The Washington herald., 1918-12-12
BRITAIN SOLID
FOR BIC NAVY
President Well Informed
on Sea Power Attitude,
Holland Says.


the freedom of the seas does not
and must not involve any reduction
of the naval strength Of Great Brit
ain, does no more than confirm COM
munications from men in authority
in England to their friends in the
United States respecting the atti-
tude of Great Britain upon this
point
If that attitude, cOmmunioat ted to
friends in the United States by men
of high authority in Great Britain,
was known in New York it must,
also. have been known in Washing
ton. Therefore the inference is
strong that President Wilson has
sailed for Europe not in Ignorance
respecting the view Of Great Britain
upon the freedom of the seas. What
are his own views we now can only
partially infer. They will not be re-
vealed until he arrives at the Peace
Conference. But. il they differ from
prevailing and practically unani-
nous feeling in Great Britain, then
II is regarded as certain that he will
have one of the most difficult tasks
he ever faced if he is to persuade
the peace commission to accept his
view
For It is the understanding here that
England will be supported at the peace
conference by France, Japan and Italy.
Certainly France and Japan and to
some extent Italy are now and will
, be for a long time dependent upon
Great Britain's sea power and her
views respecting the freedom of the
seas. 1t is believed here that Chur-
chill deliberately and with intent to
inform those who are to assemble at
the peace conference, as well as the
people of the United States. what the
position of England is, so far as free
dom Of the seas is concerned. spoke
in the manner and at this time he did
a few days ago.
LOyett and the Railroads.
Z. II. Hartman, who was the equal
OF James ]. Hill and possibly the
superior of Commodore Vanderbilt in
glimpsing the capacity of men, their
temperaments and their executive abil-
tiles, did not fail to observe in Judge
LOvett, at a time when the judge was
no more than counsel for the Pacific
Railroad interests which Mr.. Harri-
man in a marvelously short time high
ly developed. the qualities which
would assure success II Judge Lovett
were placed in high executive assoCia-
tion with Pacific Railroad properties.
In almost every respect Judge Lovett
was the opposite to Mr. Hartman, for
Hartman was a bundle of nerves and
in the last four or FIVE years OF his
life IL was upon his nerves that he
relied to maintain his working
strength. His mind was dynamic, as
the saying is, and his intuitions were
zTHTfFF nA
characterized the late J. P. Morgan.
Judge Lovett. on the other hand,
seems to be unconscious of nerves.
His manner is that OF a man always
in Tepose. His attitude is similar
to that OF a judge who sits upon
the bench cf the highest court. His
physical movements such as walk
ing. suggest moderation. but he
reaches the necessary determination
Of important questions as wisely and
as surely as Mr. Hartman did.
In Washington while in public serv-
ice without any remuneration, Judge
Lovett's manner and methods were
such as not to concentrate public
attention upon him But he achieved
greatly, and possibly was one OF the
few men OF the United States who
could have done with success all
he has done.
For the past six months Judge Low
ett's friends have thought or sus-
pected that hs v~--Tr' again to re-
- sc zasl-r= E.< - e ief executive
Sseald Prefer T--sidenry.
as Iorscsst me y-sTs # difficulties
Eith whi~h The railroad proposition
81 tfre o. peace wound be involved.
Ils also foresaw opportunity greatly
to build up the vast region through
which the Southern Pacific passes.
He realized the fine opportunity as
well as the grave responsibility which
will come to a railroad executive
after the war was ended. Difficult
Is the proposition is and as vague
as President Wilson described the
permanent railroad situation to be,
nevertheless Judge LOvett's friends
think that he would welcome an op-
portunity to share in solving this
great problem.
It would be better for him to be
president of the Southern Pacific than
Director General of the Railroads dur
ng the life of the statute which gave
authority to the President to take
over the railroads. for to be Director
GeseraI might be a service of only
twenty months. To be president of
sne Southern Pacific would be a life
service, or at least service until age
Justified his retirement Therefore his
friends believe that he has done well
% decline the appointment of Director
General and successor of Mr.. MCAdoo
In that office, having in view his re-
turn to the post of president of the
Southern Pacific.
German Trade and Industry.
James A. Farrell. president of the
United States Steel Corporation. a few
lays ago caused to be read at a gath
erfng at Atlantic City his view re-
specting trade and industrial condi-
fons in Germany. He said nothing
new, at least to those who are IA
mihar with his views. His opinions
have never changed. not even after
the United states entered into the war
against Germany.
Yet Mr.. Farrell perhaps of all men
IN the United States identified with
areat industries might be expected to
oe the leader among those who favor
ID industrial and trade boycott against
Germany. For when he was attempt
ng. as head of the foreign sales de-
partment OF the United States Steel
Corporation. to approach foreign mar
Sets, especially in South America
Australia and the Far East, he found
himself often blocked. many times
threatened with German cut-throat
competition. and brought into constant
contact with the peculiar trade meth
Ids adopted by Germany in order to
AXE and hold foreign markets.