FREEDOM OF THE SEAS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1925, 11 January 1919, Page 2

FREEDOM OF THE SEAS.

DISCUSSING the freedom of the seas in respect to merchant shipping, Sir Alfred Booth, chairman of the Cunard Steamship Company, says in a letter to the press; — “There can, I take it, he no question of our giving our fullest support to tlie principle in times of peace. Freedom of the seas in international trade, in (lie sense of equal treatment of all Hags in all ports, should be a cardinal principle of the peace settlement. And freedom of the seas carries with it freedom of access to the seas. Let every flat-ion determine tor', itself the -conditions

under which its ports may he used, but Id every nation in all international trades give equal opportunities to vessels under all flags—whether its own or (he (lags of the nations with which it is trading. There is nothing new in the principle here advocated. In thcory t at any rate, it has been accepted in the past by all maritime nations. Great Britain and the United States have given it specific recognition by guaranteeing (be use of the canals of Suez and Panama to the Hags of all nations on terms of absolute equality. In practice, however, Germany denied the freedom of (he seas to foreign Hags. The nations of the world must now make their choice between the German policy of discrimination and exclusion and I lie policy of freedom which has hitherto been followed by Great Britain and the United Stoles. The decision is of vital importance not only to the maritime nations, but also to those Stales whose access to the sea lies through foreign territory. Unless (he principle of freedom and equality is reaffirmed and faithfully observed the maritime nations will he driven one after another into a policy of discrimination and exclusion, which wiil sooner or later imperil the peace of the world. The question of when, and under what conditions, (lie ships of Germany and Austria should he given tiiis freedom stands separate and apart. The oilier nations of the world must (irst establish the principle among themselves.”