Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-07-25
Roots Brief for the British
on Canal Question
He Thinks That Congress Is Presumptous in Attempting
to Legislate the Subject of Canal Tolls

e- of canal tolls a Panama
1t is not to be supposed Root is sentimental
Angomanacbndy eager they do in London The
eloquent Toysm of his speech last week in the senate
be attributed other impulses
the of the British in this
case is the cause Shipping and the transcontnena
every fiber of Mr. Roots mentality
instincvely responds. Said Mr. Root:
rights of the United
making the discrimination against which
will be for arbitration under the Hay Faune
The Hague tribunal No one can
would be piled up if we collected tolls and
be subjected
ruinous demand upon the treasury
short Mr. Root is moved by power which seems to
him greater States deny the sovereignty ofthe
United States He thinks that congress pre-
sumpuous attempting egisae the subject of canal tolls
and that presumption may be severely punishedwith
"ruinous' consequences to United States treasury
the reputation of being corporation law
yer He however very great reputation to lose con
sutona awyer-ese likely that the strong of
sympathy the transportation trusts could have drawn him
into preposerous position has taken the matter
should be perfectly clear matter of constutionaty
and international law canal American in
and waterways of the United States has alb
soute sovereignty legae in the matter
as peases-an destroy canal if likes open the
world its and that if the IIayPaunce
fote treaty stands in the it be put out of the way IN
manner conormabe the and comfy of nations
The complete answer Roots brief for the British
the Hay Paunceote treaty contains nothing in dero
CATION sovereignty the canal and second that
we should Immediately and abroga the treaty did
Lodge offered fresh and convincing confirmation of
the first point in speech the the other day He
called himself the member of the foreign
relations reported to the senate 1900 the
proved draft Hay Panceoe treaty with Great Britain Mr.
Lodge declared United had retained by the
full rights policy toward American vessels He de-
Tended the principle free tolls for American ships He said
was of opinion it
in determining the position of vessels did
limitation imposed and did not believe that the
included the nations to be treated with equality
terms"
Our right or Engands right to abrogate
treayor any it mutually
contracting parties equally clear.
There nothing about treaty that makes
than the constitution And gives government
of the United States sovereignty all the
the United States the of treaty may
annued when Just and equitable to one
of the parties
Commercial treaties bargains-in which privilege is
matched against privilege Hay Paunce
fote treaty the idea reciprocal advantages party
obtaining equivalent yielded goes out of
them when Of the parties fails obtain equivalent
We made for example treaty England 1854 with
reference Canadian reciprocity, and annuled this treaty
l865whou strainng the least friendly
England In the last ninety years have made reciprocity
treaties with forty countries and have amended
continued them terminated ewthout question right
to do so.
The simple fact is that the Root theory of present situation
baeess fabrication invented and propagated by private in
Representative Knowland Of California explained the pres
dent last week how the Canadian railroads prompted by inter
oceanic railroad this have nstigaed
the protest Of the British against Panama tolls
for the ships of the United States
Alr Root may not have had any personal initiative this in
uigue But it's purpose has aroused a4n sympaties Of his
hea and spaed him to championship that congenial