Evening star., 1921-12-31
Spokesman Point Out Ease
With Which Agreements
E Are Broken in War.
EXPRESSION BY SURRAUT
AIDS IN HEALING BREACH
Conference in Lull Today as Dele
gates Await Instructions
From Home.
BY q. GOULD LINCOLN.

The British will proceed with their
naval plans to resist submarine at
tacks upon commerce whether the
Root resolutions debarring suoma-
rines from acting as commerce de-
stroyers are agreed to finally or not.
This was made clear by British
spokesmen today.
at is just as easy to break strict
rule as to break a less strict rule
when submarines are at hand and in
the stress of war;" said one of the
British spokesmen today, discussing
the matter. The British have seen
the breaking of international rules
regarding merchant shipping in the
war with Germany. AS long as sub
marines exist there is always the
possibility that they may be used as
commerce destroyers in the stress OF
war emergency.
See Value of Rules.
This does not mean. however. that
the British are not heartily i'll favor
of the Root proposals. They believe
that such rules adopted as part Of in
ternational law, or as compact pe-
tween the naval powers attending the
Washington conference. would be
strong deterrent upon any nation that
might desire to use the submarines as
commerce destroyers in an illegal
manner.
The frank expression made by NJ
Sarraut, mead of the French delega'
ton. and Admiral de Bon. at yester-
oay'S meeting of the committee on
limitation of ornaments, when LORD
Lee of the British delegation referred
to articles published in France sup
porting the use of submarines ln.the
manner adopted by Germany, mas
brought about better UNDERSTANDING
in the conference. They denled apso-
luteIy that the French government
would countenance such a thing.
Delegates Awaiting Advices.
Today there was iuil IN con-
ference proceedings. while some OF
the delegations awaited instructions
from their home governments IN
regard to the Root submarine resolu-
tions, the questions relating to Shan
tuug. etc The committee of naval
experts was busy on technical mat
ters. matters of replacement tonnage
measurement etc.
Chairman Hughes indicated that
he would not call a meeting OF the
conference committees either on
limitation of armaments or on the
Far East until the delegations were
ready with their Instructions from
home.
II is unlikely there will be a meet
ing of either of these major com
mittees before Tuesday, it was said.
though this will depend upon the
rapidity with which the replies are
received regarding submarine rules
and by France. regarding the
lO.0OO-ton limit on auxiliary naval
vessels.
,no.e Ends to Be Gathered Up.
AS soon as the loose ends of the
naval limitation plan are IN mana
plenary session of the conference Will
be called At that time. it is expect
ed formal assent will be given by the
conference to the agreements regard
ing naval holiday. capital ship ton
mage, submarine use. tonnage OF
auxiliary vessels. including aircraft
carriers Also these agreements are
being put into the form. of a treaty,
which will be signed by the repre-
sentatives of the five powers assem-
bled here to consider limitation OF
armaments.
When the questions of naval arma-
ment have been disposed of by the
conference there will remain to be
acted upon the questions relating to
China, of which Shantuns and all 1t
implies is the principal matter at is
sue Notwithstanding the impasse
which has arisen between the Jap
anese and Chinese delegates. hope was
expressed in British quarters today
that eventually an agreement could
be reached.
Treaty ON Far East.
It has been the purpose of the con-
ference to draft and conclude the ne
gotiations of a treaty, relating to the
far east, particularly to China, which
will be signed by all nine nations at
tending the Washington conference.
including China This treaty will in
clude the agreements made regarding
China.
There have been strong intimations
from the Chinese delegation that un-
less they could obtain a satisfactory
arrangement with regard to Shantung
the conference would be failure SO
far as China was concerned and that
China would not be a 81 signatory to
the proposed treaty. However, there
is great hope that treaty which will
benefit China very greatly will ulti-
mately come out of the present con-
ference, and before it adjourns.