The Washington herald., 1921-12-23
GAINS One POINT
United States Backs En-
pire on Search and
Stoppage Points.
TEUTONIC TACTICS
IN WAR RECALLED
Lord Lee States Position
On Sentimental and
Practical Grounds.

Great Britain has lost her open
ing fight to have the submarine
outlswed as a weapon OF naval
warfare.
England. however. will raLn
should the viewpoint Of the Amer-
ican delegation prevail when the
final agreement is completed tod2,
II was expected last night that o.
will be agreed that the FIVE nations
represented here will resfirm the
international law which compelled
stoppage. visitation and search be-
fore merchantmen could be attacked
on the high seas by an enemy su-,-
marine or commerce destroyer II
was violation OF this fundamental
law that finally drove the United
States 20 war on Germany
Debate on Submarine.
Yesterdays session Of the naval
committee was devoted entirely to
| debate OF the submarine problem
I The French were not prepared t.
announce the tonnage they consiJ-
! cred necessary in auxiliary Graf,
While waiting final figures from
| French delegation. suggested that
as the British demand for the total
abolition OF the submarine was es-
sentially preliminary TO tNe other
subject. time would be zaNed b.
taking IL up. The other doiSE'atrs
agreed
The British position wa preseut-
ed in mastery fashion. While TIE
moral ground was emphs ized bs
Lord Lee of Fsreham. fri lord -
the British admiralty, hs STA nj =
stressed the material ground Brsf
ain lives from without. he declared
Therefore. she was absol gfeig cr-
posed to having her merchsuf vcs-
sells. carrying necessities ~ lie.
sunk at will by undersea c~sfL
France opposed the Bri1El -Uu-
tention. Her spokesmen llsisel
that the submarine, prope D. usec.
was an ideal weapon OF drfrnsirr
warfare. The French rovcrr IneAf
he declared. could not tetts
TO either complete abol lion
restriction
Position of Italy.
Italy entertained simila- -iewr
but predicated her argument "a hesa
admitted necessity Of copy g tie
French position.
Japan held that the subsaArfne
was a defensive warfare that ma
tions must retain.
The position Of the United States
was midway. Secretary Hughes
! fully agreed with lord Lee that the
( manner in which the submarine was
used in the late Vr was entirely
/ beyond defense. He reiterated the
American position that only when
| the international law stoppaEe.
visitation and search is completely
complied with can the use OF sub
marines against merchant craft h.
| defended.
Principles In Accord.
He declared he was satisfied that
/ all FIVE nations here represented
| are in accord on the principle thar
| the use OF the submarine against
merchantmen. where the vessel at
| tackled is not warned, Is indefensi-
! Bile. He expressed the hope that the
! committee would make some recon
mendstion for action TO prevent this
in the future. II might even be pos
sible, he suggested. that the Eve ma
tions could agree TO recommend 10
the nations OF = the world thar an
/ future wars the submarines activity
should be limited to attacks on ships
| OF war and that merchant craft
! should be Immune. However. he
| pointed out IL would be impossible
TO bind the nations here represented
TO an agreement which other ne
4 tions might not desire TO abide By.
The argument was the most eN-
D a.
until / and from . until long after
:. the delegations debated. The
British had expected that they
would lose out in their struggle
TO have submarines outlawed. but
they had expected 20 declare their
position TO the world in open ses-
| sion. This they will have opporrr
tuuity TO do when The report or
| the committee is submitted in pleu-
airy meeting for formal approval
NJ. Sarraut had filed only q brief
memorandum and asked that he be
afforded complete opportunity today
| to reply IN detail 20 some OF the
, arguments advanced by Lord Lee
I The italian delegation. through Sen
| ator Schanzer, wanted similar
chance. The Japanese position was
explained by Mr.. Hanihars, owing
TO the absence OF Adml. Baron Kato.
who was slightly gu at his hotel
II Adml Baron Ksto ia back az
today's meeting he will further
exemplify the Japanese position.
Absence of Friction.
There was q complete absence Of
friction during the submarine die
cussion- At the outset OF yester-
days meeting however Admi A.
| Bon. speaking for France, is Under
stood TO have taken the position
that until complete agreement had
been reached on collateral issues
acceptance by France OF the i.T5
ratio OF capital ships had not beer
olosed.
Chairman Hughes made u plat.
that he thought this waE mrs
take. He Interpreted the mes>a -
sent him by Premie- Isri- 4-T
sgreement without res q. 'fise
matter OF suxilisry ru and
other craft. in the o inion OF ~