Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-07
AMERICANS MAY RULE.
THE WAVE IN FUTURE.
Free Seas or United States Navy
Must Dominate, Wash
ington Predicts.

Washington, Dec. IF President
Peace Conference relative to the freedom
of the seas the United States must develop
into the greatest naval power in the
world.
This it seems must be Americas
answer to the position laid down by
Winston Churchill that Great Britain
enters the Peace Conference with the
absolute determination that no limitation
shall be imposed on her right to main
tain her naval defense, which means her
supremacy OF the seas.
His statement: Eve do not intend,
no matter what arguments and appeals
are addressed to us, to lend ourselves in
any way to any lettering restrictions
which will prevent the British Navy
maintaining her well-tried and we'll
deserved supremacy" is regarded here as
being addressed especially to Woodrow
Wilson.
OPENING OF THE DEBATE.
1t is the opening of the great debate
that is inevitable when the President pre-
IScnts his plan to make war impossible
Iin the future. II there is to be a League
|of Nations. England will not need an over
Iaweing navy. 1t is the intention OF the
President, The World was informed yes
Iterday, to make this argument. That
IEnglands navy saved Europe from being
overwhelmed by the German armies is
admitted, but it is also pointed out that
England's sea supremacy was the excuse
for the creation and maintenance of the
enormous military machine that put the
world in peril.
WORLD LEAGUE ALTERNATIVE.
The alternative to L eagIe OF Nations
for the safeguarding of the worlds peace
Is the Balance OF Power, the futility Of
which WAS demonstrated by the outbreak
,hf the war. The men whom the President
3poke most freely before he started on his
Journey are pointing out that there Is not
even a Balance OF Power with England S
continuing mistress Of the SC: if policy
Of disarmament is enforced sgainst other
nations.
Every nation must limit its fighting
Irower or every nation must develop its
defensive resources so as to meet any
threat II is TO spare the world the burden
df maintaining huge war establishments,
with the perpetual danger that they will
clash in the future as they have clashcd
ih the past, that President Wilson formu-
lated his points of peace and hes gone
abroad 10 urge them
League of Nations, freedom of the seas
ahd reduction OF armarnents 10 the lowest |
pbint consistent with domestic safety |
are all elements of the same proposition. |
ALL DOMINATION OPPOSED.
Nor does the proposal that the navies |
Of England and the United States be Join |
ed 10 police the seas, and impose their |
will for peace on tn whole world, which |
ILL., lr,If,or.et
meet the difficulty President Wilson |
domination by nation or an ALI nee of |
nations. short of a World League,
The imminence of the discussion has
st4 rted people looking over the early |
events Of the war when the United Stat !,
MAS protesting against England's seizure |
of sh ps on the high seas, dc. All of these |
things will figure In the arguments that |
are coming when the Amercan President /
ndets the European Premiers and tries |
to convince them that the welfare OF the |
world demands the sacrifice of some OF !.
their dearest policies.
no CHIP on HIS SHOULDER.
The Presidents feeling toward Great /
Britain Is one OF sincere friendliness /
His shoulder carries no chip. He would /
htFN tAALc dAht u tS~hbit tOA-
roYersy, but he Is extremely ANXIOUS that
u obstacles TO 4 permanent peace / e
empved
He viii endeavor to persue1e LLOYD
Ieorge that his country should yield
ON ething so as 10 bring about con-
litidn that would make 1t possible for
he two great naval powers-Great
Britain and the United States-to work
n harmony TO prevent any other nation
rom playing the part OF bully. He will
.rgue for the absolute freedom OF he seas.
SOME WOULD GO FURTHER.
SO me OF the Presidents advisers would
% further than he intends TO go If Great
3rit4 bin actually refuses TO cooperate
With him in bis purpose TO make impossible
mother world war They would point out
nat the United States had entered the
var at a time when Germany threatened |
he destruction OF France and Great
3ritai in, and supplied billions of dollars
md millions of men TO bring victory
These men believe that the statements
# Winston Churchill should not have been
made.
President Wilson rs in position TO
.nsw er vigorously if he see ft TO do so.
1e ca Ia say that if the British Government
insists that Britannia rule the waves, the
Initad States viii lay two keels for
very one she does. or five TO her one if
lecessxy. To do this she could use the
interest on the 81 900, 900 900 borrowed !
rom this country By Great Britain 10
uild dIdreadnoughts and other fighting craft
The interest on the French debt could be |
dded 10 that, and if that we're not
efficient our resources could be tapped. !
1t was pointed out today by govern
nent officials that Great Britain could
Iot compete with the United States ii
bev commenced a shipbiulding contest. |
Nobody in Washington believes it will
c1ne 10 that The particular value Of The
iscussioDs that are about 20 begin is that |
he statesmen must determine program
nat all can accept There viii un-
oubtedly be some heartburnings and
ONE more or less heated exchanges, but
= he time they go into the actual peace
differences the differences Will have been
The statesmen AT home in England VIII
optinue 20 fulrr1i' ate, just a. our Sena-
,rs arc Illuminating now, but neither the
rreeches 10 Parliament nor IN our Senate
,hamber will change the course Of events
! PARIS
II Woodrow Wilson's reasoning pre-
ails, We will have the League Of Nations
be loses his case, this country will re-
retfully line up 10 the tape III the race
,r naval superiority
Al least, that Is the vlew taken by !
hose who are trying 70 think with the
residents head
.