The Washington herald., 1912-08-29
'ENGLlh0 MAY
PROTEST BILL
Great Britain in Vote Indicates That
Arbitration Of Differences Is
to Be Asked.
TO STUDY VARIOUS PROVISIONS

/ Notice that Great Britain probably viii
ask arbitration of the controversy with
the United States over legislation just
passed by Congress granting free pas!
sage through the Panama Canal TO Amer
lean. ships, was served on the State De-
partment yesterday In note received
from the British Embassy.
The note. which was signed by Mr..
A. Mitchell Innes. charge d'affaires of the
legation. was very brief. and. like the
first informal protest against the then
pending canal legislation of July s. gave
promise that further, communication from
Great Britain is to follow. 1t was stated
that the British. government, in view OF
the enactment by Congress of the Iegis-
lative provisions for the canal tolls
s. again calls the attention OF the United
States government to the views Of Great
Britain upon the subject. with reference
to the alleged violation Of the Hay
Pauncefote treaty.
1t is stated that the British govern
ment will make a careful study Of the
provisions of the bill, and the reasoning
advanced by President Taft in support Of
the action of the United States in favor
ing American ships. II an irreconciliabie
divergence of view of the treaty-and the
piu COuinucS 10 cAlSta -dltcE suCu ctduys
II is declared that arbitration Of the ques-
ton will be expected.
To Reply to Note.
No reply. beyond an acknowledgment
Of the receipt of this note. will be sent
Mr.. Innes by the State Department. The
promise contained in the note of a further
communication is regarded as making any
action by the State Department unneces-
sary at this time.
Consequently, the State Department and
the President are to have a breathing
spell before being confronted with a de-
mand for arbitration of the controversy
over the Interpretation of the treaty.
Upon the answer which Is made to Great
Britain, II Is expected that the future
arbitration policy Of the United States
will depend II has already been pre-
dicted by Senators that IL the United
States should refuse to arbitrate, that II
would mean the death of the nations
arbitration treaties with the powers.
The one with Great Britain expires in
June next, and the one with France in
March of next year. These treaties
could not well be renewed by either
France or Great Britain In self-respect
II the United States declined to arbi-
trate the canal question.
On the other hand. certain Senators
declared openly that the United States
must not permit the question to be arbi-
trated. Others asserted as positively
that II the matter were arbitrated the
United States would be certain Of losing
the decision. 1t. was pointed out by
these Senators that the interests OF
practically the whole world are against
those OF the United States In the mat
ter. so that but one result could possibly
be expected.
No indication OF the policy which the
President will pursue has yet been OBJ
tainable. II is not expected. however.
that the British request TO submit the
matter to arbitration will be received
for some time, thus giving the United
States opportunity TO work out a plan
Of action.