The New York herald., 1921-12-23
BRITISR'ONLY WOULD
ABOLISH SUBMARINE
Other Powers Not Willing to
Go That Far. but Would
Check Activity.
LUSITANIA CASE Is CITED
Decision Is Postponed Until
To-day to Answer Plea for
Absolute Ban.
LUSITANIA CASE is CITED
Special Dispatch 10 THE NEw YosK iERAtn
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. G., Dec. 22.

New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. G., Dec. 22.
The submarine, outlaw of the seas.
had its day in court to-day at the
Conference for the Limitation OF
Armament
All of the plenipotentlary delegates
Of the five great naval Powers. to-
gether with their naval experts, de-
voted the entire day to the discussion
of the official British proposal that
the submarine be outlawed as a wea-
pom of war. No decision was reached,
but the manner in which the Powers
aligned themselves indicated that it's
use as a weapon of defense will be ac-
knowledged as legitimate under cer-
tain restrictions.
The Powers were unit in con-
demning the kind of submarine war
fare waged by Germany in the late
war. The nations have undertaken TO
pillory in all history the sinking of
the Lusitania when German subma-
rines first began to run amuck upon
the seas.
Great Britain, through Lord Lee, made
powerful argument against the use of
the submarine under any conditions OF
warfare. France. Italy and Japan ex-
pressed the belief that the use OF the un
dersca vessel as a weapon Of defense is
legitimate, while the American delega-
ton reserved its definite verdict, but
4 L. 20 hvee Pc
ers just named. M
Would Answer Lord Lee.
The French delegation desired TO make
additional answer to the argument made
by Lord Lee. The delegates and ex-
perts Of the other Powers also desired
additional time to digest Lord Lees ar
gument.
The delegates will m eet at 3 o'clock
tomorrow for further consideration Of
the question. This is interpreted as
meaning that there can be no plenary
session Of the conference this week. with
Tuesday of next week as the possible
date of the next open session.
The British delegation will make an
additional presentation of the case
against the submarine at a plenary ses-
sion of the conference. it was stated by
Lee on that occasion intends to elaborate
his powerful argument of to-day.
The ratio of capital ships and auxi-
larry craft, including submarines, was not
discussed at this season. That will
await the action of the conference on the
British proposal to abolish submarines.
The evident determination Of the Pow
ers assembled here TO outlaw the use of
submarines against merchant ships, as
practiced by Germany in the late war,
will undoubtedly take the form of an in
ternational recommendation. This con-
ference cannot prescribe rules of inter-
national law. An International court
may be the medium through which inter-
national rules will be promulgated
Must visit and Search First.
There was no variance in the opinion
that the nations should set their faces
against the use of submarines In warfare
upon merchant vessels without first adj
herring to the doctrine of visit and search
before attacking and positively insuring
the safety of passengers.
1t is believed probable this recommen-
dation will take the form of suggested
inhibition against the use of submarines
in any circumstances against anything
but enemy warcraft.
In American quarters II was Believed
that the difficulty presented by France
in originally claiming the right to build
ten capital ships has been disposed of
thro ugh the interchange OF messages be-
tween Secretary OF State Hughes and
Prer'ier BRAND.
The fact that it was felt necessary
for the French to make moro complete
answer to the argument presented by
Lord Lee, and that II was deemed neces-
sary to postpone determination of the
question pending fuller study of Lord
Lees argument was a sufficient proof
OF it's effectiveness.
Tho American position, which viii
probably be the determining factor In
whatever Is accomplished In limiting
the use OF the submarine, while not dis
closed by Secretary Hughes. is clearly
suggested by the report OF the American
advisory committee. which Secretary
Hughes made part Of the record of the
conference. This report expresses abb
horrence of the unlimited use OF the
submarine and urges that regulations be
adopted which VIII neccssitete the adj
bcrance TO tho doctrine OF visit and
search. IL recommends that passengers
lives be safeguarded and deprecates the
arming OF merchant vessels and the use
OF false flags. These recommendation
are predicated upon the assumption that
undersea vessels shall observe the rules
OF war applicable 70 surface ships.
The report of the advisory committee
nppends a statement OF the proposal Of
the United States for limitation of naval
armament so far as submarines are
concerned. made at the opening session
of the conference. This statement
argued for the continued use OF tho
submarine and urged that it was a
necessary weapon for the United states.
because OF It's long coast lines. its lack
of scout surface cruisers and the inn
portancc OF protesting its outlying pos
sessions.
This same statement excoriated tho un-
limited use Of submarines as exempli-
Ned by the Germans in the world war.
-