New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-08
ANT|-AMER|CAN TALK
ON PANAMA CONTINUES
British DaiIieS and WeekIIeS
Take Themselves Seriously
on Several Subjects.
JAMES BRYCE MENTIONED
Saturday Review" Says Am
bassador Is Popular Because
He Encourages Our I'm
sane National Vanity"
IBv Cable TO The rribune. !


London. Sept. There is some
thing supremely ludicrous about the
seriousness with which the English
daily and weekly publications take
themselves The Saturday Review"
which has been insisting for several
years that Germany will declare war
upon England in the spring of 1913.
now moves the date forward 10 Sep
timber, 1914 The exact date will, Of
course, be awaited with some anxiety
by business and financial interests,
but doubtless THE Saturday Review"
can be depended upon 10 announce IL
in sufficient time for all necessary ar
rangements to be made.
The Nation" continues to be prac
tically the only English publication
willing 10 allow America any rights at
all in the Panama Canal or any right
to enforce and interpret her own laws.
According 10 all the other English
newspapers American laws must be
declared null and void when they con-
flict in any degree with British in
terests. Otherwise America would be
guilty of the most heinous information
al pertldy THE Nation says this
week:
1T can hardly be said that by itself
the exemption of American coastwise
trade is discrimination against for
eien shipping since foreign shippins
is already excluded from that trade,
nor does II necessarily become a breach
Of the Hay Pauncefote treaty because
as a result 81 the exception all other
ships, including American ships in for
eign trade. passing through the canal
will have to pay more. Nor can it
well be argued that II the American
government were 10 give a subsidy
10 its ships in the form Of return OF
canal tolls such proceeding would be
breach OF the treaty.
The reading OF the treaty against
which we must protest is President
Tafts claim that the United States
bound herself merely To treat all for
cign nations alike. but left herself free
TO discriminate in favor OF her own
shipping. This Is the claim that is as
serted I'm the broadest possible fash
ion by the Panama act, but our pro-
test, though urged emphatically. must
be urged in the fricndliest spirit, and
all suggestions Of bad faith and all
rancCr should be avoided"
Anti American Pronouncement.
THE Saturday Review" which last
week INDUCED itself in 'limehousing"
President Taft, says ;his week:
by exempting American shipping
from dues foreign ships will be unduly
taxed. To this there is no real an
swer except that the United States
feels it can safely defy foreign opin-
ion"
Sir Frank Gould c'F. c. ca has a
cartoon in "The Westminster Gazette"
suggesting that the diplomatic tact !
Of James Bryce will settle it all, but
we feel no certainty that Mr.. Bryce Is
a match for Mr.. Taft's electioneering |
gifts Our ambassadors popularity !
In the United States is due 10 his per-
sistent encouragement Of their insane |
national vanity"
The English, as has been said, are |
the best winners in the world. Their |
spirit OF fairness was well shown in |
connection with the Panama question |
by the publication in several London |
newspapers on Friday Of an alleged |
interview with ex-senator Chauncey
NJ, Depew. Mr.. Depew was standing
on the platform at Euston on Thurs
day morning talking to The Tribune
correspondent while waiting for the
boat train TO start for Liverpool to
catch the Adriatic. He was discussing
the American political situation. when
an English newspaperman injected
himself into the group and said he
would like to know what Senator De-
pew thought Of the Panama Canal sit
uation.
The Tribune correspondent for the
benefit Of the Englishman. asked Mr..
Depew TO say what he thought Of the
canal bill. Next day he found the
London newspapers all giving prom
inence 10 a few disconnected SEN
fences from Mr.. Depew carefully Sc
lected from a rather lengthy talk and
resulting H. giving IN absolutely false
impression Of the whole tenor Of Mr..
Depew's remarks.