Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-01-08
VOTE TO OUTLAW GAS
AS A WEAPON OF WAR

Washington. Jan. 7 INV the Az
sociated Press. THE five major
naval powers through the naval
committee today voted to outlaw
gas as a weapon of war and in
adopting the Root resolution to
that end invited world adherence
of all nations to the prohibition as
rule Of international law.
The committee then turned to
the third new agency Of war with
which 1t had been called to deal
aircraft, but had not completed
discussion when adjournment was
aiken.
Indications were that there would
De no effort TO restrict airp!ane de-
Velopment through limitation of
lumber, size or military character
lStics. A subcommittee In a report
recommended against such a course
as both impracticable and unwise.
even action TO curb lighter than
air development of fleets seemed
improbable as the delegates appar-
emily do not regard Zeppelins as a
serious menace, The discussion
brought out the possibility, how
ever, that a declaration against the
bombing of open towns and cities
might be later laid before the con,
ference for approval, coupled with
a flve-power contract to refrain
from such acts as among them
selves.
The anti-gas resolution went
through as drawn by Elihu Root.
1t reads:
THE use In war of asphyxiating,
poisonous or other gases and all
other analogous liquids, materials
or devices having been justly con-
demned by the general opinion of
the civilized world and a prohlbi-
ton of such use having been de-
clared in treaties to which a ma
jority Of the civilized powers are
parties, now to the end that this
prohibition shall be universally aC-
cepted as a part OF international
law binding alike the conscience
and the practice of nations, the
slgnatory powers declare their as
sent to such prohibition, agree to
be bound thereby between them
selves and invite all other civilized
nations to adhere thereto"
In giving adherence of France
to this doctrine, Albert Sarraut,
head of the French delegation, said
that while tine exercise of author
ity" In the banning of gas warfare
did not seem practicable. the Root
proposal was none the less useful
because 1t would be "a bond of
union" among the five powers
against an abhorrent method of
warfare ana also because the ex-
ample they set for themselves pos
sessed "a not inconsiderable per- I
suasive power on world action at
large.
Arthur J. Balfour. for the Brit
ish, In concurring in the Root res
olution, argued that the history of
discussion on the sub
ject made the Root proposal no
new element of international law
but a reaffirmation of that law.
Such course was valuable, he
said, although it was a fact that
the agreement would not relieve
nations of the necessity of prepar-
ing themselves to guard against
use OF gas by an INSCRIPTIONS
enemy. Il
Whlle not finally committing the |
British delegation on the language
of the Root proposal, MFR. Balfour
expressed British acceptance of its
policy.
Baron Kato's acceptance for |
Japan was brief.
Mr. Hughes then presented the
report of the aircraft limitation
subcommittee, which was headed |
by Rear Admiral Moffatt. director
of the naval air service. The find
ings were summed up in the fol- |
lowing paragraph:
ut IS the opinion of this COM
mittoe that the limitation of mill |
tary air power Gas regards heavier
than air craft) is not practicable
at present.
'Their reasons are as follows:
1.-THE difficulty of finding n basis !
for the proportion of aircraft to be
allotted to the various nations.
"The difficulty of devisine tech
meal methods to impose such limi-
tations.
1.-THE difficulty of enforcing such
methods.
1.-THE interdependence between |
air power and n commercial air
craft industry which 1t is not prac-
ticable to limit"