South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-09
ARMS DELEGATES
FACE MERCHANT
SHIP PROBLEM
Foresee Disagreement Over
Attempt TO Prohibit Arm
ing In Time of War.
MAY ENDANCER TREATY
Russian Expert Comes to
Washington to Seek Help
for Russia's Interests.

ast tneNElaArA r. tF1'-
WASHINGTON. Jan. 8.-As the
arms conference prepares TO begin
discussion OF the final draft Of the
i've power naval treaty: some OF the
delegates are making a particular
study OF the question OF arming mer-
chant vessels as Il may relate 20 the
limitation agreement.
In no quarter rs there apparent
disposition TO raise an issue which
might endanEer the treaty AT this
point I'm the negotiations. but among
the foreign delegations II is predict
cd privately that the armed ship
problem will be one OF the most diff
hcult OF the collateral questions TO
arise when the final draft IS gone
over section by section for approval.
The Italians. Japanese and French
ali are said TO feel that II merchant
men are 20 be permitted 20 arm as
Ia past wars. the effect might be
not only TO vitiate the project 10 limit
individual auxiliary warships to
10. 900 tons each, but II might also
result in a great disadvantage TO the
nations which have small merchant
fleets
roubIeSOme Subject
Beyond saying that the status OF a
merchant ship In the future is TO be
The status well understood IN inter
rational law. the American and
British delegates are not willing to
discuss the subject. IL is the view in
some quarters, however. that the
British may themselves bring the
point up for discussion before the
treaty finally Is approved.
The subcommittee draft OF the
Instrument was virtually complete
Sunday night after a six-hOur Sun
day session OF the naval experts, and
the fun naval committee probably
will begin its discussion OF detail and
2brassology Monday or Tuesday. A
nenary session OF The conference TO
make the treaty public probably will
follow before the end OF the week,
and then the delegates win turn
their full attention 20 a final attack
on unsettled questions OF the far
east.
Deadlock Over Shangtung.
Meantime the Shantung cOntro-
versy remains in deadlock. but hope
or an agreement during the week
vas expressed tonight IN American
quarters. The mediation OF Sec'y
Hughes and Arthur Ralfour IS look
ed upon by the Americans and Brit
ish as almost certain 10 bring the
two groups together although this
optimism Is not shared by all or the
Chinese and Japanese delegates.
It Is evident that the long discussed
Shantung problem has been brought
TO a delicate stage. where either a
settlement or an agreement 20 dis
agree viii be announced within a
few days. Both the Chinese and
japanese are showing signs OF lack
OF patience and unless the mediation
effort is a success the subject is ex-
pected 10 be dropped. so far as the
Washington conference IS concerned.
Merchantmen Problem.
The question of arming merchant
men has arisen i'm connection with
the attempt or the naval experts 20
include IN the treaty a definition Of
the term "warship." such a defni-
ton IS regarded by the naval au~
thorities as necessary, particularly in
view OF the TO- 600 ton auxiliary Limit
and the related provision prohibit
ing any auxiliary craft from carry.
ing guns of more than eight-iaoh
Calibre.
Although no announcement was
made after Sundays long meeting OF
the expert submarine committee,
there were indications that the at
tempt 20 define an auxiliary warship
was giving the committee members
considerable trouble. In Il. II is said,
S. involved the whole question Of
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