Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-11
LIVELY FIGHT AHEAD !,
OVER THE ARBITRATION
OF CANAL QUESTION

A lively fight will be precipitated In the
Senate over the Panama canal tolls. if
the question Of arbitrating the protests Of
Great Britain against the granting OF
free tolls to American shipss engaged in
the coastwise trade is submitted to the
upper house Of Congress. And all the
probabilities are that the Senate would re-
fuse to refer the question to The Hague
tribunal for its decision. on the ground
that the question raised by England IL q
domestic one
1t is not considered improbable that
President Taft and Secretary OF State
Knox will submit to the Senate a special
agreement providing for the arbitration
of the dispute. because Of the Presidents
championship of peace and the arbftra-
ton of international disputes. Before the
question could be referred to The Hague,
however. such a reference must be ap-
proved by a two-thirds vote OF the Sen-
ate. That the Senate will not grant its
approval is predicted because OF. the at
titude which IL took at the time the
clause for free tolls for coastwise ship
ping was inserted into the canal bill.
Not all of those who were opposed TO
the free toll clause are expected to sup
port the proposition to refer the dispute
to The Hague tribunal There are quite
a number of senators who hold the view
that the Hay-Pauncefote treaty Is not
violated by the free toll provision in
favor OF coastwise ships. They take the
position that only American boats can
engage in the coastwise trade or this
country, and therefore there is no dis
crimination against the boats Of other
nations In relieving the ooastwise steam
ers from the payment OF tolls TO pass
through the isthmian canal. They voted
against this feature of the bill. however.
on the ground tha as business PROPOSE
ton all ships using the canal should b
required to pay TIE proper tolls.
Interpreting Treaty Of 1908.
The decision as to the submission OF
the dispute to international arbitration
will rest in part on the Interpretation to
be given to the general treaty OF arbitra-
tion between the United States and Great
Britain, ratified by the Senate In 1905.
and expiring June 5. 1913. This treaty
specifies that all differences that may
arise of a legal nature or relating to the
Interpretation Of the treaties existing be-
tween the two countries not possible or
settlement by diplomacy, shall be referred
TO The Hague provided they do not az
fect the vital interests. the independence
or the honor OF the two contracting
states and do not concern the interests
of third parties" II 1t is decided that
the toll auetsion haised by Great Britain
does not fall within this exception the
question must be arbitrated under the
terms of the treaty.
THE final Interpretation OF this clause.
with reference to the toll question. rests
with the Senate.
Among senators who will talk about the
British protest for publication. there Is
a decided difference Of opinion as to the
reference Of the dispute to arbitration.
Senators Root and Burton. republican
members of the Senate committee on
foreign relations, think the question
must be submitted to The Hague.
Tho whole question is adequately COW
cred by the treaty Of 1905" Senator Bur
ton said. in discussing the question. II
don't see how we can avoid that method
Of procedure
senator Lodge. another republican on
the foreign relations committee. Is known
to believe that the exemption OF coast
wise shipping from tolls is violation OF
the Hay-Pauncefote treaty, and he voted
against that provision in the Panama ball
because of that position.
Senator William Alden Smith OF Mtchf-
gan, republican. and Senator Stone or
Missouri, democrat. both members OF the
foreign relations committee. take the
position that the question raised by
Great Britain is Q purely domestic one
and this government should not submit
h to any court OF arbitration. Senator
bacon, who will be chairman OF the for
eign relations committee after March 4.
has declared his belief that the question
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