GERMANY AND THE SUEZ CANAL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 149, 23 February 1916, Page 1

GERMANY AND THE SUEZ CANAL.

♦' Why Free Navigation Must be Maintained. [By It. (J. Hawk, in the "Daily Mail.*'] The recent visit of Dr Soil', the German Colonial Secretary, 10 Holland has aroused cocsidErable attention in diplomatic quartan and it is fnow known that one of the principal subjects of his conversation has been the proposal by Germany ot certain plans with regard to the use of the Suez Canal It is, perhaps, worth vfhila to try and draw what inference we can from the fact of thi3 German proposal to Holland The Suez Canal is subject to a number ot special treaties and may almost be regarded a3 a creation of international law In 1856 Turkey authorised the construction of the canal, and in 1863 the financial participation ot the Government ol Egypt was arranged. Three years later a Convention was made between the Khedive of Egpyt and M. de Lesseps as president ol the Canal Company. According to this Convention the Egyptian Government was authorised to occupy any strategic positions which it might think to be necessary for the rJet'ence of Egypt so long as this occupation should not be an obstacle to the free navigation ot the canal. The Sultan of Turkey then istiued a firman authorising the construction ot the Suez Canal on the basis of the new arrangement between the Khedive and M. de Lessep?, and one article of this firman was that the company was to be regard.d as ttgpytian and would be ruled by the laws and customs of Egypt. As, however, the company had been registered in Paris and its capital; and constitution were French, it wai conceded that French company law should be recognised as applying to the internal administration of the company THE FAMOUS DEAL Id 1875 the famous argeement was made between Great Britain and Egpvt whereby England bought 176,001) shares in the company for £2,000,000 thereby fecuring 10 out of 32 directors of the company This deal, was arranged by the Rothschilds and Disraeli, and has certainly proved extremely profit able to this country, though nothing has aroused Germau jealousy so much

Very strong objection was taken by France to this share purchase, and the trouble that arose out ot it between France and England continued for some years, atid was finally settlerd by a series of negotiations from lußs down to 1888 By the Declaration of London of 1885 the rowers agreed that the tree usage of the canal was to fce guaranteed to all I'owers at all times. Ibis was a pious opinion which France desired to incorporate in a toimal treaty

In 1887, after the period of unrest which had characterised British internal politics, Lord Salisbury tcok up the negotiations whicb Lord Koseberry had lett incomplete. He ultimately arranged the Suez Caaal Convention ot 1888, which was signed by Great Britain, Austria, France, Germany. Italy, Holland, Hussia, Spain, and Turkey. This is when Holland came in, and h:r c;nsiderablc trade with lh3 Indies justified Euiope in taking her into consideration According to this Cor vention the Suez Canal "is to te always fiec and open in time ot war, as in time of peace, to every ship of commerce or war without distinction of Hag." Tee signatories undertake "not lo prevent the lice use of the canal either in time ot war or in time o( peace,'' and in particular it was agreed "that the canal shall never be subjected to the right of blockade. ' FruviJions were made legardmg the Fresh water Ca;ial, which is of special importance to Egpyt 'lhc Convention then lays down certain provisions with regard to tfcc ccnCuct of signatories i uririg time of war. It is provided that in lime, no right ol war, no act ot hostility, and lu act having as 19 object to prevent the tree navigation of Ice canal can be exercised in the canal or at its porta or within a radius of three miles from the ports even when Turkey is one ot the belligerents. For example, no troops may te disembarked cor may the cam I b'iortiliei

All these provisions, however, are subject to the stipulation thai nothing ij to prevent the Khedive's right to delecd Egypt and to take the necessary steps to maintain order in his country Another exception is mai'e on behal! of the Sultan ot lurbcy. lie may lake what steps he thinks lit for defending his pOBS-esaioii3 on the Hed Sea

WHAT GERMANY WaNIS It la cot known what proposal Germany has made to Holland with regard to these matterß. Possibly Hollnnd was invited to be one of tt;e three signatories who would demand a conference on the subject of the canal, or possibly Holland has protested against the violation of this treaty" hy Tuikey, who attacked (he canal and sunk a ship by mean of a mine.

But wlnt Germany specially wants at the present time is an orpoitunity of fending arnu rnJ ammunition through the canal for the use ci" the 'lurks and of her cohnistJ in German East Africa. Sueh arnn and ammunition might, of course, ba privately packed in a as his already been done on one oecasion. It wculu also be a military advantage for Germany and Turkey to block the passage through the caaal, and we krow in advance how much value tu plsce on the German signature to the 1888 Treaty

Ths Kaiser has to supply arms and ammunition to the Turkish troopa who deal with the rebellion in Arabia, and he must protect his Deutsche rJa.k, which holds the Bagdad railway concession and numerous subsidiary interests. Egypt is row menaced by Turkey acting in concert with Germany and Austria, so ths ne.v Khedive will cleaily be compelled to exercise all his rights over the canal wi'h tha object ct defending his cojutrv snd maintaining order therein. 11 the canal were blocked Holland and Spain are the only neutral sigcatories of the Canal Trea'y wfeo can protest against sucb an attack on the canal, and they should aci together. The new Spanish Premier is very friendly to the Entente, and has announced his desire to maintain the present treaty arrangements with England and France respecting Ihe Mediterranean.

He doubtless refers to this Suez Canal Treaty as well as to the later treaty, made in 1907, between England, Trance and Spain, which inaugurated a new Entente in favour of the status quo in the Mediterranean Sea. N.i one bus opposed so consistently the proGerman attitude of the late Government at Madrid as the new Prime Minister, M. rje Komanones, so he is certain to do his duty towards the Entente No doubt the new Khedive's advisers are carefully arrangirg plans for the protection of Eygpt against the prujected Turkish expedition, and the maintenance of free navigation of the canal is a taek which will need energy and forethought