The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-09
DELEGATES STUDY
 ARMED MERCHANT
 SHIP QUESTION
CContInued From Page one)


 brought to a delicate stage, where either a settlement or an agreement to disagree will be announced within a few days. Both the Japanese and Chinese are showing signs of lack of patience, and unless the mediation effort is a success the subject Is ex- pected to be dropped so far as the Washington conference Is concerned
 Arming Merchantmen
 The question of arming merchant men has arisen in connection with the attempt of the naval experts to in- clude in the treaty definition of the term "warship." Such a defini- ton Is regarded by the naval authori- ties as necessary, particularly in view of the 10000 ton auxiliary limit, and the related provision prohibiting any auxiliary craft from carrying guns of more than eight-inch calibre.
 Although no announcement was made after today's long meeting of the expert subcommittee, there were indicatio that the attempt to define an auxiliary warship was giving the committee membert considerable trouble. In 1t, 1t is said, is involved the whole question of wartime rela- tions between merchant fleets and war fleets. Whether merchantmen are to arm is regarded by some dele gates as a question of added impor- tance. in view of the new five-power agreement not to use submarines as commerce destroyers.
 In Italian quarters 1t was said to- night that although they expected nine tenths of the subcommittee draft of the naval treaty to be ac- cepted without prolonged discussion. there was every expectation that the armed merchantmen question would come up for an exhaustive exchange of vlews. The impression among the Italian delegates seemed to be that Great Britain probably would open the argument with a statement of her position for maintenance of the principles which in the past have governed merchantmen in wartime.
 Position of Italians
 The position of the Italians was said to be that the status of mer- chant ship would be effectually changed under the limitation agree ment, and that If no change were provided for the nations having the $ come in the nature of things dispro- rortionately powerful. The arming with 12-inch or 14-inch guns of a 54.000-ton merchant ship like the Leviathan, 1t is pointed out, would have a tendency to undermine the 10,000-ton eight-inch auxiliary clause unless merchantmen are to be con sidered as warships. Something like 60 passenger and freight vessels in the present merchant marines of the great powers are said to have a tom mage of more than 10000.
 The Japanese also are described as believing that the status of merchant ships must be considered in connec- ton with the general naval question, a big merchant ship, powerfully armed. might be more potent, ship for ship, than a light cruiser, the Japanese say, entirely aside from the advantage in numbers merchant arming would give to the nations possessing the greater passenger and freight fleets.
 Although the French give evidence of holding similar views, and also of being uncertain whether merchant men could arm under the new reg ulaticn prohibiting submarine at- tacks on commerce, they say they do not intend to raise the point at this stage of the negotiations. The whole question, together with other pro- posed limitations on naval practices might well be put over, in the French view. until a-4ater conference at which all tho nations would be represented.