"Freedom of the Straits"

Maoriland Worker, Volume 12, Issue 303, 20 December 1922, Page 5

"Freedom of the Straits"

Whenever the diplomiats wish, to "gat away" with an obnoxious move they generally endeavour to dupe the people by clothing it in a ronfancist Camouflage. These gentlemen for some months now have been chattering about the "freedom of the Straits/" although It is quite certain from their conduct that they do not believe in freedom anywhere. What do the/ mean when they parrot tilts particular phrase? They certainly do not mean, that the Scraits should be free'for the useful purposes of peaceful .commerce, because for the last 150 years the Straits have never teen closed to the ships of any nation, except in war. For this period of time "the Straits have always teen free IN PEACE. This girye's-us a- clue -to what Tae diplomats are driving .at —they want "freedom' , to pass through the Straits in war as well as paace with their battleships. In short, they want the power to occupy the Black Sea with their fleets, aand so be able to threaten the trade of Russia, anS gain a favourable position for seizing, the o ; <l at the back of Batoum. Tbjafc Is what their "freedom of the Straits" amounts to, and nothing 'else. I£ any New Ze&lander is prepared to die for that, his simplicity is lim&tiess—and pitiable.