New-York tribune., 1918-12-13
Visc0unt Grey
Asks Unity ON
World League
Predicts England and U. S.
Can Agree on Freedom
of the Seas Interpretation
Favors War Blockade
Cooperation of Two Navies
Demonstrates Possibility
of Proposal, He Declares

DEWSBURY, England. Dec. 11.--A
league of nations is the solution to
the question of "frccdom of the seas"
and Great Britain and the United
States can reach complete agreement
en- that question by joining such a
league, declared Viscount Grey, for
mer Foreign Secretary, in speech
here tonight.
The seas. the viscount said we're
free in times of peace and Great Brit
ain had placed no restrictions upon
them. During the war the American
Navy had aided the British Navy in
maintaining the blockade. and Lord
Grey thought that the United States
would use the same weapon if the
lccessity for it arose in the future.
Without the blockade, he added, Ger
many might have won.
The term "freedom of the seas" he
continued, was American in origin and
had been adopted by the Germans for
their own purposes.
Needs Clarification
He believed President Wilson meant
freedom of the seas to all who joined
a league of nations, but the phrase
needed clearer definition. He said in
Part:
"This is matter which. it is feared,
may create difficulties between Presi-
dent Wilson and the British govern
ment. think it is a great pity that so
much has been said about the freedom
of the seas without it being defined.
1t is true there is cons iderable pref
udice against the phrase. largely due
to the fact that it is believed to be a
German phrase. 1t is not German, but
American. 1t was made in the United
States and the Germans adopted and
used it for their own purposes IN a
sense to which we have never agreed
Hence it's unpopularity. But until
President Wilson defines it and comes
to discuss it with our government
there is no need to anticipate difficulty
about an agreement as to what Ii
means.
'Freedom of the seas in times Of
the British Navy has been in position
to exercise its influence and power or
the seas in times of peace it has ex-
ercised that influence impartially fol
the freedom of the seas for all nations
without distinction. The United States
I think, has some rule forhidding for
eign ships to carry goods between the
United States and the Philippines
Some other countries have rules OF
the same kind. We never had regu-
lation like that We have been more
completely for the freedom Of the
seas in times of peace than any other
nation However great our sea power
has been, we have used it for impair
tial freedom of the seas for every
other nation as much as for ourselves
and | think we ought to receive lit
tie more recognition than we do fol
the fact that we have never used Brit
ish naval power in times of peace tt
make the use of the seas easier fol
ourselves without simultaneously max
ing it easier for others on the same
terms
Favors War Blockade
"If the question is one of freedom
of the seas in times of war, then
would say this: the United States, a.
we all most gratefully recognize. ha:
taken part in the last two years of thu
war. Without the United States We
could not have had the success thu
Allies have now won. cannot emphasize
that too much nor express too mucl
admiration of it.. But since the Unite(
States entered the war she has no
only acquiesced but, | believe, mos
strongly co0perated in carrying GU
the blockade of Germany. In the earl,
stages of the war the blockade was no
nearly so complete. because the Unite,
States laised many questions about it
but in the later years of the conflic
the blockade was made complete will
the cooperation Of the United States
Without that blockade success coul(
not rave been won. Indeed withou
! the blockade Germany might hav
won.
Suppose this situation should exis
again, and it is impossible to suppos,
that the United States would say ths,
the blockade which was so essentisl
for success should not be allowed.
Would Repeat Course
"That would stultify everything
America did in this war. 1t woult
really be an insult to the United State
to suggest that she would in fltur
advocate any course in a war such d
this inconsistent with what she did il
this war, and that was the comp.et
blockade of an offending nation. |
this be so we come to this, that prob
ably what is in President Wilson
mind is that freedom of the sea
should be secured to any nation OF
serving the covenants of league Q
nations and should be denied to an
nation breaking those covenants.
that is so then league Of nations
the solution Of the whole question an
cannot be discussed apart from it,
ION these grounds, I believe theI
may be complete agreement b6twee
the two countries only if a league
nations is formed. I do not see VIII
this country should not accept tt
formula that if a league of nations
formed there is to be complete fre'
dom of the seas so lone as the COW
nants of the league are observed, but
the covenants are broken then the
is to be no freedom of the seas ar