Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-14
THE QUESTION OF THE BALTIC SEA

Two questions, the closing of the Baltic
sea and the naturalization of Norway. con-
stitute at this moment sub
Interesting jects of animated discussion
Issuea in the press of Germany,
England. Sweden and Dem
mark. An article in the London Times by
its Paris correspondent, Mr.. Lavino. entitled
THE Closing of the Baltic has attracted
great attention in Europe. and especially
in the Scandinavian states. The article
denounces the graspng policy OF William
II, who proposes now to close the Baltic
sea to foreign vessels of war for the better
protection of Germany.
The correspondent cites certain facts to
prove that a secret understanding exists
between Germany and Denmark-the ex-
istence- of a German fleet that maneuvers
without protestaton In Danish waters. par
ticularly in the Belt and without pilots;
the economical monopoly of the Danish
island of Bornholm by purchase of all the
ish waters of mines which may. secure
possession at will. The cOmmotion ex-
cited in military. naval and diplomatic cir
cles by the correspondents article is gen
eral. The principal points of this most SEN
sational publication are as follows:
On March s he received from trust
worthy source information of serious
nature, furnishing "a powerful argument
superiority Of British naval power main
tanned beyond all misguided idealism of in
te1lectuai doctrinaires."
So much has been going on at home
and near home within the last year or
two that striking facts have escaped
public notice. and the correspondent sets
them forth briefly: First the predomi-
nant position which Germany, in view of
Dnn-o fns~ Ifr-~{s SrI> hoe k,,lr ~,
in Denmark: second, Germany is work
ing tooth and nall to modify the status
quo In Europe by an attempt to close
the Baltic sea: third. the German min
had brought about a complete change of
relations between Danes and Germans.
and that the treaty concerning the option
Of nationality signed two months ago
been Neutrality-suspicious. begun by
the two visits Of the German emperor to
Copenhagen in 1903 and 1905. and the
visit of King Frederick Of Denmark to
Berlin in December, 1906
The visit Of the German squadron to
Denmark in July. 1905. is recalled, and
the fact that the British
Overtures to feet followed in Septem-
Denmark. Der. 1.-The dispatch Of the
British ships to the Baltic
under such conditions says Mr.. Lavino,
profoundly incensed the German emperor,
who has ever since been steadily pursuing
the end which he Is now on the high road
to attain-namely. that of making the Bal
tic a mare clausum by neutralizing the
straits.
III that were all the British fleet might
some day scatter William lis ideal to the
winds: but Germany has acquired a solid
commercial footing in Denmark. According
n which anDP3red
year. German imports into Denmark amount
to 220.00o 600 kroner (about $60.O0O.OGO) out
of total of Coz, 000.OO0 kroner (about $162, :
coo 900. British imports into Denmark. on
the contrary, showed a certain decrease.
The country is overrun by representatives
of German commercial firms. Some 200
German commercial houses are at present
represented In Denmark and only 100 Brit
sh commercial firms. The relations be-
tween William II and the King of Sweden
are of the most cordial character while
Germany shows herself favorable to the
idea of the naturalization of Norway. The
EN- .ror has always been very popular in
Norway. He is full of attention for the
new king. For instance, he sent him the
uniform Of German admiral by one of his
aids-de-camp. who went specially to Chris
tiana for the purpose. By naturalization of
the Danish straits the kaiser hopes to Sc
cure effective protection for tire German
coast and in particular for the port of Kicl.
Tits said that William II will visit Copen-
hagen again this summer, accompanied by
the empress. Meanwhile bet
Kaiser ter means of preventing Den
TO Call mark from becoming a sa-
trapy of Germany might per-
haps be found than to foster the notion
among Englishmen that the international
question is such as to justify a limitation
of ornaments Even had the Baltic ques-
tons not existed on the eve of the peace
conference, there are other parts Of the
world besides eastern Europe which de-
serve more attention on the part of the
British people and It's rulers than the mani
fold prescriptions at home seem to ad-
NIT
Mr.. de Billie, Danish minister at London
FASTENED to reply to the Times publica-
ton. will you kindly allow me, Mr.. Edi-
tor said the minister, Ito suggest thai
the heading The Closing of the Baltic if
sensational enough, is very misleading as
a reference to a question of practical poll
tics? 1t seems to me that there is quite a
sufficient number of difficult and danger
Gus international questions in our day to
avoid inventing others and impress them
on the public mind.
ITO maintain the free passage to the
Baltic without any hindrance is obliga-
ton accepted by Denmark in the treaty of
March a. 1857, with all European powers:
it Is a recognized part of international law.
There is not a shadow of support for
the belief that any power contemplates a
change. to demand which would obviously
be a very critical undertaking. There is
not man alive in Denmark who does not
reject the idea as one pregnant with danger
to the eutral policy of his country. which
king government and people alike con-
slider their salvation
The statement made by Mr.. Lavino that
William II would visit Copenhagen with the
empress during the summer has already re-
! ceved confirmation. The Berlingshe It'd
ende of Copenhagen on March % announced
that the Emperor William would visit the
Danish court in July. And this statement
has given renewed life to the rumOrs re-
cited.
The Figaro, commenting the question of
THE Closing of the Baltic" says: THE
keys of the Baltic belong to
Foreign Denmark and Sweden, al
Comment. though recent discussions ap-
pear to ignore the rights of
the latter. The recent campaign of the
Paris correspondent of the London Times
lends serious interest to that grave ques-