Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-07-12
MAY DISREGARD The Note
BIT WILL PROBABLY BE PASSED,
NOTWITHSTANDING THE
british REQuEST
CLAIM treaty IS broken
Lenders Ia the senate Declare That
England II Not Being Discrimin-
ntcd Against by the lilll.

WASHINGTON, July ll.-Llnes
were drawn tonight for a great diplo-
matte struggle between the United
States ana Great Britain over tho
question Of whether this country may
In favor Of American ves-
sells In the administration of the Pan
anna canal, The wordy war may ter
inmate In the submission of the qucs-
ton 10 The Hague tribunal,
Answers of diplomatic and legisla-
tive conferences today developed that
forces IN the American government,
which favor allowing American ships
free passage through the canal are In
control These forces take the posi-
tion that there is nothing In the Hay
Pouncefote treaty, while the canal was
built to prevent this concession.
The diplomatic struggle precipitat-
ed 10y the note received today from
Mitchell lnnes, charge of the British
embassy, II Is said viii be fought
along the following lines:
Great Brilains Position.
Great Britain viii take the posi-
tlon that the Hay Pauncefote treaty
provision which forbids discrimination
in favor of any nation In the conduct
of the canal, would operate agalnts
the provision Of the Panama bill now
under consideration In the senate. This
question will be supported by "a lengthy
argument now on It's way from London
by mail, which will be presented to
the satte department and transmitted
to congress Immediately upon its ar
rival
The United States will hold that so
long as the ships of all foreign ma
tons are accorded the same treatment
In the use of the canal, the United
States may pass American ships free
or rebate the toll to be charged them.
This position was taken by the house
when II reversed the report of the
house interstate and foreign commerce
committee, which would have prevent
ed free passage to American ships, and
passed the present bill.
Bill VIII BE Passed.
Ultimate passage of the measure
now before the senate seems assured.
The men behind the bill in the SEN
ate today said the British note would
ure whenever IT could be reached in
the ordinary course Of business.
But the position Of Great Britain
viii strengthen the opposition to the
free measure.
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: "Of course ! am surprised
that the British government objects to
this regulation In the tolls of its own
ships through the Panama canal. How
ever. nothing serious will come Of the
objection. We will treat It with the
dignity It deserves. The treaty Is
plain and clear to all. The British
should not, and cannot,
complain If no toll discrimination Is
made against British ships in favor of
the ships of other nations.
No Treaty Violation.
That is the real meaning of tho
treaty and we shall carry out its pro-
visions I'm good faith. We have the
right under the treaty to charge or
not TO charge tolls for our own ships
There is no doubt about that. Every
lawyer of standing, who has investl-
gated the subject says so and 1t never
was questioned before, legally or dip
II cannot be successfully
questioned now and doubtless congress
Will proceed with the Panama canal
legislation, regardless of the criticisms
Of our friends across the water. Be
sides, second thought Will put them
right and show conclusively their po-
sition Is untenable.'
II was generally understood that
this position Is supported by President
Taft and Secretary of War Stimson in
directing the Panama administration.
on the other hand, Representative
Adamson, Of Georgia chairman of the
house interstate and foreign commerce
committee and Representative Stevens
of Minnesota, the ranking republican
member of the committee, supported
the British position. They pointed out
three provisions in the pending bill
whic hthey asserted the treaty proV-
sions. They were:
Support England's Stand.
First The provision that no tolls
shall be levied upon vessels engaged
In the coastwlse trade Of the United
States. This may be held to be dis
in favor Of American COM
merce and against the competing COM
merce of neighboring nations. The
treaty prohibits any advantage t. any
nation to It's commerce or its citizens
on account of the construction and OPP
lration Of the canal
Second. The senate amendment,
tolls to be levied o1 Aw-
erican vessels engaged in the foreign
trade which may be subjected TO he
ing taken by the United states gov
ernment in an emergency. \ dlscrin-
natIou in favor Of America vosseis
against foreign vessels using The canal
between the same ports tad doing the
,ame trade. For the iams reasons
80. rrn,,isiop saarpa IN xtnltta iIe