The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-11
Great Britain Sends a Request
to State Department
That Panama Canal LegisIa-
Be Held Up.
NO REASON is ADVANCED
Grounds for Objections Are Ap.
parent in the Bill.
Congress Is Not Disposed to
Grant Much Delay.

Washington, July 11.-Great Brit
ans request that the enactment of
the Panama canal administration bill
be held in abeyance until Mr.. Innes,
the British charge, can present a note
in behalf of his governm ent, confronts
congress and the state department
with an extraordinary situation. The
request for delay has been communi-
Gated to the senate interoceanic canals
committee. 1t came from the summer
embassy at Kineo, Me-, late yesterday
and was sent by Mitchell Innes. the
charge, acting for Ambassador Bryce,
who is in New Zealand. While the
reasons for the request are not stated
there is no doubt that the British
government is concerned in the clause
to grant free passage through the ca
nal to American vessels in coastwise
trade and that relating to the passage
or railroad owned ships. The Cana
dian railways are deeply concerned in
both and it is thought that some of
the representations will be made in
their behalf. The canal bill is now in
the senate committee with prospect of
being soon reported and will then go
to conference with the house. Con-
gressmen at both ends of the capitol
feel that if any Panama legislation is
to be had it must be at this session
of congress. The exigencies which
have arisen as the canal approaches
completion make legislation neces-
sary If a permanent organization is to
advantage. 1t was said today that
members of both houses were not
agreeable to much delay now.
Senate Not Disposed to Wait.
Senator Brandagee has replied to the
state department that the legislation
tremely urgent and the senate commit
tee has planned to report the canal
bill to the full senate some time next
week. That the reply has been COM
municated by wire to Mr.. Innes and
probably will have the effect to hasten
the delivery of the British note. One
of the provisions of the bill as it now
stands would make it impossible for
through the canal if they engaged in
coastwise trade.
Then the question of free tolls to
certain classes of American ships in
Pauncefote treaty. 1t is believed the
British. government will hold that
ships of all nations must be on an
equal basis. The opinion among many
american statesmen is that to grant
free tolls to American ships is not a
violation of the terms of the Hay
Pauncefote treaty.
No Backing Down.
Great Britain's request for a post
ponement of Panama canal legislation
before congress unIn a IOrDldI
statement can be filed against the pro-
posed ship toll provisions likely is to
have little effect in delaying the pas
sage of the canal bill. Members of the
senate interoceanic canals committee
today declared there would be no back
ing down by the senate from it's posi-
tion in favor Of free passage of Ameri-
can ships. Senator Lodge, ranking
member of the senate committee on
foreign affairs declared any further de-
Law was impossible. He declined, how
ever. to express any final opinion on
the right of the United States to grant
free passage to it's own ships under
the existing treaty with Great Britain.
Senator Brandegee, chairman of the
canals committee, will make an effort
to have the bill brought before the
senate as unfinished business as soon
as the Loriner case has been disposed
Of 1t is doubtful, however, whether
the senate can reach the bill before the
British statement arrives. Many sena-
tors said Great Britain representations
would be given full consideration.
other Protests Expected.
That not only Great Britain but all
maritime powers might be expected to
protest against any discrimination in
favor of American vessels has been
fully expected Notwithstanding PreSi-
dent Taft and Secretary Stimson have
committed themselves to the assertion
regulate traffic in the manner provided
in the pending bill. The strongest state
ment of the administrations position
was that made by Secretary Stimson in
his Kansas City speech November II
last dealing with the Panama canal
as a work. He declared that he had
not the least doubt of the right of the
United States to pay tolls on American
vessels using the canal which would be
equivalent to granting them free pas
sage.
Everybody's Doin' 1t.
He pointed out that substantially ev-
cry European government using the
Suez canal paid such subsidies, and
the Hay-Pauncefote treaty provided
that the rules of the Suez canal were
to govern the operation of the Panama
canal
President Taft has let it be known
that he proposed to be guided in the
matter entirely by the will of con-
ed on the present lines the legislative
branch of the government will be
bound to lend unqualified support tc
the state department in what is al
most certain to be a period of ex-
tremeIy active and pregnant exchange
of notes with the great maritime DOW
ers.
While it is true that Great Britain
occupies a position of exceptional in
terest and power regarding any
isthmian canal by reason of her ancient
of joint control with the
United States it seems certain any rep
resentation the British government may
make will be supported by Germany
and France and perhaps other Euro
pean powers. The matter of moment is
how far those powers may go to sus-