The New York herald., 1922-01-01
coast resistance against outside at

was cnleHy responsible Tor MS CROWN
in popular estimation throughout the
country. pretty closely approximates
that of the President in this respect.
Yet for some reason which is not en-
tirely clear to observers OF the inter-
national conference neither the Presi-
dent nor the Secretary of State has
displayed any tendency to accept the
British viewpoint and fight for the
moral and humanitarian principles
which comprises it's chief virtues
The only reason that appears TO
stand the test of logical analysis for
the hesitancy in this respect is pre-
sumed to be of a professional char
acter. II is clearly established by the
attitude of the naval experts Of this
Government that the President, Sec
retary Hughes. Elihu Root Senator
Lodge and Senator Underwood have
accepted the professional naval view
as to the defense utilities of the sub
marine as a hardly less important adj
junct of sea ornaments than the capi-
tai ship.
Naval experts OF this country are
most persistent in asserting that
physical conditions not only necessi-
tate but justify the development and
maintenance of submarine quotas
greatly in excess of those favored by
Great Britain. which was the chief
sufferer from the application of the
policies of the German Admiralty.
Eject of Revision.
At any rate, the United States to
date has not instanced it's appreciation
of the very manifest advantages and
benefits of the British policy relating
to undersea boats. But the American
delegates have provided unmistakable
evidence of the strength Of the British
position by revising their first esti-
mate of requisite tonnage and Topping
off one-third of the amount originally
favored by the naval experts of the
Government.
The reduction was from 10000 to
$4,000 tons. Some of the delegates OF
European countries in the conference
cling to the impression that IL the
United States had accepted the British
viewpoint the French Government
would not have interposed so arbi
trary a demand for maximum privi-
leges in respect to undersea craft.
However that may be, il is the con-
viction of a large percentage of Ameri-
can and foreign observers that the
French line of demarcation between
the British and American position
was inspired by the hope of winning
the support of this country.
3 The results have established the fatu-
mn Of IN,
respect. Daily reflections of American
public sentiment focusing on the con-
ference have Enthusiastically brought to
light a widespread conviction that the
position of the United States on the
issue would have been very
much more popular If it's original esti-
mate of defense requirements had
been reduced to an imperative mini
mum.
Singular Phase of Dispute.
One Of the most singular features
of the controversy over the subma
zine has been that not a single voice
has been raised in defense of the
weapon This fact was clearly driven
home during the vigorous exchange
of conflicting views between Lord Lee
OF the British delegation and Colonial
Minister Sarraut, representing the
French Government, at the session OF
the general naval committee yester-
day.
Lord Lee is considered to have some
what weakened the admirable position
OF his Government on the submarine
issue by attributing sympathy, IL not
complete Endorsement. of the German
undersea boat methods to France.
Admiral de Bon and NJ Sarraut made
short work of Lord Lees statements
and effectively dismantled them.
The French spokesmen made a clear
and convincing reply to the assertions
of their English associate. Their dec
iarations that their Government does
not indorce the views of casual Pa
Iisian pamphleteers who saw much In
the German submarine methods to
admire and extoI, permitted OF no
doubt that the horrors OF the Won
doctrine arc still fresh in the
French mind.
a The replies made by the French
spokesmen 70 the implied charges of
Lord Lee have done much to modify
criticism of the French insistence for
maximum privileges In the way of
This does not mean there
is any tendency on the part of the
American public to justify the French
position. But IL is interpreted TO mean
that II the American delegates had
originally adopted the British policy
az dealing with the vexatious issue the
French might have accepted the
American view.
Franco-British Tension.
The tension between British and
French delegates has been so pro-
nounced during conference delibera-
tions that a great many American OBJ
servers feel justified in attributing the
French policy almost solely TO that
cause. Confirmation on this view is
seen in the recent tendency In French
quarters to invite reconsideration of
the submarine issue at n future con-
ference, a suggestion that does not ia
vor at present. but which is admitted
10 be among eventualities.
The F'rench suggestion. which bears
all the carmarks OF official inspira ton,
has been hailed in some American Off
c'al quarters as an indication that
under more propitious conditions than
are at present possible the French
Government will assume a more con-
ciliatory position than II has adopted to
date Meantime none OF the agencies
of public expression has a good word