The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1918-11-25
cREAT QUESTIONS coMINc FoRwARp.

cOmpels the governments to follow of action cal
culated to make another grea war impossible The i'm
cacuabe influence of President Wilson, dominating the
thought of the civilized world welcome in European
countries it is home The peoples who know moth
ing and less for diplomacy grasp the principles
upon which President Wilson suggests that peace shall
be based; and these principles just dearly cher
shed by the people of country of another They
are universal principles the very of justice and
liberty Once established they will never be overturned
It is of interest to that Premier Lloyd George
and Chancellor Bonar Law have issued manifesto to
the British voters outlining what they believe to be the
fundamental points of a lasting peace The voters are
asked to support the present government which pledges
itself to work for the principles outlined Chief among
the points the reduction of ornaments, the promo
ton of league of nations land for soldiers and colonial
preference in trade The latter is question which the
British empire settle for ITSELF with proper regard
for obligations to other nations The distribution of land
to soldiers is also domestic question But the reduction
Of ornaments and the creation of league of nations
questions affecting the whole world, which must be set
tied by the world in plenay conference If the British
electorate shall give Mr. Lloyd George its hearty support
probable, the congress of Versailles will at least
have line the opinion of of the greatest nations
freshly expressed the questions of disarmament and
a league of nations.
1t would be most encouraging if the British people
should express themselves clearly in favor of reduc
ton of armament The British fleet is the mighties war
force in the world-the costest and most perfect me-
chanism of destruction designed 1t is Brtains
conviction that the British empire be kept safe
unless the British navy commands the seas. Talk as
they will at Versailles it need not be expected that the
delegates will induce the British plenpotentarie
to sign any paper which denies to Great Britain the right
to protect its colonies and dominions overseas Nor
should any such demand be made under the plea Of
freedom of the seas" otherwise; for Great Britain
does not attempt to deny to any other power an equal
right to protect its possessions Nevertheless if the
conference devise plan which will result in the
dminution of naval armament by all the powers, with
out impairment of protection to dependent territories
Great Britain will doubtless agree to the plan
Freedom of the seas may be reduced to two mean
ings First, new code of the maritime laws of war
granting better protection neutral innocent vessels
and second, the perfect naturalization of great
international waterways like the Panama. Suez and Kie
canals the Cattegat and the Dardanees and the Straits
Of Gibraltar. No doubt the powers will agree that
tain indispensable highways shall be kept free to
ships of commerce and at all times, whether league
Of nations shall be formed or not.
In times of peace there is little or no evidence that
the seas not entirely "free" Any nation can send
its vessels forth, public private and under the we'll
settled laws of nations these vessels have certain rights
and privileges the high and in the ports of other
nations. Public law is supplemented by treaties which
define clearly the rights of persons and property and
grant trade privileges ETC. If these treaties are dis
crmatory between nations, the general peace confer
may take cogzance of them and endeavor to have
them amended to conform to plan of universal equality
Of commercial intercourse. In this particular however
every nation will probably retain in its funess the right
to impose such customs tariffs peases for revenue
or for the protection of industry regulation of mm-
grafton ETC. This right is so interviewer with the neces
sity of self-preservaton that nation will be found
willing to waive diminish it.
REIMBURSEMENT of international relations covers vast
cussion The peace conference would adjourn if
it should attempt to take up and settle all questions
which capable of causing disputes between nations
The AIM therefore will be to adjust the great questions
around which revove such possibilities Of danger as to
threaten extensive wars If these can be settled and
especially if the world shall have been freed Of the men
ace of mtarism the peace conference will deserve to
rank with the most important advances in the history of
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