The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-01-04


ments Themselves although respec ing at all times the
right which remained with Denmark, after many
CRITICS. made in favor OF general peace, mostly and
for the Importance OF with it were di suit
perhaps to conceal IN cur tme unable divert from
Denmark the effects OF agitation the injustice and
grounde sness OF whh they could bat acknowledge
The Efforts Of Denmark ts allay this agitation led az
the beginning of the reign of King Christian WILL the
sdecessor Of the rsignng King 70 negotiation
which revision OF the old tariff Of the Sound; and
by this measure set period Of time was reached.
Never heess, the Danish COVE, nment hat ny
cor cealed from ,sef that the would be
long and in view Of this eyentuay, King Christian
VIII had already conceived the ioea of adopting the
vision which he had decided upon in Behalf OF merchants
by other notifications of the tariff at periods r lass
connected with each other in order tina. the rights to
levy might always be proporopae to the value Of the
1t is not iant the Danish government that the
intention Of Kiug Chris VIII yet been carried
out In following the suggestions of hat enghteaed
ch, the government commenced long ago the pre-
iminafy abors to revision the tafiI
bur at the period when the idea Of tine deceased King
shouc have realized penmtr k found herself very
much against her will and by events @nica could not
possibly hsve been forsser implicAtei in which
sarily absorbed all he attention OF her g,vern
ment and which Gid not aomt Of those sacrifices pseplr
be from any reduction of the taeiT sctnaly in oeae.
After tue conclusion of the peace, the try found IL
sch in prey the Inevitable conseq of the nesilr
connections which the had only fenced to foster and
to he difficulties by which IL thus surrounded there
was icon acded the present war between Russia France
If fFSepen. ed on the DANISH n6ternept Il would Ger
tanly select with view n bringing the If
Som dues again into discus sop period like the
when the mostly interested in this ma tor find
themselves placed in attitude OF antagonisn Bat the
pot. ion il TO hich said government has been taroyn
leaves il other alternative.
Amor all the nents that OF the United States
Ameiics Is the only one that has ever Gale into ques
tion the right of Denmark to collect the Sound Dues II
is but gently that the Unitei States have expressed
themselves directly in thai for although it be
proper to acknowledge that those States have various
occasions, Ike Of latter years. it
that they insepd follow with respect
to the sound dues the international system generally
tabst 60 IN Europe, the provision relative t. those iue
nserd in the convention of fiendsn min commerce and
navigation CONCLUDED on the goth # ill., 1915 bet ween
Denmark and Amersa contains, nevertheless the same
ms The ansloeons article of the treaties and nyen-
tons Of the character between Denmark and other
powers rather formal ackno sedgment than tendency
to iii pnt. the right in question.
la dated the l4th OF last April the minister resi-
cent he unieo States at Copenhagen denounced the
Aforesaid convention, which is the only written engage
makes par cular mention Of the Sound Dues 10 de-
bouncing it, said dipomatc agent expressed hspe thai
penma,k would ne'o tna expiration OF tue tresty-e
before the 14th OF April 1S56-acknowledge the justice
and the opety If allowing American vessels to pursue
their mmercia operations the without paying
hibute TO any one and Without being stopped by any
power VIVA ever. The object which the United States
have had il view In denouncing their convention of
with Denmark has, thea, been to exempt
thereby American vessels from the Sound dues. 1T is
un necessary to inquire in this place whether the
copishpent of that object the logical Consequence
Of the expiration of convention which does not
ton the dues in question, except for the purpose Of
securing 10 American vessels in regard to to the levyng
u
nonprivleeed treatment which had been applied to them
tines Denmark desires to avoid . di: cussion
O. this kind and besides the steps taken by the United
States have OILY been alluded to in this document in
DER 10 specify the on into which it has been OBJ
served above, Denmark has been thrown.
This pcst has d double effect upon the determine.
ton Of the Darish government Because, afec the de-
nuncation OF the convention Of the 10Th Of April 1926
her after the declaration the part Of the United
States to exempt American vessels from the Sound du
ties, The DANISH government if decline yaw OF this
declaration conue itself to the reply which has been
mace to them. could net only not postpone taking the
adapted to the circumstances, but it has
lee me probe whether The measures which had
TO the aforesaid decla alton would suffice to AVOID
cor ict and conn caons the consequence Of which, by
the force Of circumstances would probably oyerstep the
limits q discussion between Denmark and rae United
States.
If ii only depended upon ITSELF the Danish government
would determine upon revision OF the Sound tariff
reciay, because this could be adopted without
the Of any foreign pc ser and il is persuaded
thai tariff reonced and regua aftee the actual yane
the tracing public. But the decatit n above mentioned
not only ihat revision would not satisfy great
power with which Denmark sincerely desires to preserve
her general tons of good understanding; it bias
also become than PROBABLE in consequence OF said
are equally Gnntled 10 be taken INTO consideration would
not De disposed 10 find in Ibis measure suitable expe
dent.
JLder these cumstances the Donish government ha,
deter nil ed to submit to the powers interested in the affair
OF the sound proposition OF entirely differ chaac
ter l. hopes at the plan 1t is about to propose vl
prove eeate to the powers il is that will
suit commercial navigation generally Il hopes above all
hat the United staea Of America will be pleased to can
slider this proceeding on the part OF Denmark,
est OF her deshe to reconcile as much as possible her
interests wi those CT America and especially avoid
pbirfu discuss sion, and, it may TO- conflict wi h tina.
-, - respects. In fast, as -" pA1hh
government does think ought to into such
dscussi it principal motive in not combining ITSELF to
the r.vsen which had been projected Is that i. eoes net
find this calculated to serve as rejoiader 10
the steps TAI en By the United States
Setting thus aside the project of revision, without
however ahsnooning the same, the Danish government
starts upon the Hypothesis that the other governments
considering tho revision not calc uated to prevent
the conflicts which il is the question avoid would have
nvi'ed it 10 submit to them other propositions which
without infringing upon the right Of Denmark might be
of charac er to unite, in higher degree the suhfages
Of the parties Interested.
The lian Of revis ion be scarded it 10 declare,
least implicitly that the only basis upon viii III negotia
tioIs would te ei into with D'nmark ought 10 1e
that OF definite settlement f the affair OF the sound
and the problem 10 he solved would then he 70 lind an
expedient which should the dues 10 cease eptire
% e on 1Pas aosSe eso could
be obtained by capitalization OF the dues in order TO
free, at ence and forever, the trading Navigation from
the pay ment Of duties by means OF just compensation
This then is the plan of settlement which the Danish
government submits TO the consideration OF the Powers
interested IL the allsir Ok the Sound.
But on arrangement of this nature can only be real
lied by the sinultA Of all the raspec
tive ToE The formal and positive engagements
is,rg between Denmark and the other Powers relative 10
the sonnd dues do not admit If special arrangement
in respect TO this matter between Denmark and another
Power
Besides this condition. there is yet another which the
panh grds esssntia it Is that the If
fair question shBll be treated not o. a commercial
money transaction, but as political matter. This would
correspond with the history Of the Sound dues with the
part which these dues have played in the politics of the
north of Europe otherwise t Impossible to give to
the negotiation he essary scope and character 10
der that it may not BE- incumbered by questions of
secondary class which may do very well in purely com
mercial and fiscal arrangement but not in arrange
MEM intended to serve complement t. treaties OF
peace and 10 transactions by which the system OF poii
cal equilibrium hiss been guated. Consequently the
Danish Dment in recommending Its proposition To
the kind moderation Of the cabinets, also takes the
liberty requestitg that they will be pleased decide
upon entering into negotiation with the Danish 60
yernment posi- de, and 10 furnish thci'
op matte sgehs the Danish court with full powers
and necessary instructions, TO send special
nissioners to Copenh ,gen Ia order TO DEVISE and
tabsh definitely general agreement, both
gaTos the pensation TO which Denmark might think
herself entitled 10 claim indemnity for the losses she
would sustain by the cessation OF the dues and to t1e
MODE 81 calculation to be used in order t. Ascertain and
Iafa 1ly t.