The Adair County news., 1922-01-17
POISONOUS GAS
IN The DISCARD
Proposal by American DeIega-
ton to Abolish Its Use
Near Adoption.
AK. FINAL ROOT RESOLUTION
Head of italian Delegation Expresses
Agreement-Great Britain, France
and Japan Await Word From
Their Home Governments.

Washington, Jan. ~9.-Proposal by
the American delegation to abolish the
use Of poisonous gases in warfare and
adoption of the final Root resolution
making acts OF pidacy out of ruthless
attacks on merchant ships were the
two events of the day in the arma-
ments conference.
Senator Schanzer, head of the Ital-
ian delegation, Immediately expressed
Ids governments agreement to the
abolition of war gases. France, Great
Britain and Japan will state their
views later. France and possibly
Japan probably will have to await in
structions from their home govern
ments before giving formal decisions.
The resolution abOlishing gas as a
weapon Of warfare, which was offered
by Elihu Root, follows:
''The use In war of asphyxiating,
poisonous or analogous liquids or ma
terials or devices having been justly
condemned by the general opinion of
the civilized world, and a prohibition
of such use having been declared in
treaties to which a majority Of the
civilized powers are parties,
Other Nations Invited.
Nov, to the end that this prohibi-
tion shall be universally accepted, as
part of the international law, binding
alike the conscience and practice Of
nations, the signatOry powers declare
their assent TO such prohibition, agree
10 he bound thereby between them
selves, and invite all other civilized
nations to adhere thereto"
The resolution dealing with piratical
attacks on merchant vessels reads:
1.-The signatory powers, desiring to
insure the enforcement of the humane
rules of existing law declared by them
with respect TO attacks upon and the
seizure and destruction of merchant
ships, further declare that any person
In the service of any power who shall
violate any of these rules, whether or
not such person is under orders Of
governmental superior, shall be
deemed To have violated the laws of
war, and shall be liable to trial and
punishment as If 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 be found"
While primarily the foregoing resO-
luton refers to submarine command
ers, IL was made clear by official
spokesman that it applies with equal
force TO the officer in charge of any
vessel whose conduct comes within the
scope of the rule. For example, the
commander of a surface vessel acting
as a commerce raider, who did not
conform to the requirements of visit
and search and safe provision for pas
sengers and crew would be liable TO
punishment as a pirate. which is
death.
Rearrange Root Resolution.
Discussion during the session of the
ornaments committee, 1T was an
nOunced, developed the necessity of re.
arranging the Root resolution dealing
with submarines so that the one adopt.
ed clearly applies only to the previ.
Ously adopted resolution restating In
simple language the five big naval
powers conception of existing law
The resolution on piracy, therefore
does not apply in connection with the
other Root resolutions, adopted yes
terday, outlawing submarines as com
merce destrOyers.
The reason given for this distinc
ton was that the first resolution sim
ply embodies a restatement of what
now is recognized as international law
Punishment for violation of that
therefore, may be provided. But the
prohibition of submarine attacks OF
merchant vessels under any circum
stances merely is a cOntractual agree
ment between the five powers and vii
not become international law unit
adopted by all other nations.