A GREAT ALLIANCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11763, 29 July 1916, Page 8

A GREAT ALLIANCE.

GP.EAT BR'TAIN, FRANCE AND IKE UNITED STATES,

The fine statement of the great moral issues for which the Allies fight which was issued over the signaling °f m°re than 200 distinguished American , carried still further in its implications by President 0. W. Eliot, of Garrard University, who has sent to tho Boston "Sunday Herald" a letter in which, he argues that the future saiety of the United States can only be ensured y sin alliance with the ant-Germanic naU He points out that the majority of American people-realise now essential it is for the «ood of the world tha the Allies should triumph and the Central Powers fail, because the desires of the former are "consistent with the ideals of freedom, justice and bi'Otlierhood, which all true Americans cheruh, and the desires or aims of G-erniiui} «uid' Austria-Hungary are not. _ " Now that the long-prepared foreign policies, State objects and nuhtary methods of Germpuy and Austna-rlun-pary been niaclc plain in tne sigftls 01 all men, tlio neutral attitude of tilt United States is no longer satisfactory to Americans who eve attention to the »chief events of this sudden collapse of civilisation. , . " It is time to express forcibly their convictions as to the side on which the right Ues. and to make ready to take part in the terrible strife. It is tnne to feel and speak strongly about something more than the rigiits of neutrals | It is" time for the deepest rooted' and strongest of republics to consider how "it can best bring direct help'to harassed and bleeding France and Great Britain. It is time for all the Americans to tako sides openly with the European people who are new resisting military despotism mnd cbngerous national ambitions, and to discharge their obligations to the liberty loving g?nerat.ons of the pilot and the future." . A GREAT ALLIANCE. President Eliot then makes the suggestion that the United States_should enter " into a permanent offensive and defensive alliance with_ Great Britairi end France, to maintain the freedom of the seas for these. Allies under all circumstances, and to oppose attack by sea. on any one of them. To this now alliance, other nations, present oc peutral, might

be welcomed, but they would not ha necessary to its success. " Germany, Austrian-Hungary oni Turkey would not be admissible, bocause they so easily absolve themselves from keeping their word. " In favour of this alliance the following considerations are pertinent:— " 1. War between the_ United States I and either Great Britain or Franco need no longer be thought of as possible. "2. These three nations are 'of one mind as regards religions toleration, the value of free and stable political institutions, and the physical and spiritual elements of true national greatness. '' 3. The interests of the United States, Great Britain and Franc© aro identical, in respect to that froedom of tho seas which would secure free exchange of commodities to all nations in times of peace and 1 to the three allied nations in times of war. "4. The insurance against invasion which this alliance would provide for tho United States would be adequate, for there is no sea power wh'ch could carry* an army of even 100,000 men across either the Atlantic or Pacific if oppo-.cd by tho combined navies of Great Britain. Franco and the United States. "5. The alliance would ho effective not only for its immediate objects, but for the discouragement of war making throughout the world. It would' possess abundant and -well-distributed ports, naval stations, dockyards, mines of coal and ores, oil wells, munition factories, food and clothing supplies, and high industrial and financial capacitv. IT WOULD NOTIFY GERMAJSY. "6. Such an alhance would bo able to give some support, though not security, to the European maritime nations wh:ch are exposed' to land attacks by Germany and Austria-Hungary—-namely, France, Belgium, Holland Denmark. Sweden, Norway and Greece —and thereby to make attache oa them less attractive, or more costly. "7. It would probably reduce tha progressive increase of the heavy burden Great Britain now carries alone in order to keep control of the seas in t me of war, and the co-cperation of the American Navy would make this reduction saf« 8. It would dispose of all d'oubf, and questions about the execution of tho Monroe Doctrine. "9. It would notify Germany that tho kind of domination over the world to which she aspires is henceforth i'm-' possible for hsr, or for any feasible; combination of military powers headed { by her. This notification might pos-j Sibly hasten the close of the present { .. vv . ■