The New York herald., 1922-01-08
Great Work of the Conference.


marine is real achievement in view
Of the bitter opposition to Mr.. RooTs
original proposal for treating the
submarine as a pirate when it dis
regards the rules of civilized nations
concerning the lives of neutrals and
non-combatants France, Japan and
Italy opposed it; England and Amer
lea alone were for it.
Then Mr.. RooT so revised his
proposal that il was unanimously
adopted by England, France, Italy,
Japan and America, the five big Pow
ers. The revised draft is not so good
as the original. 1t is milder and
carries less terror with it. But with
five nations accepting it, pledging
themselves to 1t, it is better than the
original draft with only two nations
for it and three nations against it.
England and America, and Mr.. RooT
in particular, are Justly to be con-
graduated on working out and get
ting through so good a compromise
in the situation.
But not content with this compro-
mise, Mr.. RooT again vigorously at
tackled the submarine on Friday with
resolution whose provisions are the
most sweeping yet. This resolution
constitutes the submarine a pirate
alike when it destroys commerce and
disregards the rules of civilized
| nations concerning the lives of neu-
trails and non-combatants. 1t has
| already had the Endorsement in full
Of the committee on naval affairs
and will, it is confidently believed,
be unanimously adopted by all five
nations, in which case the restric-
tions on the submarine will be even
| greater than in the first Root resolu-
tion, against which France, Italy and
Japan stock strong stand.
The man on the outside of the
Conference will wonder at this pro.
cedure, puzzled as to why the Root
resolution in its entirety was more
! Objectionable than the same idea
served up serially. But this is of nc
consequence. The important thing is
the greater safety that will come to
civilians and commerce on the high
seas in time Of war because of Mr.
Roor's wise initiative il the Confer
ence gives its final and full indorse
ment as in all probability it will.
In spite Of the fact that we do not
indorse the action of the Conference
in its retention of the submarine for
any purpose, since it is to be re
tanned for the present at least, the
Root provision for holding it in
check in its murderous, run amuck
freedom is most important. From
the opening OF the Conference THE
New York HERALD has consistently
and persistently contended for, and
fought. for, its elimination alto
gether. The submarine is COW.
ardly. sneaking outlaw that has
no place in decent, honorable war.
fare. Apart from England none of
the nations in the Conference, not
even America, was willing to de
nounce it for what it is and insist
that it be obliterated.
The fight OF TIE New YORK HERALD
for the obliteration of the submarine
and the fight OF England for the OBJ
liberation of the submarine, though
failing in its complete object, never.
theless has been very much worth
while in that it has given us the
drastic Root resolutions.
But OF vastly greater Importance
is the action of the five Powers yes.
terday approving another sweeping
Root resolution, which prohibits in
toto the use of poison gas in any
way, shape or manner in warfare.
Except for the final elimination of
the submarine and the elimination
of the bombing airplane, which at
this writing is scheduled to be dealt
with at another time, the Washing.
ton Conference has done an incom-
parable service in its action with re-
gard to these horrible outlaw men
aces to humanity.
The most venomous teeth OF the
least OF these, the submarine, have
been drawn; the next in the scope
OF its hellish atrocities, poison gas,
has been kicked off the earth, with
nobody to speak so much as a single
word in its defense: the worst of
these, the bombing airplane, with no
parallel in all the world in its pos
sibilities for human terror and hui
man destruction, must go. With its
elimination and the elimination of
the submarine and poison gas sol
diers and sailors will again have a
chance for their lives, and warfare,
80 long as we must have II. will re-
turn TO accepted practices. With the
prohibition of the bombing airplane,
cities and towns will be relieved OF
the most horrible menace that ever
destroyed human life.
Let the Washington Conference
complete its work. Away with the
bombing airplane!