The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-07-12
Protests Against Free
Can al Passage for
American Ships.
STRUGGLE MAYBE
LONG AND BITTER
Congress Undoubtedly VIM Pass
Measure Which British Find
Objectionable, and Whole
Matter May Go to The
Hague for Final Settlement.
circumstances Unusual.

Washington. July li-The lines were
drawn tonight for great 4ipiomato
struggle between tho Unltsd states
and Great Britain over the question oe
whether this country may discriminate
IN favor OF American vessels h, +bo
s,,.qihinistrat'on OF the Panama canal.
ne wordy war may terminate in tho
Hague tribunal
series Of diplomatic ana legisla-
i've conferences to-day developed tho
iact That the forces In the American
soNerrment which favor allowing
american ships free passage through
,he canal are IN control. These forces
'ake the position that there is noth-
ing In the Hay-Pauncefote treaty.
| Under which the canal was built to
prevent this concession
The diplomatic struggle. precipitntsd
ny the note received today from,
mitchell lnnes, charge OF the British
EMBASSY. it is expected. VIII be fought
along the following lines:
Great Britain Will take the position
mat the Hay Paurcefote treaty pro-
vision. which forbids discrimination in
favor of the interests OF any nation
IN the conduct or the canal would OPP
crate against the provisions Of the
Panama bin now under consideration
IN tho Senate. THIS provision will no
supported by lengthy argument now
on us way from London hy mail which
VIII be presented to the state Depart
ment ana transmitted to CONGRESS i'm
mediately upon its arrival
The United states Will hold that so
I long as the ships Of all foreign ma
tons are accorded the same treat,
nent in the use OF the canal. tho
United States may pass American
ships free or rebate the tolls charged
them. This position was taken by the
House, when it reversed tho report OF
the House Interstate and Foreign
Commerce Committee. which would
nave prevented free passage to Amerl-
can ships. and passed the present bill.
Its Pnssnge Assured.
The ultimate passage OF the meas-
ure now before the Senate seems as
sured. The men behind the bill In
the senate said to-day that the British
/ note would not prevent consideration
or the measure whenever IT could he
reached II, the ordinary course OF bust
ness But the position OF Great
Britain will strengthen the opposition
to the free provision.
After a conference with President
TAFT. Representative Sulzer. of New
York chairman OF the House Commit
tee on Foreign Affairs made a state
ment supporting the bill. He said
- ''At So am surprised tnat ilN
BRITISH government now objects to tho
United States government regulating
the tolls OF its own ships through thss
Panama Canal, However nothing sert-
Gus Will come OF the objection Tho
treaty IS plain and clear to all. The
British government should not and
cannot complain ii no toll discrimina-
tion is made against British ships IN
favor OF the ships of other nations
That is the real meaning Of tho
treaty. and We shall carry out its
provisions in good faith We have the
right under the treaty to charge or
not TO charge tolls for our own snips.
Doubtless Congress will proceed with
the Panama Canal legislation regard
less OF the criticisms OF our friends
across the water Besides second
thought VIII put them Right and show
conclusively their position is unten-
able"
1t was general understood tnat this
position is supported by President
TAFT and Secretary OF Wa- St!mson in
direct charge OF the Panama admin
istration.
While the British note caused some
comment on the unusual incident or
a foreign nation Interfering with leg
islation IN formative stage. 1t was
pointed out that this was the only
course by which Great Britain could
oppose the measure. Just as soon as
the bill becomes 4 law. under supreme
Court decisions, It supersedes all
treaties bearing on the same sub
ject matter and would thus leave
Great Britain no ground for objection
after II had been written on the stat
ute BOOKS.
The state Department probably VIII
not undertake 10 reply to the Briusn
argument in its behalf. but Will re-
gard itself as subject to the action
OF Congress on the ball. and viii al
low Congress to dictate any reply 10
the British protest
May Go to The Hnguc.
Should the bill become a law over
the protest OF Great Britain it IS
scarcely expected that the matter
Will end there, as British. and parti-
cularly Canadian. interests. undouDt-
eddy would force further diplomatic
action by London. and when these
means were exhausted The Hague
tribunal Will be the court OF last
resort.
Although the text was withheld, IL
was said at the State Department.
that tho British government felt that
10 allow American vessels 20 pass
through the Panama Canal Without
the payment OF tolls. or to refund
tolls collected would he 70 violate tha
Hay Pauncefote treaty
As to the coastwise traffic, the Brit
ish government felt Il would be dim
cult TO frame i provision mat would
not he unjust 10 its interests. II was
requested that Congress nold The
pending bill until the embassy had
an opportuuity 80 transmit TO the