HC Deb 14 February 1918 vol 103 cc243-4
8. Mr. PENNEFATHER

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has any information as to the meaning attached in Germany to the phrase, "The freedom of the seas"?

Lord R. CECIL

The most recent declaration on the subject to which my attention has been drawn emanates from Count Reventlow, who is reported to have interpreted the meaning of the phrase as follows, at a public meeting in Berlin in March, 1917: What do we Germans understand by freedom of the seas? Of course we do not mean by it that free use of the sea which is the common privilege of all nations in time of peace, the right to the open highways of international trade. That sort of freedom of the sea we had before the War. What we understand to-day by this doctrine is that Germany should possess such maritime territories and such naval bases that at the outbreak of a war we should be able, with our Navy ready, reasonably to guarantee ourselves the command of the seas. We want such a jumping-off place for our Navy as would give us a fair chance of dominating the seas and of being free of the seas daring a war. (Cheers.) The inalienable possession of the Belgian seaboard is therefore a matter of life and death to us, and the man is a traitor who would faintheartedly relinquish this coast to England. Our aim be not only to keep what our arms have already won on this coast, but sooner or later to extend our seaboard to the south of the Strait of Calais. It is, of course, obvious that the phrase as used elsewhere has a very different signification.

Mr. TREVELYAN

Does not the Noble Lord think that a more important statement of the Central Powers is that of Count Czernin, in which he said that he accepted the interpretation of the phrase "freedom of the seas" given by the President of the United States of America?

Mr. SPEAKER

The question here is as to the meaning attached to the phrase in Germany.

Mr. CHANCELLOR

Would the right hon. Gentleman say whether Count Reventlow is supposed to be the official mouthpiece?

Lord R. CECIL

I do not know that he is. He is a member and a representative of that clique in Germany which has usually exerted its sway over the Government of the country.

Mr. CHANCELLOR

Is he anything more than a private person who happens to be a German?

Lord R. CECIL

He may be a good deal.

Mr. ALDEN

Does the Noble Lord think that Count Reventlow expresses anything more than the opinion of the German Navy League?

Lord R. CECIL

It is impossible for me to say, but I should be glad if the hon. Member will tell me what in his judgment is the interpretation of this phrase in Germany.

Mr. LYNCH

Can the right hon. Gentleman give us the meaning attached to this phrase in the United States?

Mr. SPEAKER

That does not arise out of the question.