The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-07-17
ENGLAND MAKES OBJECTION
claims ii Violates Treaty and Tha;
free Passage for American Shin.
would be Discriminator. and Tn
just.

Washington, July 1.-THE lines
We're drawn tonight for a great din.
lomatic struggle between the United
states and Great Britain over the
question Of whether this country NAV
disc, inmate in favor Of American vas.
sels IN the administration Of the Pan
anna canal The wordy war may
terminate in the submission of the
question to The Hague tribunal.
The series Of diplomatic and legis-
iatlVe conferences today DEVELOPED
the fact that the forces in the Amer
lean government which favor allow
ing American schips free passage
through the canal are in control.
Ihese forces take the position that
there is nothing in the Hay-Paunce-
tote treaty, under which the canal
was built, to prevent this concession.
The diplomatic struggle, precipitat-
ed by the note received today from
Mitchell lnnes, charge of the British
embassy, Will be fought along the
following lines
Great Britain will take the position
that the Hay -Pauncefote treaty pro-
vision, which forbids discrimination in
or of the interests of any nation.
- the conduct of the canal. would
perate against the provisions Of the
Panama bill now under consideration
in the senate. This position will be
supported by lengthy argument now
IN It's way from London by mail, which
Will be presented to the state DEPART
ment and transmitted to congress i'm
mediately upon its arrival.
The United States will hold that
so long as the ships Of all foreign ma
tlons are accorded the same treatment
in the use Of the canal. the United
states may pass American ships free.
or rebate the tolls charged them. This
position was taken by the house when
1t reversed the report of the house
interstate and foreign commerce COM
mittee, which would have prevented
free passage 10 American ships, and
passed the present bill.
The ultimate passage Of the meas
ure now before the senate seems as
sured. The men behind the bill in
the senate said today that the British
note would not prevent consideration
of the measure whenever it could be
reached in the ordinary course of bus
mess. But the position Of Great Brit
ain Will strengthen the opposition to
the provision.
After conference with President
TAFT. Representative Sulzer of New
York. chairman Of the house COM
mittee on foreign affairs. made a
statement supporting the bill He
said:
IF course, | am surprised that the
british government now objects to
the United states government regu-
latlng the tolls of its own ships
through the Panama canal. However.
nothing serious will come of the OBJ
lection. The treaty is plain and clear
t" all. The British government
should not ana can not complain Of
1t if no toll discrimination is made
against British ships in favor Of the
ships Of other nations.
That is the real meaning Of the
treaty and we shall carry out its pro-
visions in good faith. We have the
right under the treaty to charge or
not to charge tolls for our own ships.
Doubtless congress will proceed with
the Panama, canal legislation regard
less Of thc criticism of our friends
across the water. Besides. second
thought will put them right and show
conclusvely their position is unten-
able"
1t is generally understood that this
position is supported by President
Taft and Secretary Stimson of the
war department in charge of the
Panama administration.
While the British note caused
some comment on the unusual Incl
dent of a foreign nation interfering
with legislation in formative stage.
it WAS pointed out that this was the
only course by which Great Britain
could oppose the measure. Just as
soon aS the bill becomes a law under
scdeS all treaties bearing on the same
subject matter. and would thus leave
Great Britain no ground for obiec-
tion after it had been written on the
statute books