New-York tribune., 1905-01-02
BLACK SEA OPEN OR sHUTf

Talk continues about the violation. abroSa-
tion or what not OF the treaty foroidding the
passage of warships through the DardaneLes.
Perhaps even more significant is It that work
ON new ships is being energetically pushed at
Russia's Black Sea ports. There are unmistak-
able indications that Russia, or at least a con-
siderable faction in the Russian government,
expects in the near future to make the Black
Sea feet available for service outside Of those
local waters 1t is argued that it is an intoler-
able hardship for Russia to be compelled TO
keep a large part of her feet idle while the re-
mainder Of it is being beaten and destroyed. IL
she could have sent her Black Sea feet TO Asian
waters at the beginning Of the war it might
have turned the scale in her favor. 1t is too
much 10 expect of a nation that 1t should per-
nit itself thus to be hampered and crippled by
the terms OF a half century old treaty which
was imposed upon her against her Will
Beyond doubt there is on the face OF it much
in this view OF the case that appeals to SYM
pathy. We cannot say that it appeals so
strongly 10 Judgment for If Russia were to be
free 10 break treaty when she found its terms
a hardship tc her. what precedent would thus
be set 1t would make q mockery Of every
treaty in the world. A treaty would then be
binding only as long as it was profitable or con-
venient 10 fits slgnatories to respect it. That is
not the code of contracts in private life, and
national affairs. A treaty must be observed and
maintained even though it is burdensome to
one Of its makers. If not, the very foundation
OF international law will be impaired, and we
shall be declining to the abominable state of af-
fairs in which ii nations word and pledges are
to be kept only so long as It suits its con-
venence TO keep them. That would mean
worldwide anarchy.
There is another consideration which appeals
TO not a few Russians with much force and
causes one faction of the government to oppose
any attempt to open the Dardanelles. 1t is
this-that if the straits are opened they will be
opened in both directions. II Russian warships
can go out, other warships can come in. There
are those in Russia who dislike the prospect Of
4 British fleet cruising off Odessa and Sebasto-
pol They think that in the safeguarding of her
whole southern coast Russia gains as much as
she loses through the closing Of the DardanelIes
So 1t happens that the Russian government is
by no means q unit upon the question Those
who look at only the present needs Of the navy
in the war with Japan would like TO see the
Black Sea feet sent out Those who look at
the question from the wider diplomatic point of
view deprecate any such action and prefer to
maintain the present status.
We may add that there is a third party which
in the present state of affairs the strongest
possible vindicatiOn Of its policy That is the
party OF those who have for years been advo-
eating the construction Of a ship canal from the
Black Sea TO the Baltic. The route for such n
canal was long ago surveyed It was found
that, by making use OF existing rivers, It would
be small job TO construct such a canal across
those level plains. Were there such canal the
Black Sea feet might be sent out through it at
viii, and yet the Dardanelles would remain
closed against all foreign warships. In brief.
the Black Sea would be open to Russian war
ships, but closed against all others, a state of
affairs Of inestimable advantage TO Russia 1t
must be bitter reflection to many Russians