The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-07-18
WANTS TO KNOW
U. S. ATTITUDE

WASHINGTON, d. c., Special A
nOJe from the British Embassy re-
ceiVed by Secretary of State Knox
yesterday puts it squareIy up to Con-
gresS whether American ships shall
have free use of the Panama Canal
in the face of vigorous objection upon
the part of Great Britain. or whether
the United States is to yield the right
to favor ships owned by her own cit
liens.
Mr.. Alfred Mitchell lines. coun-
selor and charge d'affaires of the
British Embassy, yesterday followed
his request for Il delay in pending
canal legislation with a definite and
positive statement of the objections
which his government entertainS to
the pending bills. He stated most
emphatically that his government was
of the opinion that for the United
states to allow American ships to pass
through the Panama Canal without
the payment of tolls. as assessed upon
ships of other nations, would be
violation of the Hay-PauncefOte
treaty. The British Government, de-
clared Mr.. Innes' note, would con-
slider that the treaty was violated
whether tolls were not collected from
were collected and then refunded.
Innes' note recited further that the
British Government believed that as
TO determinations in favor of ships
engaged in coaStwiSe trade, ii would
be difficult to frame provision
which would not be regarded as in
furious to British interests.
Extended Note Coming.
Mr.. lines added that a more eX-
tended expression Of the views of the
British Government on the matter of
canal tolls was now on the way, hav-
ing been sent from London yesterday.
In this supplementary document il is
expected that the reasoning upon
which the British Foreign office bases
its action will be presented in full.
Secretary Knox forwarded the Innes
note to Senator Brandegee, chairman
of the Senate Committee on Inter
oceanic Canals. which has the Pan
anna Canal bills iIjNcharge. The sec
rotary declared, after thus oisposing
Of the Innes note, that the state
Department has at this time no fur
Their part to play in the matter, mas
much as the entire question was one
which concerned the Congress alone
at this stage Of the proceedings.
The Innes note makes no mention
of any objection upon the part of
Great Britain to the pending prOvis-
ions excluding railroad-Owned ships
from the use of the canal. NeVerthe
less it is known to be a fact that
the action OF the British government
was in large part, at least inspired
by the wishes of the Canadians in
|
Canada and a number of officials Of
the Canadian government, together
with number Of Canadian railroad
Z viewed here can hardly be oVeresti-
mated. Even in official quarters it
was admitted that after a year or
more or less vague talk upon both
sides of the Atlantic, the issue is
now squarely up to the United States
with the decision in the hands of
Congress.
Canal legislation is far from being
an accomplished fact. So remote, in
deed, is q set of laws covering tolls,
operation. etc, that none dare to pre-
dict the form which the canal legisla-
I ton Will ultimately take. The Senate
| bill Is barely out of committee, or
rather, the Senate has found no time
/ 10 consider the bill since it was re-
bill differs radically from the House
| bill, and it is considered that there
Will be a prolonged contest in the
Senate before there can be a confer
ence upon the measures.
Inc StOuSe committee was opposed
to free passage for American ships,
but WAS overruled by a vote in the
House. The Senate committee has
reported Il bill providing for the free
use Of the canal, with many cOmpli-
Gated provisions, by American ships,
Yet Senator Brandegee himself said
yesterday that his committee was un-
able to agree on single feature of
the bill, While ii is becoming known
that many of the senators ranked as
the ablest of lawyers in that body
are preparing to fight the Senate bill
as a violation of the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty.
Neither is the administration a unit.
President Tart has accepted and
recommended to Congress the views
! of Secretary of War StimsOn, but it
/ is known that some other lawyers
/ in the Cabinet do not coincide with
their chief and Mr.. StimsOn.