Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-12
GREY OPTIMISTIC
ON SEA FREEDOM
Niscount Finds Solution of
Problem in League
of Nations
SHOULD APPLY TO PEACE
U. S. and Great Britain, He
Declares. Will Have No
Difficulty in Agreeing
By the Associated Press
Dewsbury. England, Dec. |


A league of nations is the solution OF
the question Of freedom of the seas"
and Great Britain and the United
States can reach a complete agreement
on that question by Joining such
league. declared Niscount Grey, former
foreign secretary. in a speech here last
night
The seas, the Niscount said. were free
in times of peace and Great Britain has
placed no restrictions upon them. Dur
ing the war the American navy had aid
ed the British navy in maintaining the
blockade and Lord Grey thought that
the United States would use the same
weapon if necessity for 1t arose in
the future. without the blockade, he
added, Germany might have won.
The term freedom Of the seas" he
continued, was American in origin and
had been adopted by the Germans for
their own purposes. lie believed Presi-
dent Wilson meant freedom of the seas
to all who Joined a league Of nations.
hut the phrase needed clearer definition,
He said:
"I think It is a great pity that so
much has been said about the freedom
of the seas without being defined. 1t
Is true there is considerable prejudice
against the phrase, largely due to the
fact that it Is believed to be a German
phrase. 1t is not German, but Ameri-
can. It was made in the United States,
and the Germans adopted and used 1t
for their own purposes In sense to
which we have never agreed. Hence
its unpopularity! But until President
IN Hica,,ca 10
II with our Government there is no
need to anticipate difficulty about an
apreenent as to what II means.
Free in Peace Times
"Ereedon, Of the, seas in times OF
neaceP If so. we agree. Wherever the
british navy has been in position to
nxercise it's influence and power on the
seas in times of peace 1t has exercised
that influence impartially for the free
Go,n of the seas for all nations without
distinction. The United States, 7 think,
has some rule forbdding foreign ships
to carry goods between the United States
ard the philippines. Some other coun-
tries have rules Of the same kind. We
,.var had q regulation like that. We
hove been more completely for the free
Son, of the seas in times of peace than
opy other nation. However great our
500 mower has been. We have used IL
for impartial freedom of the seas for
avery other nation as much as for our
calves. and / think we ought to re-
oo;,.e a little more recognition than we
do for the fact that We have never used
british naval power in times of peace
IN make the use of the seas easier for
ourselves without simultaneously MAX
ing II easier for others on the same
terms.
"If the question Is one OF the freedom
Of the seas in times of war then
would saw this: The United States as
We all most gratefully recognize ma
taken part in the last two years or the
war without the United States we
could not have had the success the Allies
have now won. 7 cannot emphasize tNa'
much nor express too much admCatioi
of It. But since the United States enter
ed the war she has not only acqulesceu
but | believe most strongly co-operated
in carrying out the blockade OF German!
In the early stages of the war .n'
blockade was not nearly so complete De
/ cause the United States raised lnall9
questions about It, but in the later years
Of the conflict the blockade was mao
complete with the cooperation OF tn
United States. without that blackade
success could not have been won. Indeed
n.;tro,,t tLn hIocI;ade Germany Nigh
Mtt.ouc '''o
nave won -...,,,,, ,ho,rd owls
sHpPose tnts irouoss;h,e 70 suppos
80 +ta I-ritad states would say tina
that tne un''ea ',.t,,ah o us, .o % essential TO
tne piockdue' "H'e'i "'"' ~ ol rba
success, .,i.9t, snou.a oarytbinr no America di,
Wouiu stu!.'i' roSid itIs rsaIlv be an in
s,,,, m .'.s to +Ia i-ritod states to suggest tina
s,,a o,,ia ~ ,ii n f,,trre advocate any cours
nne ;n "Ua,o u, s,,oh 49, az this inconsistent wit
Al "ai @ sai s,d 10 this var. and tina
,,aa .,a on,nIsta bloclIade of an offend
inc nation n this be so, we come t
ins ins '.s,,N a. rohabI,, what is IN Presden
u,,1,,. VII, Ia ,a,;uS 10 that freedom of tn
ssa. s's shouid be secured TO any natio'
ohservinr the covenants of a league o
ro.;ars and snonId be denied to any ma
aT ,ian hTsaiiinS those covenants. If tina
;sos % " thsn . league of nations is tn
solution to the whole question and canno
GOV, these prounds 7 believe there ma
he conniete agreement between the tw