New-York tribune., 1907-04-07

of armed vessels in time of war. There are tho
old treaties Of hundred years ago between sev-
erai OF the Baltic sea powers. declaring it mara
clausum against the exercise Of hOstflities upon
us waters by other states with whom they-ths
Baltic povers-are az peace. These principles
ENGLAND repudiated in 1907 and reoudiates to-
day The question u whether the Baltic
shall be closed BY an international agreement
Of naturalization 70 foreign varsbfps in the
event of the nations owning them being at war
with one or another OF the Baltic powers mas
NOT Vet been decided. 1T is likely to prove
the most absorbing and important matter under
discussion at The Hague this summer. II does
not figure az vet the programme and at
tei0ptS 10 include il therein viii be vigorously
opposed by Great BriCain possibly. too. by her
ally, Japan But il may safely be taken for
granted that every effort win be made by the
Baltic powers To introduce the question and u
secure its discussion The weight which they
attach to II is easy 20 understand. II would in
q great measure relieve the danger which now
threatens their coasts. for. matters stand
now the hrst thlnS which would happen in tho
event or q war ON the part of Great Britain
Win Germany, would be the dispatch Of her
most powerful fleet into the Baltic to attack tho
kaiser's naval arsenals at Eiel and Stettin
and to- destroy the various prosperous cOnlrler-
CiaI ports that dot the Tauton coastlfne of tho
Baltic Tn fact. many people. both in ENGLAND
and abroad are disposed to regard the cOncen-
tratton of the cream of their navy in northern
waters instead Of i'm the Med. erTaneau as de-
signed an view OF this eventuaIitv In the sams
way. were there 10 be any revival Of the troubIs
between Russia and Japan Admiral Togo might
make his appearance before hrOostadt with the
very same squadron which three years ago
wiped our OF existence the Cars Baltic arr
mada
II does not necessarily follow that because
Denmark is disposed 20 support the views OF
Russia Germany and Sweden for the neuUrali-
zation OF the sound and of the Baltic at the
coming peace congress OF The Hague thGt shs
should he in complete political syrnpo thy with
these nations Her attitude in the matter VIII
ne prompted mainly by sentiments of seif-pTes-
erVat.Ou. For. unless some agreement takes
place this summer. her territorial waters in tho
Sound, and probably her coasts, viii constituts
the principal battle-ground in the event of an
AuSlO-CserIuan or Anglo Russian or FranCO-
German war. Naturally, enc OF the first things
WIlcI ,'e,HlaHH or RUSSIA W'did 90 III tn9
event or hoStiiltleS would be 60 endeav0r 70
block the entrance Of the Sound by means OF
submarines or torpedo boats. cruisers and bat
tleShipS, which the opposing belliserents would
have to break through This in itself would
constitute violation of Danish neutrality. and
thus Denmark would against her viii be drawn
into the conflict, and would as is usually the
case in such affairs, prove i'll the end 70 be the
principal SuffeFer-fOrtunate. indeed. il she did
not lose her independence in the struggle. The
extent 70 which she realizes her danger in this
connection Is shown by the relatively enormous
sums of money which she is spending on her
coast defenCes. Should the Kaiser who has a
through the Riel Canal. obtain his way and
secure the application to the Baltic and to the
Danish Sound Of the same principles that are
IN IN IGrce IN tIe ease of the Dardanelles and the
Black Sea-in one word. if the passage between
Heisingborg and ElsInOre is placed ON the sams
status the Suez Canal then
Denmark can dismantle her elaborate defenceS
at CrOnberg and can devote the money which
she Is now spending upon her military budget
10 more useful purposes. Russia Sweden and
Germany, too, will be relieved Of any further
anxiety with regard To the defence of their
shipping IN the Baltic and Of their towns and
cities along It's coasts. In short 70 will prove
the most effeCtual step toward that reduction Of
ornaments which is declared by all the powers
taking part in the congress of The Hague to
De the principal object OF that gathering.
EX-ATTACHE.