The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-09
"A LEAGUE IS 0. ks
But England viii Keep Navy in
Power, She Says.
Winston Churchill Tells of
Hope iii q Post Article.

London, Dec. 9 (via Montreal).-
Great Britain will use all her influ-
ence to make the league of nations a
powerful reality, but she cannot re-
gard it as a substitute for her own
navy in any measurable period. Win
ston Spencer Churchill, the minister of
munitions declared in an article con-
tributed to the Glasgow Sunday Post.
In his article which treats of British
naval supremacy in amplification of
his recent address on the subject. Mr.
Churchill speaks of Great Britain's
unique position among the nations of
the world.
Our safety from invasion, our
daily bread, every means whereby we
maintain our existence as an indepen-
or federation of commonwealth and
dependencies-an these flow from
hour to hour upon our naval defense"
Mr.. Churchill writes.
ened or fettered," he continues. I'VE
shall be in continual danger of sub
5ugation or starvation. We should be
forced to live in continuous anxiety.
II that naval defense were overpow-
cred or unmatched by any other
navies. we should hold, not merely
our possessions but our lives and lib
critics only on suffrance.
Where else in the whole world can
SOCu COuultlOnS De pdTdlleleQ. we
have the right to demand from all
other nations friends and foes alike,
full recognition of those facts. We
are also entitled to point out that this
| naval strength that we require and
! which we are determined to preserve
has never been used in modern his
| tory in a selfish and aggressive man.
ner and that it has on four separate
| occasions in four separate centuries
| against Philip II Of Spain, Louis XIV.
| Napoleon and the kaiser successfully
| defended civilization from military
tyranny and particularly preserved
| the independence of the low countries
\ In this greatest of all wars the
British navy shielded mighty America
| from all menace of serious danger
and when she resolved to act, it was
the British navy that transported and
escorted the greatest proportion OF
| her armies to the rescue and deliver
ance OF France. Our record in a
hundred years of unquestioned naval
| sway since Trafalgar proves the So
briefly of our policy and the righteous
ness of our Intentions. Almost the
only ports in the world open freely
to the commerce of all nations were
those of our islands. Its possessions
and our coaling stations were used
freely and fully by the ships of all
nations
I'VE suppressed the slave trade. We
put down piracy. We put it dowr
again the other day. Even our coast.
wise traffic, SO jealousy guarded b,
every power in the world, was thrown
open to all corners on even terms BY
that ancient people in whose keeping
the world has been wisely ready tt
entrust the freedom of the seas,
I'VE are sincere advocates of
league of nations. Every influenc,
Britain can bring to bear will be useS
70 make such a league a powerful real
! ity. This fine conceptions of Presi
dent Wilson has been warmly wei
coined by British democracies all owe
the world. We shall strive faithful,
and loyalty to carry it into being ant
keep it in active benefit and existence
But. we must state quite frankly that
league OF nations cannot be for US
sub for the British navy in any per
, iod that we can foresee"