New-York tribune., 1921-12-31
France Denies Upholdine Undersea
attack; Castes's article RepudiateE

plain talk, especially from the British
brought this afternoon from French
delegates to the conference energetic
assurances of their peaceful intentions
despite the demand for the vast sub.
marine fleet.
The discussion was opened by Lore
Lee, First Lord of the British Admi-
sented evidences Of the confusion that
surrounds the Official view OF the
French naval staff on utilization o.
submarines in time of war, and urged
that country TO prove 80 the world that
i means what it has said" by approx
ing the Root reso uticns.
Telling Of the reasons for apprehen
sion By Great Britain, Lord Lee quote,
from an article published recently IL
the "Revue Maritime" a journal "un
der the direction OF the French nava
general staff written by Captain d,
Frsgate CasteS. At the time. he said
the French officer was chief of enc o,
the important bureaus of the Frenel
naval staff. and has now been desig
rated principal lecturer TO the senior
with: Thanks to the submarine, afte,
many centuries of effort, thanks to tht
ingenuity Of man, the instrument, the
system, the martingale is at hanS
which will overthrow for good and al
the naval power of the British En-
cire."
France Denies Responsibility
IN replying to Lord Lee Admiral de
Bon declared that responsibility for the
utterances rests entirely with Captain
Castex and that they no way represent
he views of the French government
There is nothing more foreign to our
minds than the IDEA of attacking &
friend,' he said, in repudiating and
formally denouncing the article 'in the
name OF the French navy
NJ. Sarraut informed the conference
hat while he must wait for instruc.
lions on certain points in the Roof
resolutions, ne had .'no need of any in.
structions TO associatc my sentiments
With those Of Admiral de Bon"
Lord Lee Asks French Views
When the naval committee met to-
Iay Senator Schanzer said the Root
Hroposai to ban submarine warfare
agsin-t merchant ships entirely, a:
amended by Mr.. Baifour for the Brit
sh to be Immediately effective as be-
tween and among the five signatory
movers pending its ratification as new
statement Of international law, had beer
communicated to the Rome government
yhlch prevented further debate by the
Italians. NJ. Sarraut made similar
statement for the French group ane
Chairman Hughes agreed that discus
sion in the circUm stances would be o.
United value, but invited comment By
cny delegate.
Lord Lee, for the British group, sal,
&c felt there was misunderstanding
= the French group as to the British
.ctitude on the submarine question.
u cannot help feeling" he said
that here we have a unique oppor
unity for the French delegation an,
government to reassure the British
Admiralty and public opinion in re
sard to this matter. of which I hop
hey will avail themselves.
Assails Castex's Articles
Il want to explain to our Frencl
friends, if ! may, why it is we hav
these special apprehensions which hav
been expressed so forcibly in connec
aion with France
I'VE are not clear on what are tn
views of the French naval staff in thi
matter Of utilization of submarines i,
time of war. 1t is true the views O
experts do not always by any mean
determlne the action Of governments
tney did no doubt we should som
day be placed IN a position which tn
late Lord Salisbury once describe
when ne said:
II we listened to the experts w
should have to put a garrison on tn
moon to protect it AGAINST invasio
from Mars
But the views OF naval STATS, of tn
experts, are of Importance unless an
until they are disavowed by the govern
nlents they serve"
Lord Lee then referred to recent a,
tlcles on submarine warfare in tn
french Revue Maritime" signed b
Captain de Fregate Castex, "at tha
time chief Of one of the inportar
bureaus Of the French naval STAFF
which also directed public attentio
70 the Revue" he said. These art
cles, Lord Lee added, were designed /
throw rldicule on those who criticize
{he German methods in the late war
ne read numerous extracts from the:
articles claiming that torpedo" wa
rare was French invention "appr,
prlated' by the Germans.
Justification for Fears
ITO sum up" said one extract rea
by LORD Lee, "one can see nothing
the attitude of the Germans wSic
nai!Itaril. speaking, is not absoluteI
correct. The failure to give notice b.
fore torpedoing has raised a storm {
protest, but it is not so inadmissibl
as ct first sight appears"
Now" this officer" Lord Lee cor
E1nMe6 fswhh anncipfoJ
lecturer to the senior officers cours,
will no doubt, unless q change Of polio
taxes place, be pouring what we rt
gard es this infamy and this poisc
INTO the ears of the serving officers O
the : 4enca navy. That is the iustif
cation for what I can only describe a
5he app-ehenslons and even the bite,
ness that we must feel in the though
that under any conceivable circunl
stances our present allies, our lat
comrades IN arms in the greatest wa
She world has ever known, should con
lemp!ste the possibility Of warfare o
that kind"
Lord Lee urged thet way OF dis
ayowal for the French of such inten
tions lay in adoption of the Root reso
luton No. 2, banning submarine war
fare against merchant ships.
Inc French have told US here agai
and again he said, that they onl
require submarines for purposes o
defense. We have had differences o
opinion as TO the utility of submarine
Tor these purposes. But now, it seem
20 me, here is an opportunity Of prov
,ng to the world that they mean wha
they say in regard to this"
II the Root resolution, as amende
by Mr.. Balfour, was accepted, Lor