The Washington herald., 1921-12-23
SUBMARINE use
NHUMAN, CLAIMS
BRITISH DELEGATE
Mr.. Hughes Outlines the
Views of Naval Expert
Committee.

Continued from Page One.
animated by no selfish motives. At
the same time IL would be foolish
not to recognize that Great Britain
was the nation most exposed to the
menace OF the submarine. So long
as submarine warfare continued. II
would be the greatest menace to the
food supplies on which our country
was dependent.
Position of Britain.
The British people lived in a
crowded island whose soil only pro-
duced two-hfths Of its supply of
food For the remaining three-fifths
they relied upon sea communica-
tions- On an average only seven
weeks stocks were maintained in
the country. BY far the greatest an
xtety which the British government
had felt during the war was to pre-
vent the reserves of food falling to
zero. Was II surprising, therefore,
II. with a danger in front of them
as great as any to which NJ. BRAND
had so eloquently explained France
was subject, the British people pro-
tested against a weapon which was
the negation Of humanity and civil
lizstion itself,
TT might be claimed II the o.
boat had begun its operations ear
lier or had had better luck. the
To this he would reply that the
British navy had constituted almost
+ the keystone OF the allied arch: but
for the British navy. France would
have been ruined. Belgium would
have been overrun and even the
United States of America. self-con-
tained, self-supporting, with vast
resources. would have been impo-
tent to intervene and might have
had to abandon its army and all
IL had in France. or else to make
a humiliating peace. That would
not have been a disaster to Great
Britain alone That was why he
resented the idea, which had been
published in a part OF the press.
that the abolition of submarines
was merely a selfish and unworthy
design
He felt sure that someone
would ask, How can we feel sure
that II We abolish submarines other
powers who are not represented
here viii not proceed with the
building Of submarines? The same
classes OF craft mentioned in the
American scheme. He found II i'm
possible to believe that other pow
ers would set themselves against
the opinion Of the rest of the civil
lied world regarding This particular
weapon. II, however, the great ma
val powers should at some future
date ind themselves exposed to
piracy by the action of some small
er power. surely they would md
the means Of bringing Nemesis to
the transgressor? World opinion
was a very powerful weapon. and
certainly some means would be
found by which the great naval
powers could protect themselves II
necessary"
Denies They Are Cheap.
Lord Lee then repeated the argu-
ments against indorsing subma-
rines because they were cheap. It
might be cheaper for the aggressor.
he admitted. but not for the victim.
He admitted that il was impossible
TO abolish the use OF poison gas be-
cause IL was a biproduct of indus
try, but the submarine. he contend
ed. was not a biproduct OF any
thing.
To show the earnestness of his
government he said that, while II
possessed the most S(icient sub
marine fleet in the world, IL was
perfectly willing to scrap it. He
admitted that he -Juld not expect
to carry his point at this time, but
hoped eventually all civilized ma
tions would come around to his
view. II he failed to convince
his colleagues, he said In closing.
he would welcome any suggestions
for the reduction AMI restriction
OF submarines.
When he sa- down Chairman
Hughes called attention 10 the fact
that the American proposals pro
yided for a red1-tion. not an in
crease. in its submarine fleet.
For the French NJ. Sarraut paid
tribute to Lord Lees eloQuence ano
ioined with the other delegations
in expressing his profound dtsaT-
proval of the barbsI Gus use which
was made Of submarines in the
tlate war
'aThe French delegation.% he con-
tinued. believed that the subma-
rine was pre-emnently a defensive
weapon especially for nations
scantily supplied with capital ships.
II has been proven that II is un-
equal to obtaining control of the
seas and cannot be considered
dominating weapon. It could be
used under honorable conditions,
and conditions for such use should
he formulated in conformity with
IN. lessons of the late war. The
French delegation believed that
submarines OF large tonnage are
necessary to assure the defense of
distant colonies and possessions, as
we'll as to maintain the ssEe.y of
lines of communication between
the mother country and the posses
.Ions for which she is responsible"
Speaks for Italy.