Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-12
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
Continued from page 1

However great our sea power has been,
We have used II for impartial freedom OF
the seas for every other nation as much
as for ourselves, and think we ought 10
receive little more recognition than VIC
do for the fact that we have never used
British naval power in TING Of peace TO
make the use Of the seas easier for our
selves without simultaneously making it
easier for others on the same terms
q. &. ASSISTED IN BLOCKADE.
"Jf the question is one Of the freedom
of the seas in times of war, then I would
sav this. The United States, as we all most
gratefully recognize, has taken part in
The last two years Of the war Without
the United States we could not have had
the success the allies have now won.
cannot emphasize that too much or express
too much admiration OF it. But since the
United States entered the war, she has
not only acquiesced, but | believe most
strongly co-Operated, in carrying out the
blockade Of Germany.
In the early stages of the war the block
ade was not nearly so complete because
the United States raised many questions
about it. but in the later years Of the con
aic+ the blockade was made complete
With the cooperation Of the United States.
Without that blockade, success could
not have been won Indeed, without the
blockade Germany might have won.
AMERICA COMMITTED on ISSUE
"Suppose this situation should exist
again. and il is impossible TO suppose that
| the United States would say the blockade
which was so essential for success should
not be allowed That would stultify
| everything America did in this war. II
would really be an insult to the United
/ States TO suggest that she would in future
| advocate any course in war such as this
| Inconsistent with what she did IN this
war, and that was the complete blockade
| Of an offending nation.
eff this be so, we come tn this, that
probably what is in President Wilson's
! mind is that freedom of the seas should be
/ secured to any nation observing the
/ covenants Of a league of nations and
| should be denied to any nation break
| ing those covenents. IF that il so, then a
| league Of nations is the solution 70 the
! whole question and cannot be discussed
| apart from II.
LEAGUE or NATIONS SOLUTION.
"On these grounds, believe there may
/ be complete agreement between the two
| countries only If a league Of nations IS
| formed. | do not see Why this country
should not accept the formula that If a
| league Of nations IS formed here IS 10
| be complete freedom Of the seas 50 long
| as the covenants of the league are OBJ
served, but If the covenants are broken
then there il to be no freedom of the
seas and every means are 10 be used against
| the power which has broken them"
WARNS AGAINST sERvILE HOUSE.
Viscount GREY protested against the
election Of servile House Of Commons,
saving that in such case there would be a
| drift toward dictatorship or Bolshevism
| While giving credit ID the present govern
| nent, he said the people must be fair 70
the men who preceded the present cabinet
in Office, and who made ultimate success
possible.
He praised Viscount Haldane, former
lord high chancellor; Vtscount Miner,
secretary Of state Tor war; Colonel Winston
Spencer Churchill, minister of munitions,
Lord Kitchener, Premier Lloyd George
and Walter Runciman, former financial
secretary TO the treasury and liberal
member Of Parliament for Dewesburv.
| Viscount Grey SAID that even the sue
cess these men had achieved would have
| been impossible without the support OF
! former Premier Asquith.
SECURITY AIM or SEA POLICY.
Speaking on relations after the war
| between Great Britain and the United
| States, Viscount Grey said:
IF there IS composition in naval ship
| building between Great Britain and
| America. it viii be fatal 10 good relations.
What is desireable in our naval policy
Is not domination or supremacy, but
security. do not believe a conflict
/ between America and Great Britain pos
/ sibe We must not be jealous Of any
shIpbuiIdlng on the part Of the United