The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-03

strength. Our success on this CONT
nent thus secured the avoidance of
wars and continental solidarity
south of the Isthmus Of Panama that,
all things considered, form wonder
full achievement and shining record.
Yet this happy condition Of affairs
has been wrought out largely through
the consistent urgency of our state
Department. 1t was made conditional
and embodied in the treaties that the
rivers Amazon and La Plata. Para
quay and Parnna-the latter the sec
ond river in South America, having a
length greater than the Mississippi
md draining nearly as large an area
should be forever free 10 naviga-
ton. The maintenance Of this prlnci-
pie. mutually agreed on, has more than
once when menaced called for the
peaceful activity Of our novy-thc
watchdog Of the treasury Of American
faith In compacts. The United States
has never allowed that treaties could
be made waste paper. Hence we see
in South America a noble unity which
works for the worlds good.
Not least Of the excellent fruits OF
this American policy has been It's
powerful influence In securing for
Belgium the free navigation of the
Scheldt River, once Theoretically
sealed by means Of Dutch forts and
war vessels, whereby Antwerp was
changed from a ruin to n metropolis.
Then grass grown areas Of deserted
streets gave way to the prosperity of
seaport, which became one of the
great ports of the world--all of which
the Belglans have gratefully acknowl-
edged. OF the opposition and protest
against the sound dues levied by Den
mark the record is equally clear.
In a word, American diplomacy,
even before the principle was enun-
ciated by the Congress Of Vienna In
1915, had advocated the doctrine, In
both theory and practice, Of keeping
International waterways for the bene-
fit Of the whole world. In the League
of Nations covenant part OF Article
XXIII. pleads for freedom Of COM
munication and transit"
But in regard to the chief water
way of Europe and the one most made
use of by Americans. as reaching the
heart Of the continent, does not the
proposed pact violate the American
principle, while also contradicting
itself?
Any one who has stood on the banks
Of the Rhine or Mas in Holland and
seen the long procession Of steamers,
whalebacks and lighters frelghted with
American cargoes passing along this
cheap and easy route into the Neither
lands, Germany, France and Switzer.
land must have been profoundly i'm
pressed. The latest demonstration Of
the rivers value to Americans is the
selection by our Government since the
armistice Of the port Of Rotterdam
as the cheapest and most conven-
lent entrepot to supply the American
armies and to continue the beneflcent
work Of feeding starving peoples.
From Lake Constance to the sea
the length of the Rhine is $50 miles.
For four of the nations on this
great boundary river the following is
the mileage: Switzerland Zone bank
only), thirty-nine miles; Germany,
451 miles GAO miles on one bank
only; France, 10 miles for one
bank only, and the Netherlands,
10 miles. Now for fifty years or
more all duties levied on the Rhine
have been abolished and the naviga.
ton Of the river has been on CONNER
cial not on political lines. The ripa-
rlan States have worked In harmony
through a central commission, In
which were four German and three
non-German votes. But now the Paris
Peace Commission proposes a six men,
Der board with eighteen votes, In
which two countries, Belgium and
Italy, without interests at all COM
parable to ours in the natter have
equal votes with France and Ger,
many--the two larger countries and
those more affected.
In a word. the American principle
has won full recognition in Europe, es-
pecially after the revised Rhine Navi.
gation Treaty Of 1868, made effective
July /, 1869, which meant the free
use Of this noble river for CONNER.
cial purposes by all nations without
paying tolls. Fifty years Of practice
and experience show that until the
breaking out Of the world war, in
addition to an entrance and an exit
free to all, the constant improvement
of the channel and removal of i'm
pediments was the rule. Proof OF
this is supplied by the publication by
the Netherlands Government in 1915
Of two volumes containing all the
Rhine documents from 1915 to 1915
These show the American principle
finely illustrated.
Now the Paris treaty proposes the
solution of post-bellum problems, as
far as regards the Rhine, In a way
that is likely to be unsatisfactory and
breeder of troubles. Three nations
Great Britain, Belgium and Italy-iI