The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-20

Ue tUOukNt might nave Oeeu
the most desirable course for the
United states 10 follow from the out
80; with regard TO the European war.
and he refused.
II try never 20 give advice 10 any
nation except my own" said he. and
surely I never YOU venture to give
advice 10 one Ms intelligent and ar
capable Of Judging for itself as the
nited States. Every country is the
hes, Judge of It's own affairs.
Therefore. even assuming that I
had ideas as to what America might
have done after the outbreak of the
war. or as to what she nov might
wisely do other than that which she is
doing. I still should decline to answer
that particular query. That sort OF
talk from a resident OF one country
abou, the actual or possible procedure
OF another country never tends to pro-
mote good feeling, and no subject Of
the British Empire can have any desire
"a promote anything except good feel
ing between his country and yours.
II am wiling. however, to make den
n.te statements with regard to certain
matters concerning which there seems
tu have been disagreement between
some American citizens and some Brit
Isl citizens. OF course in view OF my
lifelong interest in the British navy
am especially willing to speak about
our sea power. what it has o In our
warfare with Germany and the part /;
has played in our relationships with
tho United States since the war began.
First I feel perfectly free TO declare
and perfectly certain Of the accuracy
Of my statement when ! do declare
thai British sea power has not OPP
pressed the United States nor any citi-
zen or citizens OF the United States
since this war began.
"A good deal of ak has emanated
from Germany and from Germans in
the United States which has held Brit
18Th navalism' TO bc comparable with
German mili,arism in tyranny and IN
justice. The Germans as a whole have
Condemned our so-called 'navalism' as
We condemn their militarism.
"As a matter of fact there is no real
foundation for argument OF that sort.
The two things are no, a, all rish,sully
comparable.
The mastery OF the sea as created
10y Britain before the war and as dem
ons;ra;cd very successfully during the
progrcsS Of The war not only has been
"a means To and a protection Of our en-
.st.n,c as an empire but has been es-
Sentsal to the preservation. not of a
British monopoly Of the seas ,as Ger
many would urge but TO the preserva-
ION of the freedom Of the seas to all
To us, to you. and for that matter TO
Germany herself.
'V'hile We have held this mastery
Of the seas there has been no COM
mcrCial oppression, no exclusions from
any ocean ,save hat exclusion of the
central European Powers which they
themselves precipitated when they
precipitatcd this great war; Of any
nations shipping. Admitting for the
sake OF argument that Britain has
dominated the seas commercially as
she has in a nava sense. yet all must
st.ll admit that she has dominated
through fair competition in ocean
trade.
British 'naviiisn' has meant fair
connection ON the highways of the
sea. whereas German militarism' IL IN
some nightmare era Of the future II
should become as dominant, inevitably
would mean the complete destruction
Of liberal civilization, the rights OF
small nations and the happiness Of the
world. In other words. IL would put
a killing handicap upon the progress
# humanity.
~ cannot sce that there is any
necessity for me 20 d.latc on this pom
at this stage of events, Since TIT
Dc.inning of this war the world abun
dainty has been shown what Geihlaf
domination means ON land Wher
ever the Germans go sinai nations
aud the rights of the citizens OF small
nations disappear, wiped out by tn
brutal and inhuman practices Of Gel
man miltarism. which openly avow
the policy Of doing just that.
ANY prophet OF its procedure II
the unbelievable case that II shout
achieve thu mastery Of the seas woul
ho forced to base his prophecies upoI
"ua, 4 has lone upon land. ana wonI
lind them far too drcadfui to contem
Plate with calm. ever az mere PRONE
GEES.
"Iu such "A dire event the world
commerce would not be as i was be
for, the war, free To whosocvcr lnigr
fairly compete successfully for it. a
Al legitimate trade should bc, II "oul