The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1918-12-28
The Editors Mail Bag

To the Editor OF The Forum:
The Slesvig- Hostein question is again at
tracing attention by reason Of President Will
sons reported endorsement of a petition pre-
sented by Americans OF Danish extraction,
urging his efforts in behalf Of the oppressed
Danes OF Slesvig, and overseas press notices
to the effect that the new German govern
ment have assured the Danes Of Northern
Slesvig that they will be allowed to- decide
their own future. This would seem to simplify
matters were it just a question that concerned
only the Danes and the Germans. But the pro-
per solution Of the Slesvig- -Hotsein question in
wolves the control of the Kiel canal and as
such is of supreme importance to the countries
bordering in the Baltic Sea and more indirectly
to the world at large. ' .a
The reports indicate that Germany has agreed
to the taking of the delayed plebiscite promised
the people of Sesvig in 1864. but, based on pres
ent day conditions, after SIS years Of persecution
and prosecution designed to expel or Germanize
the native population
Considering the teaching to the young of
three generations OF German language history
and propaganda to the exclusion of all else and
the giving of business and social advantages to
the elect, one must marvel that after 55 years
the north half or more of Slesvig is still pre-
dominately Danish in sentiment.
Why should not Germany offer to release
Northern Slesvig? 1t may here from ex
tending Danish Jurisdiction practically to the
kiel canal or ceding all OF Slesvig- -Holstein to-
gether with complete control Of the canal This
proposition has the ear1narks of German diplo-
macy. Is it not vital for them to secure apparent
acquiescense of the Danes before the peace con-
gress takes the question in hand? If the sit
uation thus created is allowed to stand, the
Germans will retain control of the Kiel canal
with the large seaports of Slesvig- -Holsein. Sles-
Wig HoIsten is the great source of power of Ger
many the factor that enabled her to plan and
carry on the world war. A Kiel canal that is not
half or all Danish win be German.
The Danes of Slesvig have been much ex-
to fhn M hai
looked in the peace deliberations. Europe al
lowed Germany and Austria to retain the fruits
of their raid of 1864 and England ceded to Ger
many the former Danish Island Of Heligoland
with which to fortffy the canal. and these acts
resulted in making possible the world domination
plans of the Germany of 1914. The Danish de-
fense of 1864 may well be considered the
preliminary battle of the world war. and should
place Denmark on a par with France and Italy
when her lost provinces come under considera-
ton. @
The Danes of sesvg to insure their annexa-
tion will be compelled to exclude from the ad-
vantages of the plebiscite all such portions OF
southern Slesvig as are at all douotful. faoW
about the Danes or German speakns sess m peoptS f
from expressing their desires? Why so con-
siderate with the Germans colonized IN Slesvig
at +he expense of prosecuted Danes why SO
considerafe OF the Cserrnanized Danes? It will
surely be less difficult for them to adapt them
selves to liberal Danish rule than II was LOT
their parents or grandparents to adapt them
selves to the iron heel Of Prussianism. Up TO
1854 the boundary between scandinavia ana
more than one thousand years. 1t is to be hoped
that It will again be placed there and thus pro-
feet Europe and the world from German con-
troled Baltic Sea.
In the interest of a just and permanent peace
Germany must be confined within her own Dor
ders with the Baltic coast line lift TO her arter
poland receives her just outlet to the sea- ana
with the North Sea coast from Holland TO the
new boundary Germany will have ample access
To the markets OF the world Before the war sne
was a beehive of industry, and surely VIII pe
so aaain and that soon. TO avoid trouble she
rn,,st have reasonable opportunity for normal
development. A Germany extending to the Kiel
canal will include no foreign elements to mention
and win give ample harbor facilities for IN,
dIIstrg and trade. A neutral state to control
fha canal would cut Germany off from import
ant harbors and lead her to plot the absorbing
of such neutral state. The only preventive would
be military control by the allies, and that is
surely impractical permanent arrangement.
Such d settlement contains all the seeds OF
trouble.
The peace congress should place the perma-
nsnt boundary at the Kiel canal and induce
DennArcfx to accept her share OF responsibility.
"a duty which she may well hesitate to as
sumo through fear of her still powerful neigh
Dor. II is to be hoped that the SIesvig FFolstein
question may be settled on the same broad pTfn-
ciples al the Alsace- IsoEraine question
HANSON EVTsS AIT TIL.
5YFarpo Isl III Dec Ias