
conference which should be called at
an early date and which should deal
also with poison gas and the bomb
ing airplane? In the present temper
OF the Washington conference, to say
nothing Of the sordid viewpoint of
all the nations except England on
outlaw warfare, the best outcome we
Can hope for is a compromise.
While America has won the plau-
dts Of the world in this conference,
she has not won for herself glory
on the question Of outlaw warfare,
against which she made no protest
rin the opening Of the conference and
against which she has made no pro-
rest since. THE NEW York HERALD.
however, is convinced that America
would not insist upon the retention
of the submarine to the point of
bringing about disagreement in the
conference II the other nations were
TO declare against 1t, but II this is
the best we can say OF America in
respect OF outlaw warfare we submit
that IL isn't saying very much.
We suspect the truth Is that the
American Government hadn't given
much attention to this phase of the
matter; that the American Govern.
ment had centered its thought and
its heart on making drastic cut in
the fabulous naval costs that were
burning UP the substance Of the
world. And with the modification or
elimination OF this menace the less
costly implements OF warfare had a
favorable appeal to the progenitors
OF the conference. their judgment
Influenced by the feel of gold.
But In the eyes Of GoD and hu
manity can Governments allow the
gold standard to prescribe outlaw
wsrfare--can Governments SO fal