The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-01-04
ACCEPTS
SUB PROPOSAL
PROHIBIT ATTACKS q.
ON MERCHANTMEN
Acceptance IN Principle With
Reservations Not Yet
Disclosed.

WnnhIn.r"n inm. D .Iuy rho An.o
,lnI'L I'r"nnI Tho hmnfican propoHh
rr prohibit mno Of nuhmiurlnaH against
n"r'hnuI ,cra"In. now tho predominant
lnnuo 81 tho anna uoH"IiationH hhs
boo" n"""rr"d /" principle by France.
but hor drloGnicG hnvo rnHorved ANAL
Uprr"vaI. rcuhIug n dIacunHlun or the
prr"lro InuEunEn "r tho declaration
IrIilnh acceptance previously haa
hoou given. and although Mother the
IInllana nor tho JapanoSo had rocstvsh
hnnl IuutruCii"uH tonight. thcro were
indlrntlnuH that nCithor Romo nor Toxic
would Intcrp"rc rcrIous objection. " the
proposal received Frances full APP
pr0val
French RsssrJatonS-
Tho oxact nature OF tho French roser-
vatIOn was not revealed. but tho impress
sion was gathered In somo quarters
that II might concern such a donnltion
or tho tcrms OF tho declaration as would
mako IT cloar just what conduct would
DO expected from merchantmen in Wow
OF their immunity from submarine at
tack.
Should that point bo raised, an inter
estinR and many sided discussion might
result, for In several Quarters there
has bcen apparent tendency toward
tho opinion that tho term merchant
ships" should bo strictly defined, with
express stipulatiOns as TO whether mer-
chantmen are to DO permitted to arm,
and whether II rs TO be por ormiBsibls TO
disg uiso warships as vessels OF COM
mcTCe.
Agreement Complete.
Tho French delegation. however. IN
making known their acceptance in prln-~,
clpl" has emphasized that they not on
aEron to the original proposal Of Ell
Root that tho new prohibition on Z
marine warfare became effective ~
all nations have agreed to II. but Z r
10 tho amendment OF Arthur J. BalfooS 4
which would make tho prohibition Inn
modIat"ly effective. IN between the lvs
great powers.
At tho same time tho French nave
nGccptod tho additional Root declaration
under which any submarine commander
violating tho rule" uT international law
would 10 llabln To iria, for an act Gr
pirnCy. In regard to this. also. accept.
!,nccH rtiIl ro w:t"d from the other for
dclcEtcs' in3tru,tonI viii be sufficient
Iy complete. however. to permit mcsl-
Ing Of tho NAVAL committee OF tho whole
tomorrow.
The French Acceptance.
Tho French a"'cptauro wag commuTi..
Gated TO Secretary hughes by. hmbah
sador Jusserand lato today. while ths\
formal proceedings OF the conference
II. b,- I,,I Mo
outward inactivity. but while develop
meuts that touched on several other in-
portant issues "f ihr Washington nego-
tiations wrr" strong behind tho scenes.
The Chinese. moving to break thoT
dcadlock with the Japanese over sham
runE. t"Ok steps toward more direct cm-
ployment OF the proncred good offlces'
Of Secretary Hughes and AIthur j. Bal
four. Tho respective heads Of the
American and British delegations were
approached personally by tho Chinese
REPRESENTATIVES. and In some quarters
definite results are expected within Z
few days.
No British Objection.
Following the example OF the Ameri-
cans. the British group indicated that
It VIII haNo no obIocti"n to the japanese
pr"p"raI to 'lnriB further tho scope or
the now f"ur power treaty no that "
VIII not apply 4" tho principal Islands
nr rl,r Jupnn-So empire. A dsnnlis do
.. lnInIlun nn tho hubIsCt. to no approved
by tho fnum nignul"rY p"wnrH. 10 under
rr""L l." ho IN preparation.
nsrIy Conclusion.
MrnnwhIIt w"Ih "n two important
. "iIuIc,DI fcoturoa II tho conference. In
.,nIyIup Ir, hni.Hl daiaAH Of the naval
...rII.,nrni nnd ,ovTsIon Of tho Chinese
,n,In r,uI,rn. n"vod forward Ia sub
,",nmIilo'r. Win promiHs II ssSly
, "u,liEl"u
Tho unvuI o,poTIH' sub committees
grnni nII day cIonring away tho remain.
Ing Inuuo rndg nf tho naval agreement.
nuL tho InIIn Hub comniitoe 10 undsr-
gtrnI AT - roHHion late In the day u
hnvo ron"hch virtual hcclHlon regard
IuR tho rcpd luGimont of ChIna's tariu
- hcdulo.
urroro tho meeting or tho tarin body.
Iig chairman. S"unt"r Underwood. OF me
American dHloEatiOn. conferred ~
ZENITH with Albert SarTaut. head OF the
French group. and they are said to have
dI.ru.ged III" particular interest OF
France I'm tho new Chinese fiscal ar
r,nrcmcnI arising out OF conditions
,I,nv the huidrT of French lndo-ChinA-
Thr entire ruhlc't Of tho opnn door ID
.,,ud,r-inud To- have been reviewed. Dy the
r,.n delegates. with tho rohult that the
,,,.,L ar tho -uh committee was facili-