Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-12
bR|TONS ASK SAFETY
FIRST IN SEA POLICY
Not Averse to Opening and Seas
Now Treated as Closed, Says
London Times.

London, Dec. 1Z.-EXp0undlng tne
British view of the freedom of the seas,
the legal correspondent of the Times,
after dealing, among other things, with
the lessons of the war regarding naval
operations as they appear to him, describes
the main British position on the question
as follows:
"a readiness to continue as heretofore
the freedom OF the seas in times of peace,
which has been carried out by England,
for example, as to the admission of foreign
vessels to coastwisc trade more than by
any other important commercial country,
and TO agree to the conversion into a free
sea OF any sea now treated as a closed sea
"a strong conviction, greatly strength
ened and hardened by the lessons of this
war, TO maintain the maximum of safety
for our people and empire and to tie no
party TO any agreement conflicting or
tampering with it;
AWAKE 10 FERILS AHEAD.
"A belief that the conditions OF war
fare are so changing that we must be
careful to protect ourselves against pcrils
ahead
"A readiness to consider any changes
put forward by neutrals consistent with
these essentials.
"A desire to cooperate in rendering
impossible hideous crimes committed st
sea.
"A readiness as far as is compatible
with safety in the full sense 10 promote
any practicable scheme for a League Of
Nations.
In short-a firm resolution a. 10
essentials and an open mind us to sccon-
darv matter
In leading up TO his conclusion the
correspondent says:
The more the British point Of view
is understood the more it will commend
itself to impartial opinion The closer
We look at the question from the Ameri-
can angle the more the differences are
likely to be diminished We are dealing
with the world as it still is. and 50 far
as the freedom of the seas interferes with
the protection of our vital interests IL
means a one-sided disarmament to the
detriment Of England and England only
RoosEvELT's VIEW QUOTED.
''It is indisputable that the British
fleet saved civilization, and Mr. Roose-
welt. in acknowledging the obligation hich
America owes TO the British Navy said
The peculiar position and the vital
needs of the British empire render it
imperative that her navy should be the
first in the world There, expressed
accurately and generously, Is the first
essential Of the British policy.
The second essential 10 be borne in
mind is the revolution in maritime war
fare caused by the changes in the size Of
armies the changes in weapons and NUM-
tions and in modern commerce. The
pressure exercised upon Germany has
not been due to any single measure, but
to a series of measures directed 10 one
end and dictated by modern developments
Not merely orders IN council as TO
neutral vessels, but the imposing Of con
ditions as TO the supply OF coal, liberal
ire. tment of neutrals whose ships were
detained or requIsitiOned. blackllsts, rea-
sonable agreements with ncutrals as TO
supplies of necessaries on conditions;
these and other measures, selected ac-
cording TO circumstance, made the so
called coInercial blockade formidable
weapon of attack.
NEUTRAL HARDSHIP CONCEDED.
Doubtless neutrals experienced much
inconve nience by reason of them, but the
United States have refralned, in a life
and death struggle from using any Of
such measures
In an editorial article treating on the
same subject the Times says:
The Freedom Of the Seas is q question
most hopefully cherished by mischief
makers. The phrase is still underlined,
but one thing is clear, namely, that the
war could not have been won for civiliza-
tion but for British sea power
There can therefore be no question
so far as this countr.' is concerned, of
the sharpness of the weapon
that has gwen US victory without which
America herself could have done nothing
To do so would blunt the edge,
not Of our sword only, but Of every sword
raised on behalf Of liberty
For that, among other reasons, we
are delighted that President Wilson is
coming 10 Europe so that we can share
our ideas on this subject What Is the
use Of our having the tremendous adj
vantage Of common speech with America
if we merely talk our politics at each other
through the post and the newspapers
''All Of us recognize that the future
happiness Of the world depends on the
drawing closer Of the bonds between
Us and the United States, and to that
end we shall work and they on their
part viii remember that this question
Of the seas is one that affects the people
Of this country more closely than any other
As a result Of informal conversations
President W Wilson's freedom Of
tue seas proposals. the British Government
Is now 10 possession Of concrete suggestions
which are more understandable than the
free seas clause III Mr.. Wilson'S -four
teen points, according 10 the Express
President Wilson the newspaper says,
nao Information showing definitely that
treat Britain cannot surrender The right
)f search, the contraband law and IT,. right
10 enforce blockade
Ii Is understood that Mr. Wilson
proposals do not include the abandonment
u any Of these rights, and that they are
generally IN no Wise antagonlstIC to
British interests.
Tribute is paid 10 the enthusiasm,
foresight, skill andinstinct of the American
naval authorities by the naval critic of
ne Daily Telegraph IN Il long article on
Americas Naval Contribution To the
w ar lie details the results of the intensive
raining for landsmen and says;
The Americans hustled To some
purpose ia order to develop their navy to
meet the peculiar demands Of the war
II must have s"cmed almost impossible
% multiply the personnel Of the feet
nearly ten ',Incs, but that is the uDdcT- |
standing which was fast approaching
when fighting ceased
When America entered the strug
slc she had only l76 ships In commits |
non. Today the number including
cores Of small craft, has reached 800 |
American seamcn have done mag
lIncent work"