Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-12-30
OF
Curb ON subs
IS FAVORED
Resolution Providing for
Search and Rescue OF
Merchantmen
TO DEBAR SINKING
Italy Expresses Fear of France and
Hints at An Alliance With Eng
land.

Washington Dec. 30.-Accepting the
| failure yesterday to reduce and limit
submarine tonnage according to their
VARYING viewpoints some cheertully
I some regretfully and some fearfully
the delegates TO the Conference start
ed to work again yesterday, with these
facts standing out:
Agreement in principle to the
Root resolution restating the rule of
international law that before sub
marine may sink a merchant ship
there must be visit and search and
committee has been named to redraft
rescue of crew and passengers A
committee has been named to redraft
the resolution.
2.-Attention to the Root resolution
debarring submarines from sinking
merchant ships. with an amendment
from the British to put the rule into
force at once as between the five nav
al powers in this Conference. The Brit
ish expect adoption and hold that
adoption will regain much of the
ground lost yesterday.
3.-Expressions of fear from the
Italians that France is embarked upon
I. plan to dominate the Continent, and
intimations that if that turns out to
he he case, Italy may seek an entente
with England to protect herself. Also
regret from the Italians that the
French may compel them to expend
large sums on naval constructions.
4-CalIs for boycott Of Japanese
goods issued to the Chinese people by
representatives here III Washington
of various Chinese business and work
ers organizations, who hold that Jap
an has barred etfectually important
aaion. by the Conference for the re-
lief Of China, and that China must
act on her own behalf.
5-Renewal of reports that the
State Department and the japanese.
Ambassador are, negotiating upon
proposal for an exchange of notes
exempting the Japanese homeland
from the four-power treaty, and fresh
reports from the Senate indicating
that as the treaty stands the oppoSl-
ton is formidable and growing.
The British expectation that the
resolution barring submarines from at
tacking merchant ships will be adopt
ed was so strong and the British
spokesmen were so enthusiastic over
it last night that the subject lent
new cheer to the Conference. Reports
from the French indicated that they
will go along on the proposal, thus
sidetracking opposition which many
have come to expect to almost ever
thing. There is very genuine belief
among the British and some others
that the resolution will repair much
of the damage done yesterday.
They have held, and sincerely be-
lieve, that the submarine is an in
efficient weapon against modern war
ships or against military transports
properly conveyed. If, now, the Con-
ference will adopt resolution in
agree not to use the submarine against
which the nations represented will
merchantmen and will invite other ma
tions to adhere to that resolution the
ment will be put on the way to vir-
tual elimination.
One of the principal British spokes-
men was asked last night whether the
statement that adoption of the reSo-
luton would regain much IF the
ground lost" meant that, should the
submarine be outlawed as against
ships of commerce, the British would
not 30 on with their announced plan
to build adequate anti-submarine craft
if other nations build submarines.
He replied very definitely that it
did not mean that. If other nations
begin building submarines-and it is
to be remembered that authoritative
British representatives have insisted
repeatedly that the French do not in
tend to build great fleet of sub
marines--tl1is British spokesman saws
the British Empire undoubtedly Will
build heavily in anti-ssbmarine craft.
1t will take no chances. And thus. for
some years in any event, French sob
marine building will mean British
building in opposition. and the econo-
mic benefits of capital-ship reduction
will be lessened if not destroyed.
But, this British spokesman also
strongly insisted, there would be great
moral and humanitarian gain by the
adoption of the resolution against sub
marine attacks on merchant ships,
even though there were no immediate
economic gains. Practical elimination
OF the submarine as an effective wea-
pom, even though it still be maintained
in the navies Of the world, would go
far toward giving reassurances to
the peoples of nations that might be
suspicious Of suddea attacks.
And, the British think, should an
other war come in which the naYfss
would play important parts, such rer
stlictions upon the use Of the subnSa-
ines would immeasurably lessen, the
horrors Of war and the batreds that
are aroused and that lives long after
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