Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-05-25

THOUGH the question of 1.-The freedom of
i the seas" was raised in President Will
sons note to the Kaiser relative to American
rights violated in acts which eliminated in
the torpedoing and sinking of the British
steamship Lustania," the issue lies more dis
tlnctly and Importantly between neutral ma
tions-especlally the United States-and Great
Britain. Sea law, as It stands today, Is ma
tional rather than international. for sea
power is in reality the court Of last resort
The spectacle of American shippers compelled
to fight in British prize courts for what they
consider their rights Is a consequence OF the
fact that sea law has never been neutrallzed
or internationalized, a condition which It may
be impossible to lectify until after the close
of the present war
Norman Angel, writing in the North
American Review on america and the Neu-
trallzation of the Sea-" prefaces his article
with the remark: This is written by a man
of English descent whose youth and early
manhood were passed in America who there
acquired a deep sympathy and admiration
for most that America represents, who be-
lieves, further, that America might II she
seized her opportunities, play leading role
in giving a new development to organized
society by becoming the pivot OF It's world
wide organization en- more civilized lines, and
who sees all this placed in jeopardy by pos
sibility of a very serious cleavage OF policy
as between herself and England"
The Anglo-American Conflict
OF the existence of this divergence OF policy,
Mr.. Angel asserts. there is no recognition
in England, and of it's causes and conse-
quences, likewise. England remains ignorant.
There is in England" he says, mot the
faintest realization-I have seen not a line
of discussion concerning 1t in the press-that
the inevitable outcome of the present contra
band and blockade difficulties will be an ir-
resistible movement in America for the neu-
tralizaton OF the high seas, or. falling that,
their domination by the American navy"
Mr. Angel quotes from an article contrib
uted by Admiral Mahan to the Review in
1896. expressing an opinion on Anglo-Ameri-
can reunion. the beginning of which, It had
Just then been suggested. should rest on a
naval union or alliance.
Mr.. Angel comments on the quoted passage
as follows: admiral Mahan reveals clearly
enough the alternatives with which England
will be faced at the close OF the war. She
will be compelled either to internationalize
her sea power so as to secure the interest of
neutrals by their formal representation. or
she will find herself confronted by a greater
Power like that OF America. who may act
either for herself as Mahan would seem to
WISH or on behalf of neutrals we'll"
What is the situation that gives rise to Mr..
Angell's belief that there is one thing In in
ternational politics concerning which there is
certainty? Americas situation under the
listing condition of sea law will not be left by
the Americans where the present incidents
leave it." says Mr.. Angel, and "the present
condition OF sea law" is reflected in the ad-
mission OF a famous English writer, who, al.
authority at sea is already too curtailed, ad-
mits that the present law leaves the prize
courts the right to administer not the law OF
England. but the law OF nations, and to de-
eide every material question affecting the
rights OF neutrals."
Americas Regretted Assent
Mr. Angel asks; Has even the American
realized what the effect Of public discussion
OF this situation in the heated atmosphere of
wartime is likely to be?" and adds, "of course
the American will discuss 1t more and more
during the next few months. and that dis
cussion will bring out with growing clearness
the fact that he has not the slightest right OF
protest, since all this takes place as part OF a
condition OF things 10 which he has agreed!
He will realize increasingly that In the pres
ent condition OF international law IL Is an
Inevitable concomitAnt OF power; that as
the sea, unlike the land, is one supremacy
cannot be divided; that the dominant navy
OF the world dominates not merely the terri
tory Of the nation 10 which Il belongs, but
the approaches TO and the highways between
all territories and all nations; that II con-
trols and dominates the trafhc Of mankind;
that the executive power In the administra-
tion Of this law which stretches over the
whole planet and aRects the commerce os
every country IN Il 4 simply ana purely a