The Freedom of the Sea. (Royal Society of Arts. le.
6d4—The three lectures by Mr. Fiertnes, Sir Francis Piggott, and Mr. Leyland, with a concluding summary by Admiral Slade, which are reprinted in this valuable pamphlet, contain the essence of a controversy that has caused much needless confusien. It is universally agreed that, as a general rule, the seas must be free to all in time of peace. The only question is as to whether in time of war enemy merchant ships or goochs are to go unmolested at sea when enemy property on land is not respected. The Germans who pillage and destroy private property on land claim that we should not touch their ships or goods at sea. That is an absurd claim. What the enemy means by "freedom of the seas" is, as a German writer has candidly explained, nothing more or less than "domination over the world sea," because, "If we do not dominate it, it may one day be closed against us." On this question no compromise in possible. In war it is we who must dominate the sea or be defeated.
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