Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-11-25
CRITICS HERE FEAR
FRICTION MAY ARISE
OVERSEAFREEDOM
Dissatisfaction Over Intend
ed Trip Abroad by President
Due to This Feeling.
FAR MORE WIDESPREAD
THAN POLITICAL DRIVE
Opposition Eas Developed Because
of Anxiety Lest Point Cause
Trouble Among Nations.

While public discussion concerning
the Presidents European visit has
centered largely about the personnel
of the peace commission. there Is a
growing interest In Washington con-
cerning the widespread opposition to
the Presidents going abroad.
Considering the strong hold the
President has had upon the country,
and the general commendation given
nearly every step of his international
policy before the armistice was
signed. this sudden criticism of his
and supporters.
Found to Be Widespread.
At first considered as prompted by
politicians of the opposition camp, it
Later became apparent that the criti-
cism was far more widespread than
:. political drive. Then Washington
set out to find why. That question,
IL is believed, can be answered today.
Men who have studied these express
sions OF dissatisfaci ciion are fairly we'll
agreed that it did not arise from a
fear that public business would suffer
in hts absence or a dislike for having
rhe United States mingle too deeply
i'll European affairs. but from deep
rooted anxiety lest the Presidents s
avowal concerning the freedom of
the seas may be the source of trou-
BILE among the associate nations.
1t seems to have been assumed
tacitly, without any foundation for
such a construction, that the Presi-
dents ideas on the freedom of the
seas and Great Britains well known
attitude on the night OF emUargo weIe
necessarily conflicting. Editorial express
:ions from London papers indicate that
this feeling exists in that country, as
well as in the United States.
Possible Understanding.
Perhaps there is ground for this
fear; perhaps there is not but it is
pointed out that so far these differ
ences are wholly unofficial. and that
there may already exist a better un-
derstanding between representatives
of the two nations in this regard
than is generally known: Certainly
the expressed desire of British ofh-
cials to have President Wilson attend
the conferences holds no hint of fore
boding that he has a program which
will be unacceptable to the European
allies.
ators, all conversant with terms of
International law, argued long and
loud about this question when some
one of them suggested the argument
might be brought to head by an exact
definition of what was meant by the
term In turn, each confessed an
ignorance about what the phrase did
imply.
1t will be recalled that the elasticity
of the term has been admitted in Off
Tr, i1dr to he
Presidents fourteen principles the al
lies had occasion to note that the
phrase would have to be defined more
exactly than it ever has been. Presi-
dent Wilson assented to this sugges-
zion for n more clear-cut definition.
II fact, his inclusion of the term is
taken by many to have been merely
"a suggestion that the point was one
which would have to be cleared up,
and not as the declaration of any set
lied policy.
Use of Submarines.
Undoubtedly one of the issues
hich will be prominent in the dis
,-gsssfcns is the future part that sub
marines will play in naval warfare.
TO understand this country'S position
n this regard one need only turn to
tue diplomatic correspondence with
Germany concerning her violations
-; international law in the use of
i-boats. Without quoting exactly, it
will be recalled that. in general
-sr,ns the United States made it clear
N connection with the William p.
Frye case that this government re-
.sarded the employment of submarines
10 sink merchant vessels as clear
violation of international law.
Without receding from that position it
:siso was asserted that should merchant
vessels be sunk it was clearly up to the
l'-boat enemy to insure the safe con-
duct to shore of the crew and pas
s,sngerS on such vessels. &c many made
s, feint at complying with Us demand.
but placing those aboard OF ,pen boats
IN Il rough sea did not prove a high in
surance of their safety.
Therefore. just before we entered the
war President Wilson again reiterated
The first principle, that such attacks
could not be justified. and stated that
he nature of U-boat attacks made it
i'.nossible. apparently, to give crews
"a passengers that safe conduct
rcre which the United States con-
t7nded was the least that a nation
- :%;!t do TO approximate the interna-
t.on;il uSageS. There is no Indication
rat the President has changed his
Lind in this respect.
Wei. here is a sample Of what the
resident may mean by freedom Of
he seas" Ii is only one phase of the
question. hut it is one to which Great
,:ritaIn ard France surely will accede
Other issues he has in mind, it is con-
;erded. may find just as ready acaui-
rscence.
Deep-Rooted Public Fear.
Still there is the deep-rooted fear.
apparently. in the American public
mind about future trouble between
Great Britain and the United States.
This is frankly regarded as a form Of
herman propaganda. just as was the
long agitation concerning the yellow
peril" and it is regarded in well in
formed quarters as having Just as
little foundation.
Bu tone outcome may be, though
here is no official suggestion as yet
u that regard that a statement may
be forthcoming from the White House
esfore the President goes abroad,
''nding to clear up some of the points,
IKE this one. over which the Ameri-
e. II people seem fearful.
The time-honored policy Of Isolation
lr deeply rooted in American national
.sychology and friends Of the Presi-
Eent are inclined to believe that has
.iuch to do with the anxiety about the
result OF his seeking to press the
league Of nations idea The word 'in-
;ernationalism" is a bugaboo. and is
(Continued on Second PaRal