The New York herald., 1922-01-07
INDORSED BY ITALY
Other Powers Indicate
Approval, but With,
hold Definite Action
Until To-day.
PROPOSAL BY ROOT
Sarraut Announces France
Is Entirely in Favor OF
Abolition.
LIMITATION is DIFFICULT
Plan Is to Have Treaty Drawn
for Acceptance by All Civil
lied Nations.
LIMITATION is DIFFICULT

WASHINGTON, Jan. e (Associated
Press) The armament committee,
having approved the five Power con.
tract to impose the age old penalties
for piracy against naval commanders
who violate accepted laws of naval
warfare, to-day moved toward pro.
scription of gas warfare on sea or
land
Again Elihu Root drew the resolu-
tion to effect the prohibition. Again
an immediate five Power contract to
abandon gas or other similar chemi-
cal weapons as beyond the pale OF
humane tolerance is proposed, to be
worked out later by world agreement
into the fabric of international law.
And again IL seemed certain that un-
der American initiative war in future
would be stripped OF another of the
horrors German ingenuity let loose
upon the world. ~
Text of the Root Resolution.
Here is the Root resolution:
The use in war of asphyxiating.
poisonous or analogous liquids or
materials or devices having been
Justly condemned by the general
! opinion of the civilized world and
a prohibition of such use having
been declared in treaties which a
majority of the civilized Powers
are party,
Now to the end that this prohibi-
tion shall be universally accepted as
a part of international law binding
alike the consciences and practice
of nations. the signatory Powers
! declare their assent to such prohi-
| bition. agree to be bound thereby
between themselves and invite all
other civilized nations to adhere
| thereto.
Italy gave prompt adhesion to the
anti-gas project as "a real step in the
| path OF progress and civilization" Ad-
journment of the committee prevented
the views of other delegations from
being presented. but all were said to
favor the ban on gas warfare.
It was not definitely decided to-
night whether the anti-gas declara-
ton was TO be incorporated in the
voluminous treaty that will be re-
/ quired TO cover the naval understand
ings. II may be put forth as a sepa-
rate product of the conference IL final
| approval is given the Root prohibitory
resolution. 1t seemed more likely
however that IT would go into the
general treaty. soon to be laid before
the armament committee for final ac-
tion.
DfSarreement Of Experts.
Secretary Hughes called on the sub
ject of poison gas, presenting first the
report of the subcommittee appointed 20
deal with new agencies of war. IL
showed n disagreement among the ex-
perts who considered the subject on the
question as 20 whether gas warfare
should be wholly abolished. There was.
however. the report said. agreement in
the subcommittee on certain points,
reached 'morc or less unanimously" The
points OF agreement with necessary mod
| ifications included the statements that
no nation dared risk an agreement which
might prevent its preparedness 20 deal
With IAN interruptions enemy who
might resort TO gas warfare.
That attempted prohibition OF such
| warfare might cause ''misunderstan6-
ings." since many high explosives used
| H. shells produce gas fatalities. although
| not intended as gas shells. which might
/ lead 20 the charge that gas was being
| used and retaliation would follow
That restriction OF research for new
/ war gases Is not practicable.
That restriction OF manufacture OF no
tential gas supplies is not practicable for
economic reasons
That while II was possible to conflne
the action OF chemical warfare gases the
same az high explosives and other means
! Of carrying on war. there vas disagree
mcnt among the experts as 10 the diff
cultles Of carrying this out. there being
! less doubt as 10 the ability 20 confine
| these gases among the Japanese and
/ italians. who know less about them"
than among the American. British and
! French experts. thoroughly acquainted
with chemical warfare gases"
Practicable Limitation.
That limitation Of kinds Of gases
/ through their effects on human beings
was not possible. only limitation as 70
/ the use OF gas against cities or other
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