New-York tribune., 1918-12-10
T.. S. and British
Navies Have Joint
Duty, Says Editor
7. L. Carvin Asserts Reduc-
ton of Fleet Would Be
a Victory for Germany,
Despite Nations Defeat
Neau York Tribune
European Bureau
BU Wireless

Copyright 1918. New York Tribune Inc)
LONDON, Dec. 81. L. Garvin, writ
ing in THE Observer" to-day advances
a moderate and considered statement of
the British attitude, remarking that
America and Britain are not going to
quarrel about the freedom of the seas,
but argues that if Germany were sure
materials she could afford to do with
out a navy, since "the miscalled prin
ciple of freedom of the seas would
serve her instead. If sure of full
maritime nourishment she could assail
France and Britain with fuller land
and air power, while British sea power
is crippled" Pointing out that Lincoln
repudiated this paralysis of sea power,
Garvin proceeds to state fatty that
Britain will have none of it.
"We cannot consent" Garvin de-
clares, "that our colossal sacrifices in
this war shall purchase not security
but suicide for us. We cannot concede
what an exalted Germany would
rightly regard as final British defeat.
We cannot make to Germany real
surrender in this war, even though that
surrender should be conveyed through
American hands"
Need Both Navies
Garvin suggests. "Let America go
ahead if she will with development of
her navy. Let her claim for herself
in emergency those true and only prin-
ciples of the freedom of the seas VIII
she herself used in the past. America,
like Britain, may need those prin-
ciples. We may need them together.
If the American and British navies
combine to keep the peace of the world,
nothing whatever can disturb it," Gar
YIN makes strong appeal to Presi-
dent Wilson that America do not
abandon the inter-Allied system of
ecoromic supply and transport. He
says;
'They will be indispensable in years
to come to the best interests of the
world and to the stability of any III
ternational system which the peace con-
ference may establish. Even now they
are a living nucleus and the working
instruments Of what may be called the
existing league of nations. They can
make more effective than armaments
the keeping of the peace. If they are
prematurely, disastrously dissolved
there will be no check to events in
those vast regions where conditions are
rbiiOi mar IL Clic OulltU ,OIdIeS DrOkp
up this system we would be all in
volved in the paradox of on one hand
constituting a league of nations under
paper auspices, while on the other re-
moving the substantial basis and the
working mechanism already existing. u
Concluding, Garvin urges America to
take over the administrative direction
of the wide area between the Balkans
and the Persian Gulf.
Germany Ruse Seen
While the league of nations toOic is
absorb ing attention here there is some
danger of the nations losing sight OF
Germany. French papers are insisting
on the possibility of Germany using
/ the armistice in attempting TO prolona
it for the purpose of forming a recon,
st'tu+pd bomo~cneous army.
Berlin DISPATCHES to-day state the
government has decided to arrest sew
era personalit es of the old regime
having proof Of an attempt to over
throw the present administration ane
form military dictatorship. The gov
ernment is suspecting H'ndenburg H a
the bottom Of the counter revolutionar,
movement Present Indications are o.
m e9rly 'Nfoot Of the Liebknecht Bol
ehevist movement