New-York tribune., 1918-01-12
British Attorney General
Warns of Dangers in
the Plan
Sea Power Problem
Vital, He Asserts
He Tells New York Bar
That England Is in Fight
to the Death

Difficulties which lay in the way of
President Wilson's project for league
of nations to preserve peace, prepared
by the President in the peace terms
recently outlined to Congress, were
enumerated by Sir Frederick Edwin
Smith. Attorney General of Great Brit
ain, in an address at the Hotel Astor
last night before the annual conven-
ton of tho New York State Bar Asso
ciation.
Charles T.. Hughes. pres dent of the
ASSOCIATION, presided, and five hundred
members and guests chccred Sir Fred
crck's declaration that, reinforced and
comforted by it's alliance with the
United States, England has decided
that whatever the cost in blood and
treasure, Whatever the mortgage drawn
upon the future vitality of British
stock, the quarrel with Gcrmanv goes
through to thc dcath'
Sees Difficulties in Plan
ut is not my purpose to play the
part OF pessimist in relation to YOUR
rresident's proposals for an interna
tlonal ribunal-proposals which may
seem to many to afford the one puarar-
tee of a happier world" said Sir Fred
erick Smith. "My only object as a
lawyer addressing lawyers, is to call
attention to the danger of trusting
rhetorc alone to the Importance Of
seeing the immense difficulties which
attend the path of the formation of a
league OF nations. When | set out to
indicate these difficulties, | hope it
Will not be supposed that I am doing
anything but assist the proposals Of
the President
"ln the first place there is the diff
Guilty of stereotyping the armed force
OF each country and of alloting the ap-
proprIatc contingent for defensive pur-
poses IN each country. ! do not know,
but 1t appears to me that the discus
sion as to what is to be considered an
adequate military defensive force for
each country is one which is likely to
lead to considerable discussion and.
possibly, if things result unfavorablv.
even to differences Of opinion.
observe. in this connection.
very distinguished statesman of
yours has recently indicated hope that
national service will not be ruled cut
OF the scope of the recommendations
which the league of nations ultimately
may present. doubt whether that
particular ideal is very warmly cher.
ished by those who are among the
warmcst supporters of the league of
nations.
Problem of Sea Power
"There is a further difficulty, the
tne OF dealing with a special case of
lnsular powers and the problem of
,-ho Il
dealing candidly with you if | did not
indicate, a.. matters to be borne in
mind, that great difficulties may arise
in this connection. For instance, ut the
present moment the American navy is
developing q degree Of ingenuity and
exhibiting all those old qualities of in
itiativc and endurance in doing work
which is not easily distinguished from
the work which the British navy is
doing in the samewaters.
at is quite obvious that a complete
change of viewpoint would require
some considerable discussion and con-
siderable definition. Furthermore, a
great field of difficulty needs to be
you are dealing with the definition and
allotment of air power in the future
Construction of aeroplanes admits Of
ready concealment, and yet the con-
struction of airplanes might readily
destroy an island community, and
might, in the development Of the next
ten or fifteen years, even destroy a
continental community
"The fundamental difficulty which
will require the constructive arts of
our statesmen and yours is that Of
stereotypng the present tenure Of the
worlds surface. If a league OF nations
was formed l suppose they would start
upon the basis that aggression was
to be forbidden, punished rendered i'm
possible by force of what arms were
left. am not to be regarded as stand
ing in antagonism to these proposals,
but only as recommending to you care
full consideration of all involved in
them. 1t is we'll to remember that en-
pires wax and wane; that n nation
once puissant may administer with
Neveless hands an imperial heritage
for which, in the development of CEN
tures, it is no longer fit.
Is such reconstruction to be under
taken by the council? If it is | trust
they will be unanimous in their de-
cisions. don't know whether our
present. enemies are to be members of
the league, or whether, if they are,
they will strengthen its influence or
credit.
Preliminary Work Urged
That public discussions Of national
rights at the peace conference are
likely to be so lengthy in character
that the prospect for a peace settle
ment would be hastened by "prelimi-
nary spade work" at this time, was de-
clared by Sir Frederick in opening his
plea for immediate action looking to-
ward a practical means of settling in
ternational disputes afteh the great
dispute" is over.
81 am not here to disparage noble
ideals which, with restraint but pene-
trating rhetoric, your President has
distributed to the encouragement of
his allies. I am here as a lawyer, ad-
dressing lawyers, and we are cautious
and careful men and if we do not keep
our heads. we'll. God help the rest Of
the population. | only want to make
sure that, instead Of merely talking
about league Of nations which is to
render war impossible hereafter, we
shall as far as assiduous attention
and practica! industry can do it, con-
slder before the occasion actually