The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-07-13
THE BRITISH IMPUDENCE

! The surprising interference of the
British Embassy in this country with
respect to legislation proposed in Con-
gress for the government Of the Pan.
ANA Canal is as unwelcome as it is
sensational. There is no doubt what
ever to the absolute right of the United
States to the full control, regulation,
and management of the Panama Canal.
1t is true that under the first treaty
negotiated by Secretary Hay with the
Gritish Government there was some
doubt about this, and the old Bulwer.
Clayton treaty was not absolutely re-
pealed. But, although some Senators
were satisfied with that treaty in its
ambiguous state, the Senate as r whole
rejected 1T; then the new Hay -Paunce.
fote treaty was negotiated which gave
to the United States the absolute con-
troll of the canal. specifically abrogat
ing the BulwerC Clayton treaty
There appears to be in this country,
however, remnant of the old idea that
we should share equally in that canal
with other powers; and there is, of
course, an itching among other pow
ers to have their fingers in the pie But
the United States built the canal with.
out any help. 1t has the complete
right to the management and control
and will exercise its right in its own
way.
Yet it is contended that we are
estopped from any favoritism toward
our own shipping by Section / of Arti-
Gle of the Treaty which says:
The canal shall be free and open to the
vessels of commerce and OF war of all
nations observing these rules 1.-THE rules
made by the United Statesl on terms
OF entire equality. so that there shall be
no discrimination against any such ma
tion, or its citizens or subjects in re-
spect to the conditions or charges OF
traffic, or otherwise. Such conditions
and charges OF traffic shall be just and
equitable,
This section in itself is conclusive
upon the point that the United Stpt tes
shall allow all nations to use the canal
on equal terms: but inasmuch as its
right to regulate and control is abso.
lutte, and as the United States has
built the canal, to say that it shall not
exercise any discrimination in favor of
its own vessals is absurd. It may do
so if il likes. All that other nations
can insist upon in this treaty is that
there shall be no discrimination as
among them. That is. the United States
shall not discriminate against Germany.
in favor Of Great Britain, nor in favor
Of France as against Russia, and so all
along the line, That is all that the
words quoted mean
Further clinching the point, read
Section article 8, which says:
The provisions OF this article shall ap-
ply 10 waters adjacent TO the canal
within three marine miles OF either end
Vessels Of war OF a bclligerent shall not
remain In such waters longer than "a
hours al any one time. except In case
Of distress, and In such case shall de-
par, as soon as possible. but a vessel of
wer OF one belllgerent shall not depart
within "a hours from the departure OF
vessel OF war Of the other bellsercnt.
1t is very clear case that this refers
not to any vessel of war of the United
States. for as the canal zone is specific.
ally United States territory, il would
be absurd TO say this country could not
keep its war ships in those waters more
than p hours At n time, or that the
tbree-mile limit is TO be enforced
against the United States within its
own waters. 1t would also be absurd
to construc this article AS limiting the
vessels of war Of the United States in
their action within the adjacent waters
Of the canal.
The clear intent and meaning of all
this is that the United States in making
the treaty agreed 10 certain impartial
regulations with respect TO the handling
OF the vessels Of commerce and of war
of other nations. There was no intent
and there can be no reasonable inter.
probation placed upon the language,
that would allow OF the United States
being bound with respect TO the use of
its own property. in it's own territory
and waters, by rules that it i'm
poses upon other nations; and with re-
spcct TO these rules giving the use of
the canal by other nations and citizens
and subjects of those nations the ssma