Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-01
new law written
!. FOR SUBMARINES
Text Of Treaty Formulated by
Five Powers Made
Public
|AsK OTHER NATIONS TO JOIN
Rv the Associated Press

by the Associated Press
Washington, Feb. 1.--(By A. Po-
The text, of the treaty embodying the
Arms Conference agreements on sub.
MARINE and chemical warfare as adopted
nv five Powers today follows:
''The United States of America. the
british Empire, France. Italy and
Japnn, hereinafter referred to ns the
sicnatory Powers, desiring to make
more effective the rules adopted by civi.
lied nations for the protection OF the
lives of neutrals and non .combathrts
A. sea in time Of war, and to prevent
thc use in war of .noxious gases and
chepicals, have determined to conclude
a treaty to this effect and have ap'
pointed az their plen potentiarieB:
(Here are inserted the names Of the
dc'cSates Of the signatory Powcrsl,
who having communicated with their
full powers found in good order and In
rood form have agreed ns follows:
Section /. The signatory Powers de.
clare that, among the rules adopted BY
civilized nations for the protection OF
the lives Of neutrals and non -comba.
tants ut sea in time of war, the follow
ing are to BE- deemed an established part
of international law:
III
dered to submit to visit and search to
determine its character before 1t cail
be seized.
4 merchant vessel must not be at
tackled unless It refuse TO submit to visit
and search after warning, or to pro-
ceed as directed after seizure.
A merchant vessel must not be de-
stroyed unless the crew and passengers
have been first placed in safety.
(2) Belligcrent submarines are not
under any circumstances exempt from
the universal rules above stated, and If
submarine cannot capture q merchant
vessel In conformity with these rules,
tie existing law of nations requires II
60 desist from attack and from seizure
and to permit the merchant vessel to
proceed unmolcsted.
Others Powers Asked to Assent
Section II. The signatory Powers in
yite all other civilized Powers to cx-
press their assent to the foregoing state.
ment Of established law, so that there
may be a clear public understanding
throughout the world of the standards
of conduct By which the public opinion
Of the world is to pass judgment upon
future belligcrents.
Section Ill. The signatory Powers,
desiring TO insure the enforcement of the
humane cu!cS OF eAISIlHS INV NcCi"Ifu
by them with rcsDect to attacks upon
anl the celzurc and destruction Of mer.
chant ships. further declare that any
person In tho service of any Power
who shall violate any Of those rules.
whether or not such person Is under
orders Of Il governmental superior, shu.
b. deemed to have violated tn" laws of
war and shall bc liable to trial and
punishment as II for an 'act Of piracy,
and may be brought TO trial before the
civil or military authorities of any
Power within the jurisdiction of which
he may he found.
recorgizn the practical imposibility of
using submarines as commerce destroy.
ers without viO.ating. MS they We. 9 vios
lated in the war of 19l4-19lS the
requirements universally accepted by
civi i2ed nations for the protection Of
vthe lives Of neutrals and nOncOmbat-
ants and to the end that thep rohibi-
MtiOn Of the use o. submarines ~ COM
nercc dcstroyers shall be universally ac.
vceptcd as Il part of the law Of nations.
Vthey now accept that p ohibition as
henceforth binding as between them
Iselves. ard they invite all other nations
Ito adhere thereto.
Poison Gas Prohibited
Section V--Thc use in war Of
nspnyixatins, poisonous or other gases.
and nj analogous liquids, materials or
icvlccs, having justly been condemned
5y the pubic opinion Of the civilized
world and prohibition of such use
having been declared In treaties To
which majority Of the civilized Powers
re parties, the sgnatory Powers, to
The end that this prohibition shall he
universally accepted rs part Of inter-
nat onal law, binding alike the con-
fcicnce and practice of nations, declare
fhelr assent 10 such prohibition, agree
70 be bound thereby nS between them
(clves and invite all other civilized
ations to adhere thereto.
Section NI-Thc present trcaty shall
Pa ratified MS soon rs possible in ac-
Crdancc with the constitutional meth.
DIS OF the sigaatOry Powers, and shall
axe effect on the deposit Of all the rat
iicatsons, which shall take place ut
Washington.
Tho Government Of the United States
y America will transmit to all the
ignat0ry Powers n certified copy Of
he proccss--verbal Of the deposit OF
attfcatiUns.
The present treaty. in French and in
ing ish, shall remain deposited in the
rchWes of the Government of the
nited States of America, and duly Ger.
,hed copies thereof viii be transmitted
that Government to each of the sig
atory Powers.
Section NlI-1he Government Of the
nited Stutcs Of America will further
ansmit to each OF the non -siguatory
overs duy certified copy Of the
resent treaty and invite its adherence
hereto.
ANY non 'signatory Power may ad-
ere TO the present treaty by commune
nting aR instrument Of adherence to
he. Government of the United States
America, which will thcrcupon truns-
ut to each of the signatory and ad-
eling Powers a certified copy Of each
pstrumtnt of adherence.
In faith, whereof, the above named
iehipotentiaries have signed the pres