The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-16
CURRENT COMMENT


1t was an extraordinary thing for Great Bril-
tain to DO, to make representations through her
Tor the Panama canal Were It not that me
British foreign office is bas!ng such a procedure
upon the Hay-Pauncefote treaty, the action
would be tantamount TO minding another ma
tons business.
Mr.. Taft summoned up the situation eonciseiy
when he said We own the canal our money
built It, We have the right to charge tolls for
Its use or 10 dispense with them at our own
pleasure These tolls must be the same to all
nations, but when dealing with our own ships.
the practice of many governments of subsidiZ.ns
their merchant vessels is so well established that
r remission Of tolls cannot be taken to be
discrimination in the use of the canal"
The Hay-Pauncefote treaty, so long a bone
of contention between Great Britain and our
government, is purposely misunderstood by
statesmen who try TO get something for nothing.
That treaty stipulates that the canal shall be
open to the vessels of ali nations observing the
rules laid down by the United states on terms
Of entire equality. that there shall be no dis
elimination in respect to the conditions and
charges Of traffic. Such charges shall be lust
and equitab
This gives to the country the absolute right
to make any discrimination in its own favor,
Besides, we have lived up to the provisions OF
the Hay Pauncefote treaty which says explicitly
that such rules shall be Just and equitable TO
all other nations. This country certainly is not
required to abolish Determinations already ex-
sting. 1t Is the shipping law and not the pro
posed canal act which excludes British shipping
from the advantages enjoyed by our coastwise
trade
The planned exemption from tolls Is not so
much In favor Of American shipping In favor
OF shipping between American tdomestc) ports
And it Is surprising that Downing street diplo-
macy should not be aware OF the fact that II
British or German or French vessels were law
fully engaged In such coastwise traffic they
would be exempt from foliage as we'll That
foreign bottoms are debarred from this coast
wise trade has nothing 10 do with the canal and
its rules II Is the result Of our shipping law
which has been statute books century.
Are we expected to repeal that law on account
Of the canal. or to please Great Britain? Would
Great Britain do such thing for us?
But this diplomacy protest will have one
wholesome effect. 1t VIII cause congress to make
the canal laws correct to International
usages that neither Great Britain nor any other
Jealous European nation Will have a leg to
stand upon for absurd protests. And TO con
clude, We ask why doesn't Great Britain look
to her own canal laws suppose We were TO
dictate to her what charge for the Suez canal
passage or how much to charge or not to charge
her own bottoms?
The matter fl entirely one for congress 10 de
eide. and we cannot subscribe even 70 the con-
tent3on made by some metropolitan papers that
the case ought to be submitted 10 the Hague
tribunal There is nothing 20 submit. Every
nation has the ACKNOWLEDGED right 10 do within
its own territory what 1t pleases Coastwise
traders sail To ana from American ports That
settles fl. Besides, there is our shipping law,
which for a hundred years has been accepted
and obeyed by all Washington Herald