The sun., 1919-02-10
WILSON NAVY CABLE
AIMED AT BRITAIN
President Said to Be Seeking
Her Delegates Support
of His Plans.
COMPETITION AS CLUB
Dominant English Sea Power
Is Thorn in League Of Ma
lions Scheme.
COMPETITION AS CLUB
specidl Despatch to TIE Sun.

specidl Despatch TO THE Sun.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.--What appears
n be an explanation OF President Will
son's secret cable to the Secretary of the
Navy. used by that official as a club to
force the House Naval Committee to re-
mort the Administrations naval appro-
rr,atlon bill for a new three year build
ing programme. including ten super
dreadnoughts, has been obtained here.
The reason given for the despatch OF
the cable is that President Wilson Is
meeting with encouragement in having
the question OF limitation OF national
ornaments taken up specifically by the
rface conference The only progress
MAIDS thus far, IL is said. is that the
President has secured assurances from
the delegates on the League OF Nations
Committee that provision In the constitu-
ton OF the league will be made for a
study of the subject of limiting arma-
men,s The questions of complete dis
ornament, abolition of conscription and
related issues are therefore left open, and
mat the President regards it a 5 of prime
Importance to win British support for his
IDEAS and plans
II IS said here that the President be-
'ieves that the surest way to win this
support Is by trying to show England
that the United States is ready to enter
INTO competition in building up navy
nd thus give weight 10 the Liberals in
England. who argue that tho war debt
piled up in the last four years will make
il impossible for Great Britain to con-
tract for huge naval expenditures.
British support for Limitation OF
naval ornaments" IS already won. but
he Interpretation which the British DEL
eeates place on this is quite different
rom the Presidents Interpretation. The
British are willing 10 keep their feet
reduced 70 the minimum required for
ther national safety. but this minimum
means in effect that Great Britain Will
De the dominant naval Power, as Brit
aims peculiar position as an island
Power with tremendous empire posses
sions to be guarded gives valid excuse
FOR maintaining fleet strong enough
20 give her undisputed naval supremacy
From Britains viewpoint this argu-
ment is unanswerable. but dominan,
British sea power, 1t now develops. i
owe OF the thorns in the side of the Pres
dents League Of Nations plan. y league
theoretically at the mercy OF one naNa
Power does not suit the Presidents pro
gramme.
The President has not asked Great
Britain either to give up her naval su
premacy or to reduce the size OF her fleet
He realizes that such a suggestion would
not be we'll received and would have
nothing behind it because before Grea
Britain would follow such course i
must be made clear that 1t is to he,
advantaSe to do so. The line Of actor
being followed by the President is to try
10 show the British that It will be t'
their interest to permit the League o
Nations and not the British navy tt
ave dominant sea power. in theory a
last
There appears to be only one meant
Whereby pressure can be brought Z
ear on the British delegates to consider
abandonment OF their present naval su
nremacy. according 10 the President
vew. That Is by stating frankly tina
the United States intends to have
navy second to none If occasion re
lures Coupled with this suggestion /
he intimation that the British ant
american navies might practically as
sine guardianship of the seas for tn
league. each navy to have the strength
ger-r!tted by the lea cue.