Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-01-06
Special to Indiana Daily Times
and Philadelphia Public Ledger.
BY CONSTANCE DREXEL.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.-The subma-
rine sank the Lusitania and later forced
America into the World War. 1t has been
the cause Of near-rupture at this con-
ference, leaving the way open for in
aBnsive building of the deadly craft, even
n though a palliative in restrictive use may
be adopted.
To the average man and woman the
submarine and poison gas spell the
frightfulness and horrors OF war and are
of greater moment than whether China or
Japan is allowed to operate railroad
in Shantung.
Thus the pressure Of public opinion has
been so great relative to the report OF
the advisory committee on submarines
that ex-senator Sutherland called meet
ing of the committee again, the first since
before the Christmas holidays.
On adjournment of the meeting ex-
Senator Sutherland, chairman, said the
possibility Of a supplementary submarine
report had been discussed, tut no de-
cision made Owing to absence out OK
town or pressure of other duties only
half a dozen members Of the commit
tee were in attendance. Included were
Mrs. Charles Sumner Bird and Mrs. kath-
crime Phillips Edison.
CoMMITTEEMEN GRANTED
RIGHT TO OPINIONS.
The criticism is not directed go much
because the report was favorable to the
retention Of the submarine. Such
criticism would hardly be fair, as the
tvventv-one members Of the advisory COM
mittee have a right to express their own
opinion.
But the criticism, which has been
voiced in a letter to ex-senator Suther-
land BY Frederick J. Libby, executive
A,Ascretary of the National Council for
sshe Limitation Of Armaments, is due to
the fact that the report was adopted at
an afternoon meeting Of the advisory COM
mfttee on Dec. /. 1t was presented by
Admiral Rogers, chairman Of a small
subcommittee, Of which Mrs. Winter
was a member.
After the meeting on Dec J. ex-senator
Sutherland would give no information
whatever except that four reports had
been adopted, including the one on sub
maItnes.
However, a press dispatch went all
over the country declaring that the re-
port had favored submarines and that II
had the support Of the country. From
hepan to pour into the conference, finally
causing Col. William Boyce Thompson 8
subcommittee on information, through
Commander S. F. Bryant, to authorize
the statement that the submarine report
Of the advisory committee had been pre-
pared and adopted before public opinions
had been tabulated.
Yet this Is the report which Secre-
tary Hughes read TO support his conten-
tion at the second joint meeting Of the
committee on Limitation Of armament
and the subcommittee on the limitation
Of naval armament, al recorded in the
official communique of that meeting IN
the afternoon of Dec. . in the Pan
American building.
READS REPORT OF
ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
Secretary Hughes told Mr.. Balfour, NJ
sarraut and the others that he read
this report not as an opinion Of the
- merican Government. but as a report
sI the advisory committee which was
created in order that the American dele
gates might be advised as to public
opinion"
That this report Ravortng the retention
of submarines as a defensive weapon
was influential in maintaining that posi-
ton is unquestioned. There is no critt-
cism Of Secretary Hughes for using 1t.
nor is there any marked criticism Of
the advisory committee for rendering 1t.
But the fact remains that the report was
made on Dec. l, and that since then
the advisory committee, through It's sub
committee and general information, has
been receiving opinions running up to