The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-11-29
PRESIDENT SAILS
NEXT TUESDAY
Continued iron. page -

~
the Daily Telegraph: In war, as re-
cent events have shown, effective
freedom of the seas. as of the world,
demands maintenance OF ancient sea
rights which have repeatedly proved
TO be the salvation Of civilization.
Philip IL Of Spain. Napoleon and the
kaiser were defeated. and the Ameri-
can union was saved thereby in the
civil war. Abolition of the blockade
and of contraband would reduce the
value of sea power 70 per cent, be-
cause it would enable great CONT
mental armies to be sustained almost
indefinitely. The sea controls the
land, and so-caIled freedom OF the
seas means military autocracy by
land.
BY A. G. Gardiner editor of the
Daily News): Freedom Of the seas is
universal and unqualified in peace
times. In case OF dispute between
nations, IL one nation rejects arbitra-
ton and the decision of the league
of nations. and declares war. it will
be denied use Of the seas, while its
, opponent will have such use safe
guarded.
By Colonel J. c. Wedgwood, NJ. p:
Freedom OF the seas means abolition
of private property at sea in war
time, and no discrimination at ports
between the different flags in peace
+ time. Submarines alter the old situ-
alton, but always. as a liberal, / sup
port President Wilson.
| By Ralph D. Blumenfield editor
OF the Daily Express): Until you
abolish war, there can be no such
| thing as freedom of the seas.
Wide Meaning Of Expression.
| LBy J. w. T. Mason, Written for the
United Press.l
| NEW YORK, Nov, 29.-Frankness
in discussing freedom OF the seas is
difficult to secure because every ma
ton with powerful navy has one set
of interests to serve when 1t is bell
! ligerent and another set when it is a
neutral
| The widest meaning of freedom Of
the seas is that all blockades shall be
abolished, so that neutrals shall not
/ be prevented in any way from trading
with belligarent powers that have
seaports. If this principle had been
enforced during the present war,
America and the allies could not have
prevented Germany from getting what
ever food supplies she desired from
the South American and other neutral
Icountries by direct trade. A less in
elusive meaning of freedom of the
lseas Is that while blockade of bel
iligerent nation is permissible, no in
reference shall be allowed with the
iocean commerce of any country bor-
dering the belligeretn nation. Had
this rule been operative during the
war America and the allies could not
have prevented Holland and Scandi-
nayia from acting as Germanys'
Iagents and importing for Germany's
could buy in South America and else
where.
America has had the UNIQUE expert
ence of having been a neutral and a
Ibelligerent in the present war and
SO has been able to consider the two
viewpoints. AS a neutral, the Ameri-
can government was opposed to any
interference with the desires OF
American traders to sell their pro.
ducts to Holland and Scandinavia.
But, Immediately the United States
became bellfgerent American public
opinion would not have permitted its
government to recognize the freedom
lof the seas to the end that the neu-
trial world could have for Germany
through Dutch and Scandinavian
ports.
Had this been done the war would
undoubtedly have been prolonged to
the great destruction Of America s
young manhood and financial strength
II war is abolished, freedom of the
seas will come automatically. Other
wise freedom OF the seas has this
triple character:
1t is always a SPLENDID principle
for nations with weak navies, like
Germany, that cannot hope to block
ade their enemy's coast; it is ilandi
cap for nations with great navies like
America and Great Britain when they
are engaged in war with an enemy
that possesses a coast line; it Is fin
ancially advantageous to exporting
like America and Great Britain when
they are neutral while-a great war is
being fought
The ultimate question is whether
: financial advantage during period
Of neutrality outweighs the possibil
lily OF defeat when war comes home
TO London Tomorrow
PARIS, Nov. 29-Colonel House
: and Premier Orlando, as well as Pre-
mier Clemenceau and Marshal Foch
probably will go to London tomorrow
for preliminary conferences on peace
questions Sunday.
Clemenceau was slightly indisposed
and was unable to be present at the
: reception to King George in the city
hall this afternoon. The weather was
dismal. but good sized crowd cheer
ed the British monarch.
: Replying to speeches by city off
i, Gals, the king congratulated Paris on
it's attitude throughout the war He
, will leave for the British front tomor
row.
King Albert will arrive here next
; Thursday and leave Friday.
The next national representative to
; arrive will be President Wilson.