7 JANUARY 1922, Page 10

It was announced on Wednesday that France would accept; Mr.

Root's resolution, and also an amendment by Mr. Balfour to the effect that the five Powers represented at Washington would agree among themselves not to use submarines for the

destruction of merchant shipping. If this report is literally confirmed, it would seem that France can have still less reason than ever for desiring to treble her submarine flotillas. Japan at the same time accepted the resolution in principle, so that progress is being made towards an agreement to ban the submarine.