The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-01
BACK OF POLICIES
Wilson Won Lord NOrthcliffe
Over to His Viewpoint.
And He Gave In Not a Bit on
Freedom OF the Seas.

Paris, jan President Wilson's
trip to England has resulted in no
change or deviation from his original
program on general principle of free
dom of the seas.
The United Press is able to state
authoritatively today that the presi-
dents so-caIled coalition with Lord
Northcliffe, as a result of which the
full force of the Northcliffe press
seems to have been lined up behind
the general Wilson program, has not
been brought about by any Wilsonian
backdown on the free seas proposal.
Northcliffe has long been an adyo-
cate of the leagne of nations. He has
not even opposed German membership
since it has been clear that the Ger
man military machine really wreck
ed. He has not, however, committed
himself to Wilson's ideas of the free
dom of the seas. Prior to the presi-
dents arrival in France, there was no
particular indication that his program
was to have the support of the con-
servatice Northcliffe newspapers. 1t
was even said that while in the United
States. Northcliffe had found but little
to interest him in the Wilsoniaa
theories.
Consequently when, Upon his ar
rival in Paris, Wilson gave ready ear
to the great British journalist and
broke all precedents by granting an
Times, there was instantly a sugges-
ton that possibly the president had
seen fit to modify his view on the free
seas proposition when assured of
Northcliffe's support of the league
idea.
Sticks by Principles.
The president. it can be stated on
the highest authority, has never init
mated to Northcliffe or to any one
else, the slightest inclination to agree
to a compromise on any of his four
teen principles His conversation
taneous and voluntary. 1t was the
presidents desire. at the proper mo-
ment to speak directly to the people
of Great Britain, SO they would under
stand his purposes before his visit. He
merely utilized the Times as the most
effective medium.
Northcliffe knew, and was tremend-
ousIy impressed by the effect on the
French populace of Wilson's presence
and utterances. With characteristic
presented it to the British people for
similar effect. Northcliffe realized
fully that if President Wilson were
thus assured of popular support in
Great Britain, the British government
would be forced to accede unequivoc-
ally to his principles, even if its men,
bers were personally disposed other
wise Besides personal contact con-
WINGED Northclffe OF the presidents
disinterestedness and farsightedness.
Altho the interview presented his
views graphically and concisely. it
contained nothing new, except his ref
erence to his appreciation of the
special international questions arising
from Britain's preculiar position as
an island empire Even this was not
a new development, so far as the
president was concerned, altho it was
his first public expression on the sub
ject.
In working out the details of this
problem, in accordance with his ap-
probation of Great Britains position,
the United Press can state the presi-
dent will not abandon a single one
fof his general principles regarding
freedom of the seas.
Sea law must be founded, not on