The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-16
A L G u m e n is NJ a d e
Against Fertilization
of Panama Canal.
ITS DEFENSE
UNNECESSARY
Sponsors of Statement Are Prom
inent in United States and
Abroad-Viewing Question
From Every Standpoint
They Can See No Cause
for Military Occupancy.

Boston, January ia statement
emoodying six rcasons why the PAN
anna Canal should DC neutralized. bear
ing the signatures of men aud women
I prominent in the United states and
/ abroad. was made public to-day. Rich
ara olney. Former Secretary Of state
David Starr Jordan, president of IL.
iaha Stanford. Jr.. University: Wi.
nam Dean iIoweils. author: Charles y
ahuersoh, Protestant Episcopal Bishop
OF chicago: William II. p. Fauncc. pres-
cent OF Brown University: Jane Ad-
Jams. Of Hui, House. Chicago. George
-. mott Justice of tho United States
Instruct Court. and George Foster Pea.
cog. the New York banker, arc among
the sponsors Of the document The
statement follows:
WIS, the Panama Canal should be
"cuiral.zcd not fortified:
J. Because The canal would be safer
I'll war time without fortincat!on Ac-
IordinE to the agreement signed by
ne llaSuc Conference in 1907. unfor-
lifted coast places cannot 10 bon1barde cd
because the original intention o.
our government. distinctly EXPRESSED
IN 1909 and previously. was ID prohibit
tortiiications on the canal Though
this prohibition was emitted IN the
iinaliv revised iIay-Paunceforte treaty
that we ought to fortlfy 1t. nor was Its
construction proposed as primarily a
military undertaking.
Other Waterways NcutrnlIxcd
Because. though the Sucz Canal
was built with English money. Eng
land agreed to Its naturalization. The
straits Of Magellan arc also neu.
traiized. and the Interpa amcntary
Union in 1910 declared In favor of the
naturalization of all !nteroccanic
waterways.
~. Because thc Un,te,+ States In all
rs history has never been Tackled,
and heSen every foreign war Il ever
had, and it IL toosimporiant a oustom.r
for any great nation AT this late day
70 wantonly attack. Though an enemy.
might in stress OF war he tempted Ia
break It's pledge to MS, no nation would
dare break Its naturalization pledge
with the combined powers, as the pen
atty OF non-intcrcourse. which could bc
included in the general treaty. would
involve commercial ruin.
rs. Because. with the experience OF
nearly cnntury's peace with England
insured by our undefended Canadian
border line, until we have asked for
complete arbitration treaties with all
possible future enemies and have been
refused. we should be insincere In in.
creasine our war measures This fs
especially true In View OF the facts that
since 1902 the nations nave signed 100
arbitration treaties and President Taft
has made the impressive declaration
that ne secs no reason why any aues-
ton whatever should not be arbitratcd;
that the second Hague Conference in
various ways diminished the likelihood
of war: that not only the prize
court but the court OF arbitral Justice
is practically assn, ed and that In the
summer OF 1910 Congress unanimously
passed resolution asking the Presi-
| dent to appoint commission OF five
to consider the utilization of existing
! a agencies TO limit the ornaments of the
world by mutual agreement. OF the ma
tions and 70 cons titutc the world navics
an international force for the prescr-
| vation Of universal peace and to CON
slider other means to diminish eXpenii-
lures for military purposes.
Question OF Expense.
&c. because. In the words OF Hon.
David j. Foster, chairman of the Com
mittce Of Foreign Affairs In the House
of Representatives. the initial expense
OF the necessary fortifications would
not be less thin s25,0G0,000: In all prob
ability IL would not be less than $50
100000. The annual expense of main
tanning such fortitications 1000 miles
! from home would probably amount to
| possible, It Is still apparent that in
order that tho canal might be of mill
tary advantage to the United States
TN time of war a guard Of battlesbirs
at each of It's entrances would be an
absolute necessity. II Is equally APP
parent that with such a guard the for
tiiications would be unnecessary, IL
not entirely useless. We arc bound by
solemn treaty obligations to see to Il
| that the canal shall be and remain
forever open to British ships in tins
of war we'll as In time OF peace,
, and while It is probably true that no
other nation could clai i'm any advantage
by virtue of this treaty. It is also true
that we have thereby placed ourselves
under moral obligation to maintain an
open canal for the ships Of all nations
| at all times. in war as we'll as in
peace"
Other signers of the statement arc
Henry Waldo Rogers, dean OF the Yale
Law School; John Graham Brooks,
lecturer on economics; Francis Lynde
Stetson. attorney. of New York: Ida
Tarbell. historian: NJ o. Nelson. manu-
facturer. st. Louis; Il. p. Wheeler, at
torney. of New York; Samuel r. Capen
president of tho American Board OF
Commissioners for Foreign Missions.
Boston; Marcus NJ. Marks, and Thomas
Mott Osborne, manufacturer, Auburn,
n. Y.