The Washington herald., 1920-11-29
CIVu. u.IZATION FACING
STRANGE PARADOX, HE SAYS
Ferrero, Italian Historian, Discusses Americas
Relationship to Diplomacy of
the Old World.

| regard to il. And yet, in that re-
fusal to entertain the freedom or
the seas demanded by America lay
nascent, as the plant lies in the
seed, the failure of Wilson's league
of nations, the failure of the alli-
| ances desired by Clemenceau, the
falling back of the entire western
civilization into the disputes and
| discords that had already threatened
| to destroy it, as we'll as the failure
of the congress itself. As to the
reasons Of this we are beginning to
| understand them today.
Why did America declare war
| against Germany2 Because Ger
many wanted to close the trading
routes between America and her en-
emies by force and at her own will.
And America refused to recognize
the monopoly and command of the
| seas that Germany arrogated to
herself. But it was not Germany
| alone that appeared to America TO
be abusing her power over the seas
in this war. From the very begin
| ming of the war America had some
/ serious disputes with England in
! regard to the blockade, to CONTRA
band of war and to the rights which
England also arrogated to herself
over the commerce between the
neutral nations and her enemies
The war had no sooner broken
out than the United States, which
had always made free use of the
seas up to then, as the great routes
common to humanity. suddenly
found the seas occupied by two pow
ers that were in enmity against one
another, but in agreement in declar-
AoN
property and monopoly, and that
they had the right to close them IN
any circumstances and under any
conditions that they might free,y
determine.
America Joins Conflict.
1t was then that America, in the
name of the freedom of the seas, af-
f1rmed the general rights of the
whole of humanity over these COM
mon routes; but as she could not
sustain these rights against the two
powers at the same time she Joined
sides in the conflict with the one
that showed itself most plant ano
conciliating against the sterner ana
more intransigeant: that is, with
England against Germany.
1t is undoubtedly the case, how
ever. that America engaged in the
worlds conflict in a rather strange
fashion; in part. at least. she was
the enemy of her ally, and therefore
was to Some extent the ally of her
enemy. While the ardor of the
fight lasted neither the world at
large nor even America itself rear
ized this strange contradiction; but
the contradiction became manifest
as soon as the war ended. Vanquish-
ed by land and by sea, despoiled of
the fleet with which she had held
| the waterways in fear. Germany at
| once Joined hands with America in
demanding the liberty of the seas;
in the space of day she changed
from an enemy to an ally.
America, in her turn, was no
longer able to ask the price of vic
tory from her enemy, since, the cap
ture of Germany's fleet prevented
her from being a menace on the
seas and she had to demand IL OF
her ally, of England, who was more
powerful and arrogant than ever,
now that Germany's fleet was de-
stroyed. The victorious ally there
fore assumed the place of the enemy
In the negotiations, and she took II
so completely that she refused to
pay, IN tne place or Germany, the
price of victory = to America. The
statute of the seas had to remain
as barbarous and confused as 1t was
before the war; no satisfaction was
to be given to the peoples who
claimed the seas as the common
routes of humanity.
This Is what was meant by the
refusal Of England, that was an
|nounced by Clemenceau in the
French Chamber at the end of 1sIs
as a matter of course. The conse-
quenoes were tremendous. America
was defrauded of the just price OF
her sacrifices. and was doubly delud
ed. because instead of receiving n
beneft from victory she suffered
damage, The annihilation of the
German fleet has increased the dam
ger for America Of Englsud'a nov..