South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-12-29
FRENCH DISRUPT
ALL PLANS FOR
SUB AGREEMENT
Delegates Give Up Attempt to
Reconcile Conflicting
Demands.

Continued from page one)
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has she had 20 fear the power OF
Great Britain 20 strike blow AT
her heart. In the nature OF things
that must be so No inferior mill
tary power has ever yet been able
20 invade or seriously imperil a su-
periOr military power merely be-
cause she had more ships
Suppose the almost inconceivable
happened and close allies became
enemies. it is perfectly clear that in
that case no British superiority OF
capital ships would imperil the life
OF France for an hour.
Subs for Destroying Commerce.
Now compare the position Of
France in the face OF a superior
British surface fleet with the position
Of Britain in the face Of France with
the largest submarine fleet in the
world. She could use that fleet if
she chose for commerce destruction
and IL is difficult 20 believe that in
time OF stress she would not so use
il. II Britain were unarmed against
submarines IL was evident that
France, using that felonious wea-
pom. could destroy her v"'y exist
ence."
Mr.. Balfour said VI. Sarr1ut had
talked OF the absolute necessity OF
France possessing a fleet OF 10000
tons OF submarines.
For what purpose. then he
continued. mot to cooperate with a
fleet Of $4,000 tons of capital ships.
It was ftogether out Of proportion.
What did he want the 10000 tons
Of submarines for?'
Submarines were a powerful wea-
pom for one purpose only. the de-
struction Of commerce. Mr.. Balfour
said, and added:
1T is not unreasonable that
Great Britain, when threatened by
establishment within a few miles Of
her coast Of a vast fleet Of subma
rines which were Of no use except
destroy commerce. to say candidly
she could not look with indifference
upon the situation that would thus
be created"
Hughes Disappointed.
Expressing his disappointment
with the French statement as TO
submarines. Mr.. Hughes said that
II these vessels were TO be available
for defensive purposes in connection
with fleet movements they should
bear some definite proportion TO the
fghting fleets" The French sug-
gestion of 10000 tons ION any basis
Of a practicable ratio he added,
would involve the assumption that
Great Britain and the United States
increase their submarine tonnage
proportlonately with the French.
Mr.. Hughes said il was a serious
question whether anything could be
accomplished i'm tn way Of limiting
tonnage of submarines and aUXil-
larry craft.
The conference" Mr.. Hughes re-
minded the committee. was called
to consider the Limitation Of arma-
ment."
The secretary added that he did
not wish lin any way to detract
from the importance Of the definite
acceptance by France of the pro-
gram for capital ships" in what he
had said as tc submarines.
Abandon Further Argument.
Agreeing that further argument
would be useless. the committee
turned its attention to collateral
subjects, including regulations for
future. use Of submarines. proposals
for limitation of the size and anna
ment Of individual auxiliary vessels,
and details of the agreement al
ready sealed in principle regarding
capital ships.
Root Proposes Plan.
For the American delegation,
Elihu Root proposed a joint decla-
ration reafirming the obligation of
submarine commanders 70 warn
merchant ships before attack. 70
refrain from sinking vessels whose
crews and passengers could not first
be placed in safety. and TO conform
in general 10 all the established
practices of international law. In
addition. Mr. Root also suggested a
change in existing usage 10 prohibit
attacks on merchant vessels alto
gether and 20 make submarine COM
manders who violate the regulations
liable to trial as pirates.
British DeplOre Action.
Surprise was expressed by Brit
ish delegates Wednesday night over
the developments in Wednesday :
meeting OF the armament conference
naval committee, and II was said
time would be required 10 study the
proposition 10 limit the activities OF
submarines, as we'll as 10 anaIyze
the possible results OF the French
refusal 20 limit the tonnage OF sub
marines.
1T is said. a British spokesman
said. 1T is deporable that any ma
ton should have taken such a posi-
ton as we have seen taken today,
There can be no limitation now or
the number OF craft that we must
build for anti-submarine purposes