Evening star., 1921-12-30
ROOT RESOLUTION
RECE|VESSUPPORT
Agree in Principle to Reaf-
firm Existing Rules of
Naval Warfare.

f1hll Root rsdfilrm1nS existing rules
| of naval warfare for surface craft
and application OF the code TO sub
marines was adopted in principle
Another proposal by Mr.. Root for a
! new rule Of iltcrnatio law TO pr>j-
| hibit the attack by Submarines on
merchant vessels was under debate
! when the committee adjourned for
the day, only Great Britain having
asscnted to the plan.
| In the form in which the first pro-
/ posal was approved III principle and
! 81 10 subcommittee for final draft
! ing the Root proposal sets out anew
| rules of visit and search belligerent
| craft must observe in dealing with
commercial vessels and couples with
I. this the declaration that submarines
| must be governed by these rules. At
| the suggestion of Mr.. Balfour the
arrangement to read as follows:
Amended Preamble.
| THE signatory powers desiring to
make more effective the rules adopted
by civilized nations for the protec-
ton Of the lives of neutrals and nom
! nbataHis at sea in time of war in
vite the adherence of all other civil
liZed powers to the following stat"
nlent of csta b!ished law to the end
that there may be a clear public un-
lit VI VI III "a
the standards of conduct by which
the public opinion Of the world is 10
pass judgment upon future bcliiSeT-
ef,tS.
In the debate of the first PROPOSE
ton reitcratiug that he spoke only
for himself Mr. Ralfour said that Ii"
believed "a formal ard authoritative
statement that submarines had no
liiccnSc TO break the rules 10y whlcn
,o;h"r ships of war were bound coCId
do nothing but good"
Admiral de Bon Agrees.
Admiral de Bon Of the French group
said he shared wholly Mr.. Balfour'S
views and that the French delegation
gave "in principle our general ad-
il-sion" to the statement that sub
:marines SHOULD of necessity be 5ouhc
by the rules Of international law.
But as this law is Of very Spe-
! cial nature. Admiral de Bon SAID.
lit seems To us that the most prac-
teal solution would bs to refer the
! consideration Of the text submitted
| by Mr.. Root 10 a committee OF Jurists
| which would ADV Use us as TO its oplil-
| ION in regard TO the wording To be
| adopted
Senator Schaazer pointed out that
| he Italian delegation had already
given our full adhesion to the am
| 10 which Mr. Roots proposal tenGs.
but added that the Italians also
thought formulation of 'he rules OF
| war for submarines should he exam
med by committee OF 1urlsts. me
teNt OF the Root resolution. ne said.
had been caDied To Rome, and the
delegation was awaiting eventual
i remarks from its government
Schnnzer Sees Conflict.
| Senator Syhanzer pointed out that
! article ] and article ii OF the Root
proposals appeared to conflict. mas
much as article | admitted. with Ger
~ frr.. Ii.ar
rf merchant craft by submarines.
hile article II definitely prohibits
use Of submarines for obstruction oi
nlcrchan; ships.
Il should wish. therefore" he said.
ito know in what way the second
r solution tallies with the first
The Italian spokesman also sug-
gestei that "a clear definition of mer-
chant craft might throw light on the
question involved. He invited an eX-
planatiou from Mr.. Root.
The japanese delegation was in ac-
cord with the substance of article l.
Of the Root res buttons. Mir Hanihara
said but he added IL" believed the
question should he referred to eA-
perts for draft ne.
Not thai we have any particular
point IN lniEd %" which We have OBJ
servations to oGsf," he said but
merely N crt"~ To I..dk.. j. sure that
It leaves nothing 20 Dc desired as to
its prec Sc word NJ.
Mir. Hanih.ra ,:-scsied that the
experts IN gfI+ he instructed not to
touch the substance Of il.
Root Makes Explanation.
| Replying to Senator Sci.anzer's in
quiry. Mr.. Rcot said il WAS OBVIOUS
article couli rot '.e consistent with
article 1. since it proposed Il change
, in international Law.
article L. he 81 id. lis a statement
- =.
| would co"Sti!'it., a charge from exist
ing law and therefore il is impossible
to say that il Is no; Inconsistent"
| As to Senator Schauzars suggest ION
that merchant ShrS he defined iii the
proposed fve-p power decla ration, MIR.
Root said:
Nothing is more clearly or better
| understood than tho gublect we call
merchant ship. The |1eTchant ship.
its treatment, its protection and its
immunities sra at The base Of the law
of nations.
Guard Against Confusion.
He added that definitions Of mer-
! chant ships would only serve 10
weaken and confuse the proposed
declaration
He had hoped, Mr.. Root continued.
that the delegation would seek eN
l.ert legal opinion on his proposals
overnight and that 'we wout-l have
/ l!aO mere lctds iile fi4ai
i inquiry.
Il would like to say" he contin
| ued. that l am entitled to know
twhcther any delegation questions
| this statement of existing interna-
| t;onal law. You are all in favor of
the principle Of the resolution If il
is correct. Does this or does it not
state the law of nations as it exists >
IF it does, you are all in favor OF II.
5 What. then, hinders its adoption"
misunderstanding Feared.
Senator SchanZer said misunder-
standing as TO ltaly's position ap-
! peared to have arisen which he could
not for one instant allow" to con-
tinue. 1t must not be thought that
the Italian delegation was opposed
to any measure tending to render
war less inhumane," he said. adding:
1T is surely not the Italian delega-
ton that one could reproach for any
; hesitation in supporting anything
which can make us progress toward a
higher civilization
The Italian purpose has been. he
said, merely to bring out such eN-
ulanations of the wording of the
! Root resolution as those MIR. Root
has been kind enough to give Italy,
he added, would not press the suS-
| ,oat;on for reference to a committee