The New York herald., 1922-01-12
TIRPITZ WOULD BAN
HUNGER BLOCKADE
Says Limiting Submarines
Without Former Is Too
One-sided.
PRAISES HARDING IDEA
Ratification of Root ResOlu-
tion Beneath Germany's
Dignity.
Halls PEACE ATTEMPT
Calls Success in Battleship
Reduction End to Naval
MONOPOLY.
Halls PEACE ATTEMPT
BY RAYMOND SWING.

Copyright, 1929, by THE New YoaK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau,
Berlin. Jan. II.
Forbid the hunger blockade as well
as limit the use of the submarine Is
the plea made of the Washington con-
ference by Admiral Won Tirpitz in
statement to THE NEW York HERALD
correspondent. in which he congratu-
lates President Harding on the sue
cesses thus far obtained. While the
leader of Germanys submarine war
fare does not predict whether his Gov
ernment will subscribe to the Root
resolution. he intimates that ratifica-
ton would be beneath, his country's
dignity.
"The endeavor of President Harding
through the Washington conference
to preserve world peace and at all
events to modify the conduct of war
is noble big minded and in the true
American spirit" Admiral Tirpitz said.
Whether mankind as whole is ripe
for practical application of this plan
the fact that only recently IN the ver-
sailles treaty the cultural and ethical
needs of Europe kave been discarded
in favor of purely militaristic negotia-
Nevertheless one must warmly well
come President Harding's attempt to
reconcile the nations. and I sincerely
admire the way he has undertaken II
in the field Of naval armament.
Naval Monopoly Ended.
He has already succeeded in limit
ing the construction of batteships con-
siderably and, contrary to former con-
ditions. has put an end to monopoly by
q single power. Objectively considered,
my country under the present conditions
has no interest whatever in the resolu-
tions concerning naval armament. for
Germany has ceased to be naval power
in the broader sense.
while unanimity has been reached
ir the essentials Of big fighting units.
the world turns unanimously against the
enormous French submarine building
plan and against the mighty French ar
niament In general This armament.
which Is now kept up with money bor-
rowed from America, has merely the
ulterior aim of Napoleonic destruction
of German and Russian ecopcmic life.
"Of course. I comprehend this mood
of the world. But consider the situa-
ton Of country which does not In
dulge In aggressive Imperialism and the
exaggerated militarism of the restless
t'renchmen OF to-day--if. for instance,
rut myself In the position Of n country
like italy, or for that matter world
power like America. whose avail inter-
ests are great and who from naval
standpoint at present are still strongly
fearing q hegemony, then. in my opinion.
one cannot refuse them the right quickly
to provide a defensive weapon like the
submarine.
"One must bear in mind that these
actual relationships of power play Ger,
tain part too In the disagreements which
lead on to military conflicts. Now SO
far as the Root resolution il concerned.
which Germany Is going to pe asked to
accept. I do not know what those in
power In Germany will decide. Doubt
less some Germans will find that 1t does
not conform with our country's dignity
to have us partake In deliberations con-
cerning the weapon whose construction
the Versailles treaty has forbidden us
should Not he One sided.
'"Such desire. as reported. appears
to me. therefore, to be unfair. From
practical standpoint the Root resolu-
ton might well be discussed. But 1t
should not be treated one siledly. The
international law regarding blockades
should simultaneously have been regu-
lated. England created the U-boat war
fare in disavowing all the regulations
CT international law on this question
which existed until then. Even more.
she not only acted so during the war.
but continued the blockade for nine
months after the armistice ha / been con-
cluded and after Germany had surren-
cered her fleet and was utterly defense
less.
Through the continuation OF this
blockade 100000 Germans. many OF
them children and mothers. we're mur-
dered without any military or political
purpose. That number was larger than
the entire four years of U-boat warfare
had cost In lives
THE American people have performed
n great service In developing interna-
t.onal law. / also know that the Amerf-
can Navy always devoted itself exhaust
ively to the subject. In view OF Amer
ica's marked sense OF justice believe
the washington conference should solve
the problem OF hunger bloclSades In the
same humane spirit which l. las shown
in trying TO limit the use OF U-boats In
war A separate treatment Of the two
questions would necessarily so down In
history with the odium OF partiality and