The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-07-13
CANAL QUESTION
CAUSES DIVISION
that an SHIPS PASSING through tho
canai should my tolls

lcontinucd IRON Frst fage.


Free Tolls Favored.
If the action OF tn. senate Commit
tee ON 1ntoruceanic Canals on this
question It's any Indication of the ma
jority attitude I'm tine whole Senate
the provision for free tolls for Amer
lean ships viii be adopted by the sen
ate y big majority Of the committee
voted for the hnl's provision FOR free
tolls Tor American ships in both coast
wise and foreign trauc.
1t lis taken Tor granted that baci,
OF the majority votes was the belief
that no treaty with Great Britain
would be violated by the free tolls
provisions The treaty question was
discusscd az length during tho hear
,uss and during the meetings OF the
committees but there WIS no direct
vote on it, Il is held, however. 20 be-
Uncomfortable chat Senators would
vote for the free-toll proposition While
believing that 1t violated a treaty
The op2oncnts TO free tolls win
raise the treaty question ms an arsu-
incnt against them. and the question
Will bc before the Senate much as 1t
was before the Senate Committee on
Irtcroceanic Canals.
i,no1 10 Mnrk Time.
AT to-days important Cabinet meet
ing Secretary Knox had nothing new
ing the contention - -zcat Britain
that the provision of the ilay-Paunce-
fote treaty will be violated if the
United states discriminatos in favor
of IT'S own vessels going through the
Panama Canal. The State Depart
mcnt attitude is that Congress has
the whole question before il. ana that
there is nothing to 10 until that body
has acted l'urthe- communications
from The British government on the
subject Will be Transmitted 10 tic
Iawmakinr body for Its consideration
and information when made
That the matter was discussed NJ
the Cabinet meeting to-day there was
little doubt Secretary Knox. al
though reticent on tho subject ap-
poarcd to think that - far as tho
state Department and the President
are concerned there Is nothing to be
said os done 81 this tine
May Go 10 'rhc Hague.
1t is entirely within tne bounds cs
possibility that the right OF the Unit
oil states to favor American ship
ping In the use Of the Panama Canal
mus, finally De passed upon by The
HAGUE tribunal.
The unrestricted notice from Great
britain that shc VIII regard discrim-
ping as In violation Of Aer tfeaty
rights which has gust oeen served
uron tho government Of the United
states. may be regarded as initial
sng great diplomatic struggle that
must finally DE settled by reference
to some impartial authority
Yesterday's note from Mitchell lnnes,
who is IN Charge OF tho British embassy
during the absence I'm New Zealand of
Ambassador Bryce while couchec In
perfectly courteous language, conveyed
a quiet iutima,!cn OF tho strength OF
the British opposition TO the use OF
the Panama Canal as a means OF build
ine up the American merchant marine
at the expense OF other nations.
Long SETTLEMENT Expected.
Moanwhne. and In all lkellhood be-
fore the senate can have finally acted
Upon tine measure. there viii have arr
rived in washington what Is believed
20 be long legal ana arEumentative
statement by the British Foreign Office
ur lts reasons ia detail for oblccting
TO tho proposed legislation, and in some
way this IS certain TO be read into the
Senate records.
II is q very unusual thing for any
foreign nation TO undertake TO inhu-
ence American leSislatlon in q form
ativo condition. ANA attempts TO do SO
in the past have elected severe rchukes.
But o. is admitted at tDe state Depart-
mont that the peculiar conditions III tie
present case appear TO warrant such
action ON the part OF Great Britain.
hence Mr. lnras's note has been ac-
corded free transmission to the Senate.
" this pendlns bill is passed 1t will
as law. automatically replace any
treaty provision covered by the same
subject such was The decision Of tho
Supreme Court iu passing upon the
Chinese exclusion law. Therefore. If
highlands protest Is TO be Of any avail,
1t must be made now, before the bilL
becomes law. to be OF any effect
Assuming that the bill becomes a law.
IL may be regarded as certainty that
Great Britain Will nor submit, vi, bo,,-