Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-01-06

Conference viii Formally Hafny
! Action Of the committee is final SO
! far as the conference and the five
| naval powers are concerned. The con-
ference merely will give formal ratifi-
cation to the anti submarine past when
| the five-power treaty. in which it will
be incorporated, comes up in open
session.
The naval committee also adopted
the first Root proposal to declare in
simplest terms in an addition to the
rules of international law applying to
merchant vessels, their full application
to submarines and the invitation Of
the five powers to all other nations TO
join in the declaration.
Clarifying Declaration
This proposal as approved for in
corporation in the five power treaty
follows.
! The signatory powers desiring to
make more effective rules by civ
ilized nations for the protection
of the lives of neutrals and nom
combatints in time of war, declare
that among those rules the follow
ing are to be deemed an establish
ed part of international law.
One: 4 merchant vessel must
be ordered to submit to visit and
search to determine its character
before it can be seized.
A merchant vessel must not be
attacked unless it refuses to sub
nit to visit and search after warn
ing. or to proceed as directed after
seizure
A merchant vessel must not be
destroyed unless the crew and
passengers have first been placed
in safety.
Two: Belligerent submarines
are not, under any circum mstances,
exempt from the rules above stat
ed, and if submarine cannot cap
ture merchant vessel in conform
ity with these rules the existing
law of nations requires ii to desist
from attack and from seizure and
to permit the merchant vessel to
proceed unmolested.
Three: The signatory powers
invite all other civilized powers to
express their assent to the fore
going statement of established law
so that there may be clear pub
lie understanding by the world of
standards of conduct upon which
the public opinion of the world is
HgerentS.
Likely to Adopt Piracy Penalty
When the naval committee adjourn
ed, the third Root proposal, to declare
violations of the rules laid down con-
cerning 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. 1t was indicated that it also
would be adopted.
In its final form, the resolution de-
elaring submarine warfare against
merchant ships abolished so far as the
five powers are concerned showed q
direct relation to the German wartime
practices not included in the original
draft. The clause. las they were
violated in the war of 1914191S.' WIS
inserted on motion of the French dele
cation.
Change in French Lauded
Some significance may attach to the
fact that il was the French grour
which made this amendment in view ~
the misunderstanding" of the French
attitude on submarine warfare which
brought the committee deliberations to
tense moments when the question Of
limitation Of submarine tonnage was
under discussion. Id that case. Lord
Lee, for the British group, expressed
his appreciation of the prompt. officia'
reputation by NJ Sarraut, of the
French group, of the writings of Cap.
tain Castex, of the French nava'
! staff, sustaining the German theory Of
submarine warfare. Lord Lee had read
extracts from these writings to the
committee to explain British apprehen-
sions as to Frances desire for in
creased submarine tonnage.
French Motion Repudiates Castex
NJ. Sarrant replied to Lord Lee