In regard to what would have been the effect of
the German version of "The Freedom of the Seas," had that version pre- vailed in 1914, Mr. Roosevelt speaks plain words :- " If this particular one of the proposed fourteen points had been in treaty form end had been lived up to in 1914 Germany would have had free access to the outarde world. England's fleet would not have enabled her to bring economic pressure to bear upon Germany, and doubtless Germany would have won an overwhelming victory within a couple of years.... Whatever our views prior to the great war, we are fools indeed if we have not learned the lessons these last four and a half terrible years have taught. The freedom of the seas in the sense used by Germany and Mr. Wilson would -have meant the enslavement of mankind to Germany. It would have meant that this country would at this time either be lying prostrate under the feet of German invaders or be purchasing peace by ransoms heavier than were paid by Belgium."
Happily it has been shown that President Wilson did not mean what Germany meant, or Mr. Roosevelt thought he meant, by "The Freedom of the Seas."
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