Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-30

of the sea must alike and in law be free
The freedom of the seas is the sine qua non
of peace, equality and cooperation. IL
need not he difficult either to define or Sc
cure the freedom Of the seas IL the Cow
ernments OF the world sincerely desire to
come to an agreement concerning It,"
LEAGUE FOR PEACE
The last point made by Lord Lansdowne
is that:
ave are prepared TO enter into an inter-
national pact under which ample oppor-
tunities would be afforded for the settle
ment Of international disputes by peaceful
means"
Almost since the very outbreak of the
war the President has been emphatic In his
advocacy Of an international tribunal to
settle matters Of dispute between nations
and to end for all time armed conflicts. His
most concrete utterance that subject
also was made to the Senate on January
%, when he said.
Peace cannot be had without concession
and sacrifice. There can be no sense of
safety and equality among. the nations IL
great preponderating armaments are hence
forth to continue here and there TO be built
up and maintained. | am pro-
posing as 1t were, that the nations should
with one accord adopt the doctrine of Presi-
dent Monroe as the doctrine of the world ;
that no nation should seek to extend its
policy over any other nation or people, but
that every people should be left free to de-
termne its own policy, its own way of
development, unhindered, unthreatened. un-
afraid. the little along with the power
ful. When all nations unite to act
in the same sense and with the same pur-
pose all act in the common interest ana
are free to live their own lives under
common protection. | am proposing gov
hp pf
that freedom of the seas which in interna-
tonal conference after conference represen-
tatives of the United States have urged with
the elOQuenCe of those who are the con-
WINGED disciples of liberty, and that modera-
tion of armamcnts which makes of armies
and nayies "a power for order merely. not
an instrument of aggression or selfish
violence"
UNITED STATES THROUGH TALKING
The Administration official who thus sum-
married. the views of the President, as out
lined by the Chief Executive himself, then
said:
Because the American policy is so well
known to- the United States, and even the
entire world, it is unlikely ulat Lansdowne's 5
utterances can have any effect here either
in official quarters or on the members OF
Congress. We are through talking II the
lnter-Alied Conference were TO outline
anew the war aims, we'll and good We
will accept any action taken in Paris. But
here in America we are through talking
The entire forces of the United States are
being utilized everywhere to press the war
to n successful conclusion. Germany knows
on what terms she can get peace. Let
peace discussion center in Berlin. In
Washington we will talk only war and
make only war preparations until the war
is won and Che issues for which we are
hghting made secure"
This official made II very plain that, in
his opinion, the pressing by the Marquis OF
LanSdowne of his views at this time was
certain to add to the general political crisis
in Great Britain
1T gives the opposition to Premier Lloyd
George for the first time concrete issue"
said this official But it will in no way
weaken British participation in the war
Premier Clemenceau's speech today barely
exceeded hundred words.
Gentlemen" he said, 'in the name Of
the French republic the honor of welcoming
you falls upon me In this greatest of wars
it is the feeling of the supreme solidarity of
peoples which unites us in this moment to
win on the field of battle the right to a
peace which shall be a true peace of human
ity. It is for this we are here in this ad-
mirable reunion of hope and duty well pre-
pared to make every sacrifice demanded by
the alliance which no intrigue and no weak
cning can ever impair. our task is to trans
late into acts those lofty feelings whereby
we are animated. our order Of the day is
work. Let us work"
NJ. Pinchon then outlined the questions
to be examined and the method of work to
be followed. The resolutions Of the French
representatives having been adopted without
discussion, the conference divided into sec
tions. in which the various allied delegations
are represented. These sections are finances,
imports and transportation, armament mu-
nitions, aviation, food and blockade. Each
Of the commissions is being presided over
by the French minister whose department
corresponds to the subject under Considera.
tlOn. Diplomatic. military and naval ques-
tions will be treated under the direction of
the ministers of those departments.
The general meeting ended at l. o'clock,
when the delegates left the Foreign Office.