A SWISS CLAIM

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 136, 6 December 1919, Page 9

A SWISS CLAIM

ACCESS TO THE SEA

.FREEDOM OF THE RHINE WANTED.

"We are living in a position of economic slavery as regards our neighbours," said a French-Swiss Deputy recently in the Swiss Parliament. "Tho only way to extricate ourselves from it is to gain access to the sea."

M. Ador, the venerable President of the confederation, agreed as to the urgent necessity of Switzerland having direct access to the ocean. "Our economic independence," he said, "and the extension of our trade are both bound up with tho question of access to the sea."

M. de Rabours, the eloquent member for Geneva, said that Switzerland, owing to her situation, could not but be interested in and affected by river navigation plans formed in neighbouring countries. The Swiss, he continued, had arrived at one of the difficult periods in their history, and they must untiringly insist on their rights being respected. All these discussions, which havo been proceeding for -months in tho Swiss Parliament and press, mainly centre around the Swiss claim to the freedom of the Rhine —that is, that all countries should be allowed to navigate the Rhine from Basle to Rotterdam on the same conditions. This "freedom of tho Rhine," is, of course, a European rather than a local Swiss question. Holland, for instance, is deeply affected by it, as well as Switzerland; and Great Britain's trade with Switzerland must also be influenced by the ultimate settlement of this much-discussed problem. BUILDING OF LOCKS OPPOSED. Before the collapse of Germany it was tho German Empire which was the barrier to its settlement. At present it is Franco which stands jn the way. Germany wanted to erect several electric powor stations between Basle and Strasbourg: and now i that Franco has the overlordship of the Rhine between these two points, she is making similar proposals, which, if carried j out, would also place considerable obstacles in tho way of the free navigation of tho Rhine. The proposed electrical works would mean the construction of 24 looks or dams across the Rhine between Basle and Strasbourg, which would make navigation not merely costlier, but 6lower, and Switzerland equally disapproves of locks and obstructions, whether due to Germany or to France.

She disapproved Germany's pretensions because of Article 5 of the Paris Treaty of 30th May, 1814, stipulating that "navigation on the Rhine from the point where it becomes navigable until tho sea, and vice versa, shall be free, and in such a way that it cannot be forbidden to anyone." Switzerland disapproves, secondly, because of the international rules of the Congress of Vienna in 1815 concerning the Rhine and its tributaries. Article 108 of this document states that "the Powers whoso territories aro separated by one and the same navigable river undertake to settle by mutual arrangement everything connected with the navigation of that river.' She disapproves, thirdly, because the Rhine Navigation Act of 1868 confirmed the Treaty of Paris and the Vienna Congress stipulations, and regulated the navigation of the Rhino still more definitely. , . The Swiss hold that the treaties of Paris and Vienna bind the French as much as they did the Germans. M. Gelpko,- the well-known Swiss engineer and member of the Swiss Parliament, who was also one of the Swiss delegates to Paris on the Rhine navigation question, complains that, the real obstacle to tho freedom of the Rhino is now Alsace, with her highlydeveloped industry, for which she wants the 600,000 horse.power of electrical force which at present is not being utilised along-her frontier. SIDE CANAL IS PROPOSED. The Alsatians propose to erect a barrage a few miles below the Swiss frontier, and .thence to Brisach to have a side canal parallel with the Rhine. Four, sec- I tors about equal would each terminate in a fall of forty feet on an average, affording 100,000 horse power. To render navigation possible, the canal, 90 yards broad and 19 feet deep, would be provided with weirs 190 yards long, so constructed that a tow boat with two tugs attached, each of 600 tons burden, could in about half an hour gel over the difference of level between the two gates or locks. To take a convoy of tugs down would occupy the same time, so that the total time required to get over a weir and for it to be filled and emptied would bo ono hour. There is a difference between German and French projects. The Germans wanted to make the Swiss pay part ef the expenses of constructing barrages and also charge them lock tolls; whereas the French assure them.that they ask nothing from them but their consent to Alsace.'s plans. The French also urgo thai; the journey up stream would be no longer than at present, and that freights would fall considerably owing, to the saving of coal.

Tho Swiss object that they would be obliged to tranship goods; that everything going either up or down stream would bo subject to examination by the Strasbourg Customs authorities; and that the regulation of the Rhine, which they advocate, would enable tugs of 2000 tons burden (not 600) to go as far as Basle. Thus, they say, we shall.have our outlet to the sea, and be in direct communication with Rotterdam, Antwerp, and London. Moreover, they estimate the cost of regularisation at only £1,200,000, whereas canalisation before the war would have cost £4,000,000, and now perhaps twice as much. Again, regularisation could be done comparatively quickly, and without interrupting traffic.

SWISS OFFER TO SUPPLY POWER

Swiss electrical experts calculate that the power stations which the Alsatians propose to erect will yield 100,000 horsepower only when the water is at an average height; at low water they will yield barely 35,000. Switzerland, they argue, above Baslo can dispose of 400,000 horsepower at a net cost of 700 francs each, while below Basle the price would ho as much as 1400 francs. What the Swiss ask. therefore, is to receivo a guaranteo o£ freo navigation between Basle and Strasbourg, while they in turn would undertake to supply Alsaco with cheap electrical power.

I'mnlly, they turn tho tables on the I'ronch by saying that below Strasbourg there aro hundreds of thousands of horsepower going to waste, and asking what the Alsatian capitalists would say were it proposed to canalise the Rhine below Strasbourg in order to utilise all this electrical energy ? Consternation has been caused in Switzerland by Article 358 of the Paris Treaty with Germany. Briefiy summarised, lt grants 1 ranee tho right to take water from the Rhine for her navigation or irrigation canals, already constructed or to be constructed, between Basle and Strasbourg;, but tho exerciso of this right must- not injure navigation "either in the Rhine or in any artificial channels which may bo substituted therefor."

This is the point which makes the Swiss tho Dutch, and Belgians so uneasy, and to a certain extent also the British. As for the Swiss, they hold that Article 358 means that the Rhine outlet to the sea would in reality cease at Strasbourg, instead of at Basle, as they contend it ought to do. I In the discussion which has just taken plaeo on the subject in the Swiss Parliament, President Ador said that Switzerland was looking to England, Belgium, and Holland to support her claims to the freedom of the Rhine and Rhine navigation. Switzerland, ho added, was ready lo supply France with 100,000 to 150,000 horse-power between the Lake of Constance and Basle. This is less than the engineers' estimate

It is now 6tated that an international board of engineers is to be appointed to examine the question of Rhine navigation and see whether electric power stations cannot bo erected without impeding the freedom and convenience of traffic.