The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-12
BRITISH WILL HOLD
FIRM GRIP AT SEA
Expert Of London "Times"
Expresses Satisfaction at
Roosevelt's Support.
TO YIELD NO BIG POINT
Wilson's Proposals Not Ex-
pected to Come in Conflict
With England's.

LONDON, Dec. 11.-TExpounding the
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 re-
garding naval operations as they ap-
pear to him, describes the main Brit
ish position as follows:
"A readiness to continue as hereto
fore 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 coast
wise 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
strengthened and hardened by the les
sons of this war. TO maintain the min
lmum OF safety for our people and
empire and to be no party to any
agreement conflicting or tampering
with It.
"A belief that the conditions Of war
fare are so changing that we must be
careful to protect ourselves against
perils ahead.
"A readiness to consider any
changes put forward by neutrals con-
| sistent with these essentials.
"A desire to cooperate in rendering
impossible hideous crimes committed
at sea.
"a readiness as far as Is compati-
BILE with safety in the full sense to pro-
mote any practicable scheme for a
league of nations.
I'm short, a firm resolution as to es-
sentials and an open mind as to sec
ondary matters"
No One Sided Disarmament.
In leading up to his conclusion the
correspondent says:
The more the British point of view
is understood the more 1t will COM
mend itself to impartial opinion. The
closer We look at the question from
the American agile the more the diff
| terences are likely to be diminished
|
| still is and so far as the freedom OF
the seas interferes with the protection
OF our vital interests it means a one
sided disarmament to the detriment of
England, and England only.
1T is indisputable that the British
| fleet saved civilization, and Mr.. Roose-
welt. in acknowledging the obligation
which America owes to the British
navy. said: The peculiar position and
the vital needs of the British Empire
| render 1t 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 to be borne in
mind is the revolution in maritime
| warfare caused by the changes In the
size of armies, the changes in weapons
and munitions and in modern COM
merce. The pressure exercised upon
Germany has not been due to any
single measure but to a series of
measures directed to one end and die
tated by modern developments. Not
merely orders in council as TO neutral
vessels hut the imposing OF conditions
as TO the supply OF coal. liberal treat
| ment OF neutrals whose ships were
| detained or requisitioned. blacklists
reasonable agreements with neutrals
| as to supplies OF necessaries on condi.
tions-these and other measures Sc
lected according to circumstances
made the so-called commercial block
ade formidable weapon OF attack.
Light on Wilson Proposals.
Doubtless neutrals experienced
: much inconvenience by reason of them.
but would the United States have re-
Trained in life and death struggle
from using any OF such measures"
~ M