The Washington herald., 1907-04-07

the American charge d'afaires N Copen-
hagen, that under the public law of na-
tons It cannot be pretended that Den-
mark has any right TO levy duties on yes
sels passing through the sound Of the
North Sea 10 the Baltic" On the Access
sion Of President Pierce, In 1853. instruc-
tons were given 20 the charge damalres
at Copenhagen TO press the matter OF
he sound duties 10 a conclusion. and. in
response to Denmark's request for COM
pensation. this government declined 10
consider the idea OF paying, as a favor,
FOR something which Is demanded IS a
right. Finally. In 1857. an International
congress took place at Copenhagen.
whereby the Danish government received
from the various powers represented a
sum Of about Sl5.ocg.009 IN return for her
remuneration, forever after. Of her rights
OF leVylng tolls on foreign shipping enter
ing and leaving the Baltic. The payment
OF this sum was divided among the ma
tons interested. in proportion 10 che
value Of their commerce passing through
the Danish straits England paying al
most half. The United States. in pursu-
ai'ce OF It's policy al that time Of keeping
free from European eutangiements. de-
ment, but concluded. d short time pre-
viously. with Denmark a separate treaty.
bearing the date Of March, 1857. and by.
the terms Of which Denmark consented To
exempt American shipping entering and
leaving the Baltic from all dues and tolls
OF any kind, receiving in return from this
country sum Of about S49GQj. on the
distinct understanding that il was not a
compensation for the loss OF Drerogativeg
which America had never recognized. but
an indemnity for Deumark's maintenance
in the past. and in the future. OF the
lights and buoys at tine entrance 10 the
sound.
Put. as pointed out above. these agree
ments relate exclusively to the tolls fer
mcrly imposed by Denmark upon the
mercantile shipping Of foreign nations.
There is not a word in these treaties OF
1885, regarding the entrance or eeress of
armed vessels in time Of war. There are
the old treaties Of a hundred years ago
between several OF the Baltic Sea powers
declaring IL mare ciausum against the ex-
ercise Of hostilities upon its waters by
other states with whom they. the Baltic
powers, are at peace. These principles
England rcpudiated in 1907. and repudiates
to-day, The question as TO whether the
Baltic shall be closed by an International
agreement Of naturalization TO foreign war
ships in the event Of the nations owning
them being at war with one or another
OF the Baltic powers, has never yet been
decided II Is likely TO prove the most
absorbing and important matter under
discussion at The Hague this summer. 1t
Goes not ngUre as yet on the programme
and attempts to include it therein VIII be
vigorously opposed by Great Britain, pos
sibly too, 10y her ally, Japan But il may
safely be taken for granted that every
effort will be made by the Baltic powers
10 introduce the question and 10 secure
its discussion. The weight which they al
tach 10 IL IS easy 70 understand. u would
In great measure relieve the danger
which now threatens their coasts. For.
as matters stand now, the first thing
which would happen I'm the event Of any
war on the part of Great Britain with
Germany would be the dispatch Of her
most powerful fleet into the Baltic 90
attack the kaiser's naval arsenals AZ Kief
and al Stetrin. and 10 destroy the various
prosperous commercial ports that dot the
Teuton coast line Of the Baltic. In fact.
many people, both in England and abroad.
are disposed 10 regard the concentration
Of the cream of their navy in northern
waters instead Of in the Mediterranean
as designed in view Of this eyeutuality.
In the same way. were there 10 be any
revival Of the trouble between Russia and
Japan, Admiral Togo might make his
appearance before Cronstadt with the
very same squadron which three years
ago wiped out Of existence the Cars
Re Ito 7rr47aIa