284 THE MARITIME CANAL OF SUEZ. 



In 1865, when the Convention was entered into for the Naviga- 

 tion of the Danube, and confirmed by the Conference, which met 

 in Paris in 1866, the Neutrality of the Danube, up to the Iron Gates, 

 was decreed, and it is to be hoped that the whole course of the 

 Danube below the Iron Gates will, in accordance with the proposal 

 made at the Berlin Congress, be neutralised, and interdicted against 

 operations of War. 



The Sound, at the entrance of the Baltic Sea, after many years of 

 controversy, has become neutralised, a free channel like any other 

 portion of the high seas, whether in time of Peace, or War, of the 

 merchant marine, and War vessels of all nations. 



The Convention between Columbia, and the Panama Canal Com- 

 pany, signed 1878, embodying the provisions of the Clayton-Bulwer 

 Treaty of 1850, recognises the absolute Neutrality of the Panama 

 Canal, in the event of War between any two or more Maritime 

 Powers, freedom for merchant vessels and war-ships in time ot 

 Peace, freedom for merchant vessels in time of War, and further, 

 tolerates no violation of neutrality by Columbia, by the erection of 

 orts or fortifications, or the assembling of troops. 



Truly, it may be said, the era of Ship Canals is rapidly opening 

 up, for, though attention has by special circumstances, been 

 concentrated on the Suez Canal and its actual position, and 

 also on the prospective regulations for that still grander inter- 

 national highway, the Panama Canal, they are, we hope, but the 

 beginning of Oceanic Canals. 



Whatever plans may be devised for exempting these Inter-oceanic 

 Canals from molestation, for rendering them barriers against modern 

 warfare, they must be based upon the. unequivocal declaration of 

 the inalienable Sovereign Rights of the States through which they 

 pass. Inasmuch as Egypt and Columbia are weak, it behoves us, 

 as vindicators of International Right, and as advocates of Peace, 

 to use all our influence to induce general respect for the in- 

 dependence and autonomy of these States, and if Egypt, or Columbia 

 desire to secure the protection of more powerful States in the main- 

 tenance of commercial intercourse, let us aid them in that direction ; 

 but only on the condition, that all Maritime Nations shall have 

 equal claim to participate in the natural advantages which these 

 States now enjoy. We should place no reliance on any military 

 plans for safeguarding these highways of the Ocean. Rather should 



