FREEDOM OF THE SEAS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 112, 5 February 1919, Page 5

FREEDOM OF THE SEAS

VIEWS OF AMERICAN DELEGATION

RESTRICTION OF THE SIZE OF NAVIES / RILES REGARDING CONTRABAND OF WAR • By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright (Bee. February i, 10.35 p.m.) New York, February 2. A'Paris message states:—The American delegation is rendy to submit to the Great Powers what it thinks constitutes the freedom of.the soas, and what the United States expects tho Peace ConKress to do regarding'the government of the navies and mercantile marine as follows:—

(1) No nation shall Have a fleet so large as to be able to control the seas. (2) Sea rules laid down at a time of peace shall be unchanged while a, war is progressing. (3) Every nation, whether a belligerent or a neutral, ehall be held to strict accountability- by the League of Nations for observance of tho sea rules in time of war.-

(I) Contraband shall be explicitly defined in timo of peace, and no neutral shall ehip 'contraband to a belligerent, nor shall ships of neutrals attempt to run a blockade. (5) Submarines shall be greatly restricted; preferably forbidden altogether.

The American delegates deny that the British Fleet is the only Fleet in the world strong enough to control tho seas without the assistance of other nations. The delegates contend that a/ single n'eet powerful enough to defeat the combined naval forces of the_ world cannot be maintained without giving that Power unfair advantages which are contrary to the spirit of tho League of Nations. They answer the contention that the American position is aimed against England's Fleet iby saying: "The United States knows the British Fleet never would be used against her." The dejegatcs mako it clear that, whatever the inaritiium naval force allowed to ono Power, the United States will have tho right to build a Fleet equal to that Power.

The American representatives contend that the practices applying to contraband and the right to visit and search causes trouble and irritation between belligerents and neutrals, whenever wars, arc in progress. It is realised that the severity of the "British Navy in this and other ways preventing Germany fro*m obtaining supplies had much to do with the winning of the war, but the hope is expressed that Britain will agree to a modification of the rules that will remove the friction and ill-feeling caused by these practices. It ■is pointed out that in the event of war between England and Germany contraband shipped from the United States to Holland might find its way into Germany. The American proposal is that all neutral Governments enlisted in the League of Nations would bind themselves not to tranship contraband into. belligerent territory. Thus if cotton was contraband of war, and the United States shipped cotton to Holland, Holland would be bound by its obligations to the league to prevent the cotton getting into Germany. In case of an infraction of the rules the league would provide means of inflicting heavy punishment.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. REDUCTION OF NAVAL ARMAMENTS BRITAIN SYMPATHETIC TOWAEDS PEOPOSAL. (Eec. February 4, 11.25 p.m.) Now York, February 2. It is stated that Britnin is sympathetic towards, the proposal for the reduction of naval armaments in connection with the peace treaty. The arrangements have not yet been disclosed, and the details hare not yet been concluded.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable, Assn.