The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-05-28
The Sound Dues Question.
GCo1responc ence of the London Times


COPENHAGEN, May 4, 1856.
In my last letter l gave you short resume of the
Sound dues question. Since then this negotiation
has made no progress, but the fault rests not with
the Danish government. Before making any pro.
pOsal, the Danish government endeav0red to find
way Of solution which at the time was accept
able to foreign powers and consistent with Dem
marks interests. This double end the Danish gov
eminent has only been able to attain by proposing
the abolition OF the Sound dues for capital OF
35,000,000 rxdollars Danish money! sum which
scarcely exceeds half of the capital which, at
the Sound dues. Although this arrangement inn
poses considerable pecuniary sacrifices upon
several States, it is the only practicable one,
and it must be kept in mind that the powers
to whose lot the heaviest share would fall are those
most interested in the abolition of the Sound Dues
as well as In every important European question.
In fact, voice has been raised against the equity
views the Danish government has taken in this
question. Several Powers-as Sweden, Norway
and Russia-whose share in the capitalization
would exceed 1000 900 silver roubles (2S,00O ,00Of,
have not hesitated to accept it. Others have not
yet answered to the call, and England, whore inter-
est it seems to be to watch over the independence
OF Denmark, has declined to enter into the proposed
arrangement. 1t is easily understood that the pay.
ment Of more than f1,000, 000-the proportional
share Of Great Brtain-may awaken appre.
tensions in o constitutional government; and
no government can be expected to be very in
c.ined to call upon the nation whose interests are
But the English nation has interests Of higher
order than pecuniary 0nes-interests calculated TO.
future times-interests of European influence and
hegemony. From this point of view think Eng
land might try to identify its own advantage with
that Of other nations, and am scarcely wrong when
affirm that the British sympathies Of this country,
which in later years have greatly increased, would
be considerably impaired II Denmark's moderate
and reasonable proposals should meet with opposi
ton from the very country which has the solution Of
the question in its hands, and which of all States is
the one best qualified to prepare transition from
the existing state Of things TO another state,
consistent with the exgencies Of the time, without
violently making away with old traditions.
1t Is q well known political maxim that great
powers ought to seek their alliances with weaker
countries, and it certainly would not tell against
British interest to promote and strengthen the
sympathes of people 30 attached to and such great
admirers Of British institutions as the Danish ma
| ton.
From the Liverpool Times, May IA.
The latest intelligence received from Denmark
represents the Sound dues question as being in q
state Of allegiance. Russia has agreed to the capital
cation scheme. Great Britain, the public will be
re0iced to hear, has declined to pay f1 900 900 as
her quota towards the abolition of pirstical tax
levied on the ships and merchandise Of her subjects
Whether this refusal was based the financial dfi
cultes Of the day,or on simple PRINCIPLE Of equity