The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-12-12


Dewsbury. Eng, Dec. 11.-A league
{ nations is the solution OF the
ucstion of freedom OF the seas
nd Great pri'ain and the Un!!cd
ktatos can reach a complete agro &C.
hent on that question by joining
Buch a league. declared Viscount
f;rcy. former iorcign secretary. in n
pcech here tonight. The seas. the
discount said. were free In times OF
bca"c. and Great Britain has placed
ho restrictions upon them. During
Ihc war the American navy had
lid.d the British navy in maintain
ng the blockade. and Lord Grey
Bought that the United States would
Sc the same weapon If necessity for
arise in the future. Without the
lockade. he added, Germany might
lave won.
The term freedom OF the seas"
Se continued. was American in origin
Ind had been adopted by the Ger
hans for their own purpose. lie
Relieved President Wilson meant
hc freedom of the seas to all who
pincd a league of nations. but the
khrase needed clear definition.
Deemed il Great Pity.
This is a matter which, 1t Is
eared, may create difficulties between
PRESIDENT Wilson and the British
kpyernment," he said. 81 think it is
great pity that so much has been
hid about the freedom Of the seas
Eithout being defined. 1t is true
[herc is considerable prejudice
kwatust. the phrase largely due to the
3nrt that IL is believed to be a Ger
han phrase. 1t is not German. but
N kmerican. II was made in the
United states and the Germans
ADOPTED and used 1t for their own
purposes in a sense to which we
have never agreed. Hence. its un-
Popularity. But until President Will
kbn defines it and comes to discuss
4 with our government, there is no
Med to anticipate difficulty about an
/rreement as TO what 1t means.
/ Could Not Had Success.
"Frecdom of the seas in times or
haceo If SO, we agree. If the ques-
lon is one of the freedom of the
as in times of war, then ] would
y this: The United States. as we
n most gratefully recognize. has
kl<en part in the last two years OF
war. Without the United States
e could not have had the success
g allies have now won. But since
e United States entered the war
be has not only acquiesced, but l
klieve most strongly co-operated IN
irving out the blockade of Ger
kany. In the early stages of the
Var the blockade was not nearly so
bmplete, because the United States
hised many questions about 1t, but
the later years of the conflict the
ocknde was made complete with the
b. operation of the United states.
Without that blockade success could
bt have been won. Indeed. without
Ae blockade Germany might have
Stultify Everything.
x"Suppose this situation exist again
la it is impossible to suppose that
c United States would say that the
pckade which was so essential for
ccess should not be allowed" he
ntinued. "That would stultify ev-
Ething America did In this war. 1t
build really be an insult to the
hited States to suggest that she
build in future advocate any course
a war such MS this inconsistent
th what she did in this war, and
at was the complete blockade OF
offending nation. II this be so,
e come to this. that probably what
Y in President Wilson's mind Is that
eedom of the seas would be secured
any nation observing the covenant
a league Of nations and should be
knied to any nation breaking those
venants. If that is SO. then a
ague Of nations is the solution to
u whole question and cannot be
scussed apart from It.
"On these grounds believe there
by be complete agreement between
K two countries only II league OF |
tions Is formed. do not see why
u country should not accept the |
kmuIa that II a league Of nations
formed there is to be complete
edom OF the seas so long as the !!
venants of the league are observed,
e IL the covenants are broken, then
Ire is to be no freedom Of the seas
N every means are to be used
|gafhst the power which has broken
hem"
Speaking on relations after the war
Ietween Great Britain and the United
,tates, Viscount Grey said:
III there is competition In naval
between Great Britain
nd America, 1t will be fatal to good
Citations. What is desirable in our
laval policy is not domination OF
but security. do not
'elieve a conflict between America
nd Great Britain possible. We
must not be Jealous Of any shipbuild-
ng on the part of the United States"