Germany has deliberately violated the provisions of the Peace Treaty
respecting the Kiel Canal by forbidding the passage of ships carrying munitions to Poland. Article 380 of the Treaty says that " The Kiel Canal and its approaches shall be main- tained free and open to the vessels of commerce and of war of all nations at peace with Germany on terms of entire equality." Poland, like Russia, is at peace with Germany. Therefore any ships destined for Danzig are clearly entitled to use the canal, irrespective of the nature of their cargoes. Germany's plea that she desires to remain neutral in the Polish-Russian quarrel is not pertinent to the issue. The Allies have protested against her action, as they well may. For if Germany may differentiate between one ship and another, the Canal will have ceased to be an open waterway. The Allies would have done better to Internationalize the Kiel Canal. As it is, they are bound to Insist on having the free use of it.
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