The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-07-13
NOTE OF PROTEST
Is MADE PUBLIC
BY BRANDEGEE


Continued from Page One.
conspicuous manner. and arouse a feel
ing of hostility against Great Britain
in the United States.
Knox Is Considernte.
On the other hand, the reason given
at the State Department for passing the
British protest up to the Senate is that
the department did not wish to appear to
be presuming on the prerogatives of the
Senate and House. Secretary Knox con-
siders that the department has observed
the very perfection OF Difference to the
Senate in placing before that body all
the communications received from Mr..
Innes the British charge daffaires-
State Department officials yesterday
stood pat in their position as stated Thurs
day. They refused even to discuss the
Panama matter. declaring that such dis
cussion would not be courteous to the Sem
ate. The department view is that Con-
gress is legislating in regard to the canal
and until Congress has expressed its view
in regard to the obligations of the Hay
Pauncefote treaty that the State Depart
ment cannot properly express any views
in communications with the British gov
eminent. As a matter of fact. Score
tary Knox and all the officials OF the De-
partment OF State hold that the British
protest is not justified by the terms OF
the Hay-Pauncefote treaty. Expression of
this view will not be forthcoming. it is
stated until Congress asks for the depart
ments opinion.
The general belief that the Senate will
insist on granting free use OF the canal
to American ships now that Great Britain
has presumed to register an objection to
pending legislation led yesterday to a dis
cussion of what devices the British gov
eminent might resort to in that event.
One Recourse Left.
The only recourse which would then be
left to Great Britain would be to enter
formal protest. alleging violation of the
Hay-Pauncefote treaty in the treatment
accorded American ships. The United
States might then properly reply that.
in the opinion of this government. the
treatment accorded American ships in
their exemption from payment OF Canal
tolls did not constitute violation OF
the treaty. But, in any event, Great
Britain would probably be informed that
the act of Congress is supreme law for
the United States government and not
to be altered except by further act of
Congress.
Great Britain, as the party claiming
violation of the treaty, would then have
the privilege of declaring the treaty abb
rogated as far as she was concerned by
the alleged act of violation upon the part
of the United States. By SO declaring
the treaty violated. however. Great Brit
ain, in the HayPauncefote Treaty, merely
yielded up certain concessions granted
her regarding a future AtlaEtic-Pacific
canal in the Clayton-Bulwer treaty Of
1850. The canal is now a reality, and in
the possession of the United States.
In such an event. it is sand here, Great
Britain would be in a position to de-
mand arbitration of the whole question
by The Hague Tribunal.
The view generally held here however,
is that the entire matter Will become only
so serious as Great Britain is inclined
to make it. That Great Britain would
care to go the length of forcing the
issue to the point of a demand for ar
bitration is generally doubted here.
There is a large element in Washing
ton, both among members of House and
Senate. and also among administration
officials, especially officers OF the army
and navy. who feel that 1t would be a
fatal mistake upon the part of the United
States to ALLEVIATE Great Britain for the
sake Of the question now in dispute be-
tween the two governments. The end
of the Monroe Doctrine as tenable
policy will be in sight, it is predicted.
as soon as the United States does any,
thing tending to weaken the bond of
sympathy between the two nations.
England Could RctnIiatc.
1t is further predicted that to adopt
an unyielding attitude in regard to the
Interpretation OF the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty will provoke retaliations upon the
part of Great Britain in regard to other
treaty relations with this government.
Severe hardship might be inflicted by
Great Britain, It is stated, upon Ameri-
can shipping on the Great Lakes, where
American and British interests are de-
pendent upon mutual agreements be-
tween the two nations.
The tangle into which the British
protest has precipitated the entire mat
ter of Panama Canal legislation will
probably result in an attempt being
made to enact the administrative tea-
lures of the pending bills, providing
for the operation of the Canal. at once.
and a postponement of the question of
tolls to a later date. Representative
Adamson. author of the House bill.
is understood to have decided to intro
duce a resolution TO this effect. Secre-
tary of War Stimson is much in favor
of such action, in case the question OF
tolls threatens to further delay Canal
The Senate. however, will
object to such n PROPOSE
tion most strenuously. That body. 1t
was indicated yesterday. has been much
aroused by the developments OF the last
two days. and intends to trash the