The Washington herald., 1921-12-03
U.S.. STANDS FIRM
FOR SUBMARINES,
SIMONDS ASSERTS
British Arguments Fail
To Change Position
Of Delegates.
By FRANK H. SIMONDS.

/ The American delegation VIII
stand firm behind the opinion of
their naval advisers in the matter
a campaign against this necessary
and even vital weapon in the army
/ of American defense has broken
down. Further than this, the
/ United States will be solidly sup
ported in the present conference by
the Italian and French representa-
tives. This can only mean that the
program proposed by Mr.. Hughes
on the opening day of the confer
ence. with respect of submarines,
will stand.
The battle over the submarines
has attracted little general atten-
tiOn. or more exactly little under
standing interest, because it has
been necessarily subordinated to
larger issues and more exciting diff
ferences of opinion. Yet it has been
tue thaz while the Japanese were
endeavoring to modify the naval
ratio to their own advantage, the
British were similarly striving to
break down our submarine policy
for equally personal reasons.
Held Vital to Defense.
OF course. the real question at
issue is simply whether the sub
marine Is a vital detail in our de-
fense. This question has been an
swered in the affirmative by our
naval authorities. Their opinion
was adopted by Mr.. Hughes in the
speech with which he opened the
conference. 1t remains the sober
. y.rlr g.
the defense of American shores and
shipping that the surrender of the
submarine would he a very grave
weakening of American security.
But unhappily the real question
has been little discussed. Very
skilfully. in the opening session, Mr..
Balfour shifted the ground OF the
debate and assailed the use of the
submarine on humanitarian grounds.
Now it Is easy to understand the
British point of view, and simple
justice to concede the right of the
Britrh to strive for the elimination
90 this form of craft. for any one
/ familiar with the history of the
world war knows that the German
submarine brought the British ma
tion within a few steps of starva-
tiOn and thus of surrender. with all
that such surrender would have
meant for an alliance dependent
upon the British fleet for safety.
shifts the DiscussIon.
The existence of submarines is a
menace to British security. To OBJ
tain ban upon them would be to
complete khe achievement which
was begun when the German fleet
was abolished. What Britain needs
is as large a feet as possible of
swift cruisers to guard her far
fuag lines of communication. but
in her scheme of naval defense. or
for that matter offense, the sub
marine plays no part. 1t is then
for quite practical but wholly rea-
sonable considerations that the
British seek to eliminate the un-
dersea craft.
With characteristic skill. how
ever. the British have. carried the
discussion from the field of naval
interest to that of humanitarian
considerations. In doing this. to
the intense apprehension of those
responsible for American defense.
they have succeeded in enlisting
the support of American news
humanitarian and totally over
looked the practical side of the
question. Thus. for certain time
there has been a division in Ameri-
can opinion.
Committee Backs Hughes.
Fortunately this division has now
been at least partially removed. A
solid front will be opposed to Brit
ish proposals in the conference it,
self and the decisive step has been
taken by that advisory committee,
which has just made its report to
the American delegation. and I'M
this report has emphatically de-
clared for the retention of the sub
marine, however the use may be
circumscribed in the interests of
humanity and without real menaceN
to national security. For. after all,
as has been so often pointed out,
II is the abuse. not the use of the
submarine which has earned IL
worldwide condemnation.
But the real problem as to the
submarine has not arisen from
British concern over the American
submarine. but out of the fact that
IL submarines are not placed under
a ban they will unquestionably be
employed not only by the United
States but by France and Italy.
Indeed. we have had from NJ BRAND
the frank statement that France
meant to build, submarines and 1
have 'been informed recently and