Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-16

Christians the treaty signed at Chris
tiania in November last
Ao"'y' with special reference to
the freedom of the Baltic sea.
The actual negotiations at present are
not commercial. but political. On the lat
ter basis there are two rival interests
in presence. Germany naturally desires
that the Baltic be a closed sea, and 1t
has been asserted that in the interview
at Swinemunde Emperor William endeav-
ored to induce Emperor Nicholas to join
him in accomplishing that object. 1t is
recalled here that prior to this asser-
ton. M. Lavino, the correspondent of the
London Times at Paris. had written or
inspired an article which created a sem
satfon in diplomatic circles. entitled tine
Closing Of the Baltic" the keynote Of
alarm being that 1.-The Emperor of Ger
many proposed to close the Baltic sea to
foreign vessels of war for the better pro-
lection Of Germany, and that secret nego-
tiations were then in process between
Denmark and Germany" The English
policy it was understood. was to main
tain the freedom of the Baltic. and this
policy was also that of Sweden. Russia.
inclined differently at other periods, had
favored an open sea since the Anglo Rus
sian agreement.
The London Times correspondent at
Paris has a very highly
Seeing colored imagination, and
mn,, oftentimes manifestly mis-
takes shadows for substan-
tial things. In Septe mber, 1906, he saw
the hand of the German emperor in the
election Of Father Wernz as general OF
the Order Of Jesuits. In April, 1907. he
again saw the German emperor's hand In
the closing Of the Baltic sea- Manifest
ly the psychological vision of the Times
correspondent is defective. for none of
these things SO emphatically announced
has come to pass.
large factor in the Baltic situation.
A telegram from Berlin referring to the
conclusion of an arrangement by which
Great Britain, France. Russia and Ger
many agreed to guarantee the integrity of
Norway cites the cautious comment or
the German press on the subject and par
ticularly the opinion Of the National lei
tung. which says:
Some dissatisfaction prevails in Swe-
den, and it appears to be thought that
that country was passed over when the
new treaty was signed 1t may be point
ed out, however, that Norway could not
agree to have Sweden enumerated as a
protecting power together with France,
EuStdIl 1GIHlduy anu luSSld. II Is Ger
tainly the case that Sweden and Norway
are equally far from having any desire
for warlike complications with one an
other. A part, therefore. from all sensi-
tiveness regarding her own independence.
Norway did not require any assurances
from Sweden in respect of her integrity
such as those which have just been given
by the four great powers.
The London Times Of January o. COM
mentlng upon the negotiations relating
IN "a
cial declaration of the Russian govern
ment on the situation, says:
1.-The statement should put an end to
the sensational reports and the extrava-
CANT speculations that have been in cir
culation."
The Times says. in substance, that the
conclusion Of the Christiania agreement of
November, 1907, led to an
Sweden'S exchange of views upon the
p..,4;. International position Of
Sweden. Sweden's position
was determined by the Anglo-French
treaty of November. 1855, which guaran-
teed the whole of the territory of the then
united kingdom of Sweden and Norway.
The recent Christiania agreement, on the
other hand, is signed by Great Britain,
France, Germany, Russia and Norway,
and guarantees the territorial integrity
of Norway only. though it does not in
itself derogate from the subsfstlng treaty
Of 1856. Still, as the Russian note de-
clares, lit naturally brought the question
of. the international position Of Sweden
in the Foreground The exchange of
views disclosed the following:
The Swedish government was not
pleased by the exceptional position &C
corded Norway. But Sweden mantle ted
no disposition to ask that a like guarantee
might be accorded her. With such high
spirited and proud people, and with such
traditions as those bequeathed by Gus
tavus Adolphus and Charles x, their pride
and dignity forbade. The Russian note
suggested that this object-the interests of
Sweden-should be made the subject of
government of Stockholm on the one hand
and the governments of Berlin and St.
Petersburg on the other. These declara-
tons, 1t was said, should come most ap-
propriatey from Germany and Russia. as
states having littorals on the Baltic sea-"
These declarations. it was understood.
would recognize the principle of 1.-The
maintenance of the status quo on the
line adopted In the notes exchanged last
year by Spain with England and France"
And it was stated that parallel negotia-
tions on the subject are now proceeding
between Sweden and Russia and Sweden
and Germany. 1t Is expressly declared
in the Russian note that from the begin
ming there has been no reference what
ever to the position of the Baltic sea
in time Of peace or war"
It Is worthy OF remark besides that
the Russian document distinctly says
that Denmark has hitherto taken no
part in the preliminary exchange of views
now proceeding, although 1t would have
been quite natural for her as the fourth
Baltic littoral state to have joined in the
projected exchange of declarations"
The London Times invites attention to
the fact that in addition to the treaty of
1866 between Sweden, France and Great
Britain there is a special convention
which was concluded between France and
Great Britain with Russia March. 1860,
was therein stipulated that the Aland
Islands should not be fortified or any
military or naval establishment main
tanned there.
The srefernce TO Denmark in the Rus
sian official note implies that the arrange
ment contemplated is not
Be1gium's yet complete, it being GER
n,,.1i+v tain that Denmark will be
invited to become a party
upon the ground that while she Is a
littoral power on the Baltic she is also
a littoral power on the North sea. An
arrangement which would guarantee the
maintenance Of the status quo on her Bal
tic coasts. but which should not extend
to her North sea coasts. is out OF the
question The Baltic situation therefore
is clearly a North sea situation, and the
question therefore is one and lnseparable
Now, the maintenance of the territorial
Ill nHt,,rsc