Omaha daily bee., 1911-01-16
Agreement Prevents Bombardment Of
Unprotected Coast Places.
OPPOSED TO ORIGINAL INTENTION
Construction Asserted to Be Not Pri-
marily Military Undertaking.
NATION NEVER BEEN ATTACKED
y" Cuuutry Would Dare 60 BreRk
naturalization Pledge with Com
bined Powers aud Face
Commercial Ruin.

BOSTON. ian. Ia statement embody-
ing reasons why the Panama canal
should be neutralized, bearing the sigma
lures OF men and women, prominent in the
United states and abroad was made public
today. ltchard Olney. former secretary of
slate; David starr Jordan, president Of
Leland stanford. Jr. university; William
Dean Howens author: Charles p. Ander-
son. Protestant Episcopal bishop OF Chicago;
william H. ?. Faurce. president of Brown
university; Jane Addams of Hull House,
Chicago. George 3. Holt. justice of the
United States district court, and George
Foster Peabody. the New York banker are
among the sponsors OF the document. The
statcpent follows:
why the Panama canal should be neu-
tralzed, not fortified:
because the canal would be safer in
war time without fortification According
20 the agreement signed by The Hague
conference in 1907. unfortified coast places
cannot he bombarded.
Because the original intention OF our
government az distinctly expressed in 1900,
and previously. was to prohibit fortifca-
tions on the canal Though this prohibition
was omitted in the finally revised Hay
Pauncefote treaty signed in 1902, this in
no wise implies that we ought to fortify
st. nor was its construction proposed as
primarily a military undertaking.
Because, though the Suez canal was
built with English money, England agreed
TO its naturalization The Straits Of Magel-
Ian are also neutralized and the Inter-
parliamentary Union In 1910. declared in
favor OF naturalization OF all inter oceanic
WATERWAYS
Because the United states in all It's
history has never been attacked and began
every foreign war II ever had, and it is too
important customer for any great nation
% this late DAY 70 wantonly attack. Though
an enemy might. in stress of war be
tempted 10 break It's pledge to us no ma
tion would dare "a break It's naturalization
pledge With the combined powers. as the
lgnaity of non p-intercourse. which could be
included in the general treaty would in
volve commercial ruin.
because, with the experience OF nearly
a centufy's peace with England ensured
by our undefended Canadian border line.
until we have asked for complete arbitra-
ton treaties with all possible future ene-
mics and have been refused. we should be
insincere In increasing our war measures.
This Is especially true. In view OF the facts
that siRce 1902 the nations have signed
lC) arbitration treaties and President Taft
has made the impressive declaration that
he sees no reason why any question what
ever should not be arbitrated; that the
second Hague conference in various ways
diminished the likelihood of war. that not
only tho prize court. but the court OF ar
hitral iustice Is practically assured and
that in the summer Of 1910, congress unani-
mously passed a resolution asking the
president to appoint a commission of five
to consider the utilization OF existing agen-
cics to limit the -armaments Of the world
hy mutual agreement OF the nations and to
constitute the world navies an interna-
iional force for the preservation OF uni
rersal peace and to consider other means
10 diminish expenditures for military pur-
poses
Because, in the words of Hon. David
j. Foster. chairman OF the committee of
Foregn affairs In the house OF representa-
lives; The initial expenses OF the neces-
sary Qualifications would not be less than
S25 Coz COO; in all probability Il would not be
less than S50,O0o00O The annual expense of
maintaining such Qualifications 1000 miles
from home would probably amount to
$4,000, With al the Qualifications nos
sible, q Is still apparent that in order that
the canal might be OF military advantage
to the United States In time OF war. a
guard Of hattleships at each OF its en-
frances would be an absolute necessity. II
Is equally apparent that with such guard
the Qualifications would be unnecessary. II
not entirely useless We are bound by
solemn treaty obligations TO see to It that
the canal shall be and forever remain open
TO British ships in time OF war as well as
IN time OF peace. and while Il Is probably
true that no other nation could claim any
advantage by virtue Of this treaty. il is
also true that We have thereby placed our
selves under moral obligation TO maintain
an open canal for the ships OF all nations
al all times in war as wen as in peace. %
Other signers OF the statement are
Henry Wade Rogers, dean Of the Yale law
school; John Graham Brooks, lecturer on
economies Francis fynde Stetson. attor-
ney OF New York; Ida Tarbell historian:
\, O. Nelson manufacturer ST Louis: r
r. Wheeler attorney OF New York: Samuel
=. Capen. president OF the American Board
of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
Boston; Marcus A. Marks. ana Thomas
Mott Osborne, manufacturer. Auburn. \. Y.
mnGIcHUn