South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-12-30
DELEGATES GIVE
VIEWS ON FORCE
OF ROOTS PLAN
Reaffirmation of Rules Of In
ternational Law Held Very
Desirable.

fContlH1e5 from page oue1
thought formulation of the rules Of .
war tr~ Submarines should Pc csc
salrel D. committee ~ 1lr-sts f.
The text cf the Root leso.lt.01s. he +
said. had been cahIed % Rome and
the delegation was awaiting event
ual remarks from irs soverume1 .
SER. scha0zer pointed out that
article one and article two ~ the
Roo- proposals appeared 20 conflict. .
inasmucn as article one admitted
with certain reservations OF the de-
st-uct on ~ merchant craft hv sub
marines while article two detui'e-
!y prohit use az submarines for
destruction o. merchant ships
should wish. therefore be said. "to
know in what way tho ec0oud rrso-
luton taIlies with the FIRST.
The italian spokesman also sug-
gested That "a clear definition Of
merchant craft might throw light
on The question involved He in-
vited ar explanation from SIR. Root.
Root Asks Opinions.
II would like ~ say" be contin-
ued. that ] am entitled 20 know
whether any delegation questions
this statement az existing interna
tional Jaw You are an in favor ~
the principle of tho resolution ~ DO
g. correct Does this or does this
not state The law % nations as IT.
EXISTS II 80 does you arc all IN
favor o. e. what then, binders is
adoption
1fr. Root read again the brief
principles o. his article one and
again asked II there was any ques-
ton as 20 the CORRECTNESS.
"AIr Maxim. he said, turning 20
one OF the British legal advisers,
els there any doubt about that
NTr. Maxim replied mat "iu prih-
oiple there was no doubt a. all"
lIr Root then took Up his resolu-
ton proposing strict application OF
the rules ne had set forth for sub
marines az well as other naval craft.
The public opinion OF the world
say" he said. that the submarine
IS not under any circum stances ex-
ernpt from the rules above stated
Thar isl a uegation Of the assertion
OF Germany in the war that tf
submarine could not capture met-
chart vessel in accordance with es-
tsbEshed rules. the rules must fay
end the submarines were entitled 20
make the capture The public op!n-
Ton OF the civilized world has de-
MED this and has rendered its tudg-
ment In the action that won the war.
Il was the revolt OF humanity
against the position Of Germany
that led 20 Germany's defeat.
NV friends and colIea CUES. this
is resi- LIE we are dealing with here,
This is 10 periunctory business for
n committce Of lawyers. II is
statement or action and Of undis-
puted principles universally known
and not cpen ~ discussion, put In
such form that IL may crystalline
the public opinion OF the world,
that there may be no doubt IN any
future war whether the kind OF &C
ton that sent down the Lusitania is
legitimate war or piracy.
we cannot Justify ourselves in
separating without some declaration
that VIII give voice 10 the human
opinion OF the world upon this sub
1ect. which was the most vital. the
most heartfelt. the most stirring 20
the conscience and 70 the feeling
o. the people OF all our countries. Of
anything that occurred during the
late war 7 should be ashamed TO
60 on with this conference without
some declaration. some pronounce
Lnent which Will give voice TO the
feeling and furnish an opportunity
for the Capitalization OF the opinion
OF mankind IN the establishment OF
q rule which viii make IL plain TO
ell the world that no mar can COM
nit such an act as the sinking OF
the Lusitsnia again without being
stiHnatiZed as a pirate.
League Rejects Plan.
Mr.. Root briefly rehearsed the re-
lection oby the assembly OF the
League OF Nations Of the proposal Of
me advisory committee or jurists as
ssnbled by the council OF the
League that a conference for the
advancement Of international law"
be created.
That door was closed he said
Where DO we stand? Is not this
90 oe q world regulated by law"
The speaker said there was no
adequate law % govern submarines
aircraft or poison gases and Some
BODY must move" His resolution,
be said, proposed 20 re-state "the
rules OF war that have been tram
Fled under foot. fouted and dis-e-
Esrted"
rs there a delegation here" he
continued chat can afford 20 go
back to its own people and say 70