The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 1916. HELIGOLAND.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 97, 30 March 1916, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 1916. HELIGOLAND.

I Discussing the recent offer of Cyprus to Greece Sir Francis Piggott, in "The Nineteenth Century," likens the analogous case of the cession of Heligoland, and formulates an answer to the very grave constitutional question 5 to what extent Cabinet possesses the power of bartering, for good consideration or for had, portions of the Empire without reference to the wishes of the people expressed through Parliament. Sir Francis, who for some years was Chief Justice of Ceylon and possesses the analytical mind of the trained and expert lawyer, concludes that it is possible to imagine circumstances arising in which the safety of the nation may demand a cession of territory, and that the exigency might compel the Executive to act at once without reference to Parliament, though, of course, Parliament might review the whole transaction, and Ministers might have had to face ini-, peachment. The Christclmrch Press, referring to Sir Francis Piggott's article, says that weighty as it is on the constitutional side, to most readers : its chief interest will lie on the fresh light it throws on the rather obscure*"' topic of the cession of Heligoland. "Most of us know that that island j came into our hands in the course of the wars against Napoleon, and played a considerable part in relation to the Bedim Decrees and tlyit it remained in English hands up to the year 1890, its geographical and strategical importance had been recognised long before we actually seized it. But, in 1890, these considerations seem to have slipped into the background, or, at least, to have been viewed by leading statesmen from a wrong angle. Lord Salisbury had arranged with Germany, what was regarded as a satisfactory i solution of outstanding frontier questions in East Africa. Heligoland was viewed as a mere pawn in the game,. the trivia] price paid to Germany for

largo and important territorial concessions. An unfortunate fallacy wag then current, which was voiced by Mr Labouchere in the debate in theHouse, when he asserted that 'the best security for peace is that every country should be strong defensively and not strong offensively.' To England, lie recognised, Heligoland might be of service in an attack on Germany. But such th attack was inconceivable. The right way to look at the question, lie j held, was that Heligoland would lie aj tower of defence to Germany against, any Power aggressive enough' to at-, tack her. In the light of recent happenings, this may well seem strange doctrine. Yet 'it seems to have passed muster as common-sense in 1890.1

Mr Gladstone, indeed, expressed a doubt whether the question of the strategical importance of Heligoland was entirely disposed of, and said that 'he could conceive contingencies of war in which it might not be without some material weight as to strategical operations.' But be evidently regard-' ed such contingencies as practically! negligible, for he pressed bis objections] no further. Admiral Maine scouted the bare notion of England ever fortifying the island, and regarded with sublime indifference the probability that the Germans would do so, once it j passed into their bands, 'to satisfy!

their feelings of pride and vahity.' Fortified or unfortified, it could never be held in face of a superior fleet but must follow the law which makes islands the invariable prey of the country which has the biggest fleet in adjacent waters. The gallant Admiral's words read strangely to-day, when experience has at last taught us. wisdom. But if the leading statesmen and the prominent members of the rank and file, showed singular lack of, foresight, there were some few who had a truer vision- Th<* last speaker in the debate. Colonel Nolan, member for North Galway, was a veritable prophet. Heligoland, lie pointed out', was admirably adapted for fortification, and could be made most formidable in time of war. Krupp and German engineers could work miracles. They would turn the island into an impregnable fortress under the protec-j tion of whose guns German ships i could run when attacked in superior force. 'ln future warlike operations all lines of blockade will have to be drawn outside Heligoland, and that means a line so long that it would be practically impossible to effectually blockade the Weser and the Elbe. Heligoland in the hands of the Germans, jn his view, would be a sort of temptation to the German Government to; annex Holland one day, in which case Germany would become a formidable rival of England both at sea and in ' respect of our colonial Empire." How, very wise Colonel Nolan's words were* the world knows to-day.