New-York tribune., 1918-12-02
League of Nations Likened
In England to German rap
Proposed World Union Cannot Be Accepted AS Substitute
for the Protection Afforded by British Navy,
Admirals and Statesmen Assert

navy has been our main bulwark. In
peace or war it polced the ocean. pro-
tected sea borne commerce insured
our very existence and safeguarded the
commerce Of other nations and the
advantages Of their mercantile marine.
Will Not Reduce Navy
Britain can never age to any ar
rangement that would involve such a
reduction of her navy and such a cur
tailment of hcr sea power efficiency
as would mean her relinQuishing con-
troll and command of the seas. The
empire is unanimous on this point.
Great Britain's supremacy is vital to
herself and to the empire.
at may possibly happen in years to
come that it will again be vital TO the
safety of civilization and the security
of the world
eve can not, we dare not, risk on a
matter so grave. 1t would be q dan
gerous gamble. Human nature does
not change. A league Of nations may
be formed upon nationalist basis
and most sacred obligations may be
entered into by all the civilized pow
ers, but no league can offer an abso-
lutte guarantee that these obligations
will be faithfully and permanently OBJ
served or can insure the continuance
and the enforcement of its authority.
Likencd to German Trap
THE sudden creation of several new
European states, the marvellous radical
constitutional changes introduced in
others, add very large element to the
uncertainty of the outlook. Victory
has crowned our arms. We can afford
to be magnanimous to the vanquished,
but in future days, when the terms of
peace are discussed, let us be careful
not to fall into another German trap
such as the league Of nations with
freedom of the seas in the forefront of
stage of the worlds history to sacrifice
our supremacy. we grasp the shadow
but lose the substance of victory. To
all such overtures, however plausible,
our one reply must be: What we hold
we hold"
Admiral Sir Rosslyn Wemyss, First
Sea Lord Speaking in London on
Saturday, said:
~ am not sure our difficulties are
entirely ended. Speaking as prac-
tical man. not as politician, l can say
we are being hit by one or two diff
culties. First, that extraordinarily un-
defined FRY of freedom of the seas and,
second that of the league of nations.
peace time and it is difficult to imagine
how. outside of the realms of idealsm,
they can be free in war time
Navy Ii Best Protection
"Ihat seems to be the common
sense view. 1t is far from me to be-
little the league of nations We SOL
diers and sailors have seen too much
of the horrors of war not to be strenu-
of
ready to wager that if the peace con-
ference consists only of admirals and
generals peace will be assured. The
idea of league of nations is not new,
for as long ago as the Peace of
utrecht there was project for per-
petual peace. 1t is natural that after
such an upheaval as the present, tor
tured humanity should desire that
wars be terminated altogether. do
not know how far the nations are pre-
pared to put their interests. rights
and wrongs in the hands of an inter-
national commission. If human nature
mas arrived at that stage where they
can be assured of perpetual peace but
could not get that beneficent result
quickly. meanwhile pending the for
nation of a true league of nations,
the best protection Of the world and
the freedom of mankind is the power
of the R"itish navv"
Keep Navy, Churchill Says
Winston Churchill, speaking at Dun
dee, said:
"Nothing in the world must lead YOU
to abandon naval supremacy, on which
the life of the country depends. With
out It, not only we would have been
lost but all would have been lost and
the whole world cast back centuries,
am hopeful and sincere advocate
OF league of nations. will do
everything in my power to make such
an instrument a practical and power
Iul reality. hope to see immense
rreassurance come to all the peoples
from the setting up of such a league
hope. to render impossible not onlv
what IS called secret diplomacy, but
what is more important, secret arma'
ments But the league of nations can
not be substitute for the supremacy
of the British fleet N1''sNS