The New York herald., 1922-01-08
LIMITING AIRCRAFT
DECLARED UNWISE
subcommittee Reports That
Such Action Is Not Prac-
ticable Now.

WASHINGTON. Jan. (Associateo
Press.-The five major naval Powers
of the world through the naval commit
tee of the arms conference to-day turned
to the third new agency Of war with
which it has been called upon to deal
aircraft, but had not completed discus
sion when adjournment was taken over
the weekend
Indications were that there would be
no effort to restrict airplane develop
ment through limitation in numbers. size
or military characteristics. A sub-com-
mittee. in an elaborate report. recon-
mended against such course as botf
impracticable and unwise.
Even action to curb lighter than all
developments or fleets seemed improb.
able, as the delegates apparently do not
regard Zeppelin ships as of serious
menace. The discussion brought out the
possibility. however. that a declaration
against the bombing of open. unfortified
towns or cities might later be laid be-
fore the conference for approval. coupled
with five Power contract to refrain
from such acts as among themselves
Mr.. hughes presented the report OF
the aircraft limitation subcommittee
which was headed by Rear Admiral
Moffatt director of the Naval Air Ser
vice. and which worked for weeks get
ting its conclusions I'm shape. The find
ings of the subcommittee were summed
up I'm the following paragraphs:
1t is the opinion of this committee
that the limitation of military air
power Gas regards heavier than air
crafD is not practicable at the pres
ent time.
Their reasons for this decision arc
as follows:
1. The difficulty OF finding n basis
for the proportion of aircraft to be
allotted to the various nations.
q The difficulty of devising techni-
cal methods to impose such limita-
tion.
g. The difficulty of inforcing such
methods.
4. The interdependence between air
power and a commercial aircraft in
dustry. which It Is not practicable
to limit.
As to lighter-than-air craft, the re.
port said many of these remarks also
applied. but that limitation of drigibles
was possible and practicable because,
their war power being dependent upon
size. infractions Of a rule Of size as Ia
commercial dirigibles could be learned
quickly, and also any limitation of num-
Der to be maintained was enforceable
But again the committee held restric-
tions would be imposed on commercial
development OF the industry which II
deemed unwise to enact.
The committee also took up rules OF
aerial warfare and urged that this
should be made the subject of an inter-
national agreement. II pointed out. how
ever, that while tho American and Jap
anese delegations to the present confer
erce were prepared and authorized 70
take UP such a discussion the British
French and Italian groups were not, and
that In some cases a national policy on
the subject in various countries had not
been matured as yet
For that reason the committee recon-
pended postponement of consideration
OF the rules of air warfare 10 q later
conference to be called for the purpose.
In closing paragraph as to use of
aircraft. the report said:
The committee Is OF the opinion that
the use of aircraft In war should be
governed by the rules OF warfare as
adapted TO aircraft by "A further con-
ference which should be held at a later
date"
AS an annex to the report the Italian
group stated its belief that cne way in
which II would be possible 10 limit the
air power of n nation would De by plac-
ing limit upon the number OF pilots
In the permanent military establishment
and consequently agrees with The general
reasoning OF the report In so far as it Is
not contrary TO this opinion"