The Washington times., 1921-12-30

|N5|STENT
ON GUARD
FOR TRADE
Base Position on Experiences in
War of Disregard Of Humane"
Conventions.
by GEORGE II. HOLMES.
international News Service.

So long as submarines-''the as
sassins of the sea"-are permitted
to form an integral part of the
worlds navies, Great Britain's
naval strength will be measured by
her great feet of merchant vessels.
An official spokesman for the
British delegation indicated this
determined policy of Great Britain
today by saying Britain would
never .send her merchant ships to
sea unarmed in wartime, regardless
of the restrictions which the Wash
ington conference places on the
uses Of submarines in warfare.
Britain to Fight for Trade.
While Great Britain wants to see
the submarine legally outlawed by the
Washington conference, and her dele
gates went into today's session to
wage a determined fight for IT, she
nevertheless would not be prepared to
risk her merchant vessels on any
agreement which the powers may
evolve.
Experience in the world war taught
the lesson, 1t was said, that nations are
liable to fight with any weapon they
possess In any way they can, intef-
national law or no international law,
when they get their "backs to the
wall"
Discussions over the submarine re-
strictions and a possible ratio of air
plane carriers were taken up when the
powers met again in secret at IL
O'Clock today. An informal ratio of
5-5-3-2-2 has been proposed In
airplane carriers, but the French are
not prepared to accept this without
reference to Paris again, and it was
considered doubtful whether the pro-
posal would be pressed. ..
Balfour to Sail January IA.
, Indications were forthcoming today
that the principal work of the con.
ference will be completed within the
next two weeks. A. j. Balfour, head
of the British delegation, will sail for
home on January IA.
While II is not expected all of the
details of the conference will be clear.
ed up by that time, what will be left
will be of minor Importance. and can
be attended to by the ambassadors in
Washington.
IL is understood Mr.. Balfour wants
to be home in time to prepare for the
economic and financial conference In
Europe, which Is to follow the meeting
of the allied supreme council in Cannes
next week.
May Limit Sire.
Only minor limitation projects re-
main to be considered. One is the
proposal of the American Govern
ment to limit auxiliary naval craft
to 10000 tons in size. Another 10
also an American suggestion, that
the ratios Of airplane carriers be ap-
proximated on the same general lines
of the capital ship agreement, with
so, 900 tons each for the United States
and Great Britain, and $4,000 tons for
Japan. This proposal has not been
formally disposed of yet, but there 10
every Indication that 1t will go by the
boards along with the other limita-
ton projects.
The naval powers met again to-
day behind the closed doors OF the
Pan-American building to continue
the discussions over the Root resolu
ton. the acceptance of which. in IT,
present form. would virtually outlaw
| the submarine and prevent its use
against commercial vessels.
Hav ng failed to attain their first
AZ on of the su supmarinc
and hav ng also failed to alta n their
second aim, the limitation of unde;-
sea craft, the British are now con
centering every effort At the out,