Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-01-13
Would England As Victor Encroach on Our Rights?


ece with which foreign authorities predict trouble for the
United States at the end of the European When an
American orees for the United in the fu
ure 1t is allowable at the outset to inquire whether he
IS stakeholder in ammunition plant. When outsider
says this country is to become engaged in hosties
at the end Of the European conagaton search for mo-
tves as we'll as fundamental
has been assumed all along by host of people, that
trouble Tor the United States from Europe would from
Germany but of late the situation undergoing
marked change in this direction The German authorities
seem to have been putting themselves out to cultivate
friendly relations with the people Of this country Ambas
Sador Berstor has succeeded in disspang
cloud that arose on our national horizon The latest note
from Berlin apparently seeks c all possibility of
further trouble between Germany and Americans over sub
marine warfare and the concessions question made with
me knowledge that their surrender means marked inter
terence with the effectiveness of submarine warfare Great
Britain and the other entente allies
On the other hand different German authorities have
freely predicted that the United States would have trouble
with Great Britain over commerce Unless the British were
forced to guarantee commercial freedom OF the at the
end Of the present struggle. The latest and in
spects the most noteworthy statement in this direction of
Americas future relations is made by Philip Heneken di
of the North German Lloyd Steamship company
whose steamships cater extensively for American trade.
This famous master Of transportation told representative
of the New York World that his only has
neutral ports but it is also building number of new steam
ships OF large PROPORTIONS in anticipation of increased bust
with the United States after the close of the present
conflict
Turning to the question of commerce Director l1eine
ken OF the North German Lloyd declared that England
mas the freedom OF the commercial seas under her control
This supremacy of the she has exploited for long time
for the rest of the world Should England be successful
against Germany no one doubts that other country
Wotld be neXt-Ame1ca. He continued:
"If you look at the American map, you will observe how
England is surrounding the Panama canal with all her naval
What the good of the London declaration and what is the
good of all these treatesas the England
passes over them.
Cotton and great many other things had been de-
cared by all countries including England free and not to
declared contraband by England We that such
things don't happen again. We must have absolutely
that Epu1o
OFT from the seas and from trade.
I'm great countries Germany is credited with
looking for the position England has held thus far The best
answer to this is that Germany is the only great European
power that has kept the peace for forour and in
from France two provinces they had stolen from time
peace when we might have insisted on far greater territory
many working hand in hand with England and believed
the sincerity of English interests This has cruelty
deceived us, and shall easily forget it,"
We are thus afforded by man close to the Kaiser the
and its possible results Director Heinekens business re-
Iaons with Americans have been so intimate that he
Making all due allowance for Herr Heinekcns preu-
diced view and his natural disposition align America on the
side of Germany struggle freedom of the seas
let us examine his prediction of "Amcrca next see
what bass there may be for apprehension:
English writer's conditions after the war have re-
Gently taken the position that Great Brans aim would
made full reparation to Belgium and the other sufferers
IRON eutonic aggression for the losses inflicted result
entente allies fairly certain what will happen
as ocean commerce is concerned.
The question that naturally follows is will Great Britain
victorious be inclined to block the expansion of American
commerce? The surest to Judge regarding the future
is to apply the experiences of the past Britain has
certainly sought to curtal American when
1t did not pertain to German supplies If Britain al
most IN eXtrems could encroach American rights
terfere with American mails and wipe out American
what right have assume that Great Britain
victorious would not be equally inclined the growth
OF American commerce as menace to Engand commercial
supremacy?
indeed after the exercise of commercial control of the
had enabled Great Britain to defeat Germany is it not
probable that the British would be still inclined to
struggle for continued commercial supremacy on the high
seas?
But you may say it is not fair to Judge as to what
England would do in time of restored peace by what she is
doing under stress of war The reply to that is that Great
Britain long before the Europe had
gagged in checking American for the benefit
British merchant marine Englands nssence upon the
charging of full tolls to American coastwise steamships using
our Panama canal was papaby merely to retard
American shipping, for American craft sailing from
American port to another American nanifesty
not competing with British trans-oceanic trade
The persistence with which the British have encroach
ed American shipping during the past year especially af
lords ground for apprehension concerning the The
British only held