Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-08-24
Correspondence of the London Daily News

OmciaI Note on the Sound Dues
COPENHAGEN, July 25-It will be in the re ,ollec.
oh OF your readers that the President OF the United
otates gave official not ce to the Danish Government
IN April last, that the treaty of commerce of the
goth April 1926, should expire after the lanse of
the stipulated period, "a twelvemonth) as the Amel
can citizen could no longer recognize the right of
denmark TO levy the Sound dues on their ships and
cargoes. The Danish Cabinet have Just sent off
note On the subject to the American Government,
and am enabled to-day to give you the following
particulars of IFS contents.
In the commencement of the document which is of
a very vouminous nature, the Danish Minister for
Foreign Affairs expresses his concern that the Cabi
net OF Washington should not have thought proper
10 enter into negotiations with Denmark on the sub
Iect before taking SO very decided step as giving
categorical notice of their intention to throw I'D the
treaty existing tor so many years between the two
countries, as he fears that difficulties may now arise
which might have been easily avoided The short.
ness OF the notice given deprives Denmark of the
power of devoting that time and attention to the sub
Ject which are due to question of such complica
ted nature and political Importance especially al the
present moment when Denmark is in a critical state
and pressed on all sides to give up her neutrality
and take part in the war against Russia.
An unlimited acceptance of the demand of the
United States would involve the loss of MANY thou
sands of pounds sterling sacrificed in favor of other
states which pay the great bulk of the Sound dues
whilst the whole annual amount which has to he
!
al Denmark is not prepared to make such sacri
nee, especially IN the present state of her finances
and the uncertainty of the result of the diplomatic
negotiations now pending with respect to the present
political crisis Under these circumstances, Den
mark cannot help considering the notice given by the
United States to terminate the treaty of commerce
and amly existing between the two countries as an
act OF unfarness and severity, totally uncaed for
and unprovoked by the conduct of Denmark
On the contrary, many cases might be quoted in
winch the DANISH Government has refunded sums Of
money PAID By American merchants for Sound dues,
merely for the sake of preserving the friendly rela-
tons between the two countries The Danish Min
lister concludes by observing that it will scarcely be
possible 10 come to any arrangement before the
pration or the short period Of time named by the
American Government and even in that case il is
hardly likely that such an arrangement would give
universal satisfaction to those other States most deep
ly interested in the result
AS the United States have frequently expressed
their determination not to anv diplomatic in.
tetcourse with Denmark till invited by her to open
serious negotiations for the abolition of the Sound
dues, it is than probable that the note of the
Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs will remain
answered. at e,st fer the present. and that the nego-
hatOns will be resumed only after the Goth of April
next year, when the twelVemonhs notice will have
elapsed and the treaty become dead letter
Baron BrOCkdOrf. who is q member of the Council
OF Stale, is going to Berlin on a special mission 1t
IS understood that he is to be the bearer Of declara-
ton on the part OF Denmark of the conditions she
proposes as an linden MITIGATION for the loss of the
| Sound dues.
The London Shipping Gazette publishing the
above letter, remarks that
The substance of ii seems TO be, that the Danish
Government considers the notice given by the Amer
lean Government UNFAIR severe, and uncalled for
Be this it may, we trust that now the question
has been opened the matter will be speedily arrang-
ed so that commerce may be free from the impost
These Dan lish Sound dues ought to have been abol-
ished years ago, and instead of being unjust to Den.
mark to put end to them it is uni ust to trade and
commerce to consent to their retentiOnr