Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-06
AGREE TO ABOLISH
| SUBMARINE WAR
/ ON MERCHANTMEN
Five Naval Powers Sub
scribe to New Inter
national Law.
WOULD PURGE SEAS
OF HIDDEN MENACE
Committee Adopts Root Reso-
luton as Amended by
Balfour.
VIOLATION IS Acr OF PIRACY
Agreement Declared Step Toward FL
mi Action ON Limitation
Treaty.
WOULD PURGE SEAS
OF HIDDEN MENACE
IS Acr OF PIRACY
Agreement Declared Step Toward FL
nni Action ON limitation
so Treaty.
[Ry Assoelated rress.l

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.-The five
greatest naval powers OF the world
decreed today rs between themselves
abolishment OF submarine warfare
against merchant ships. To purge
the sens forever OF this hidden men,
ace To peaceful folk and ships, the
world is asked to subscribe to the de-
cree AZ a new principle OF interna-
tionai law.
As adopted blythe naval committee
OF the arms conferences, the resolution
proposed by Elihu Root and amended
by Arthur j. Balfour to become inn
mediately effective between the five
sisnatory powers runs as follows: ~;
The signatory powers recognize
the practical impossibility OF using
submarines as commerce destroyers
without violating. as they We're vio-
lated In the recent war OF 10l4-1O18,
the requirements universally accepted
by civilized nations for the protection
OF the lives OF neutrals and noncom.
batants. and to tho end that the prohi-
bitton of the use of submarines as
commerce destroyers shall be uniyer-
sally accepted as a part OF the law
OF nations they now accept that pro-
hibitlon as hcnceforth binding as
between themsclvcs and they invite
nll other nations to adhere thereto."
Action Declared Final.
Action OF the committee Is final SO
far as the conference and the five
naval powers are concerned. The
conference merely will give formal
ratification to the antisubmarine pact
when the hvepower treaty in which
1t VIII he incorporated comes up in
opeh session.
The naval committee also adopted
the first Root proposal to declare in
simplest terms to the rules of Inter-
national law applying TO merchant
vessels. their full application to SUBJ
marines and the Invitation OF the five
powers TO all other nations to Join
In the declaration. This proposal al
ready had been tentatively agreed to.
hut as returned to the full committee
by the drafting committee headed
by Mr.. Root. which put il in fnal
shape. 1t was divided into two dis
tinct parts and thus approved for
incorporation In the five-power treaty
When the naval committee adjourn-
cd. the third Root proposal to declare
violations of the rules laid down by
submarines acts Of piracy for which
submarine commanders could be held
TO account personally, regardless OF
orders they may have received from
their governments. was still to be
taken up. II was indicated that 1T
also would be adopted and the final
link forged IN the chain of world
pronounccments designed to rid the
seas OF the periis to noncombatants
that come With German submarine
terrorism.
HcIntcd to German Practices.
IN It's ina! form, tho resolution de-
c'arins submarine warfare against
merchant ships abolished so far as
the hve powers are concerned.
showed direct relation to the Ger
man war time practices not Included
IN the original Root draft. The
clause, as they were violated in the
recent war of I9l4loiS." was in
serted on motion of the French dele
cation.
Some significance may attach to
the fact that it was the French yroup
which made this amendment In view
Of the Observation-Disclosures" of the
French attitude On submarine war
i"iu' NHiCu brought the committees
deliberations To tense moments when
che question of Limitation of subma-
rine tonnage was under discussion.
In that connection Lord Lee. for tho
british group. took the opportunity
TO express his appreciation OF the
prompt. oflicia! repudaiion by NJ. Sar-
rant. OF the French group. OF the
writings OF Captain Castex, OF tho
French naval staff. sustaining. the
German theory OF submarine warfare. :,
Lord Lee had read extracts irom
these writings to- 1.-The committee u,
explain I,rit.sh apprehensions as to
frances desire for Increased spbma-
riue tonnage. S;fif
~. Sarreut replied to- Lord Lee to-
day. Indicating that the incident had
served TO cIear the Sir between. tha
French and Hrittsh groups OF any
POSSIBILITY OF MISUNDERSTANDING az Ri,
Frances attitude; a moment later,
U, motion of the French. the spscI ii,
'rnpudiatiob Of tile whole Sernias,
tcontinaed on PaGe u, Col stt,i SiS