Smyrna times., 1912-07-17

Referring to Englands demand on
our country with reference to the
Panama Canal, the Baltimore Amer
icsn says: Notice has virtually been
served upon this country that it
should not proceed to legislate upon
a subject that is open to diplomatic
differences until after the differences
have been threshed out in the field
of diplomatic interchange. The
request that has come fran the
British representative for delay in
the passage of the bill for the opera.
tion of the Panama Canal until after
his government had filed note with
the government Of the United States
anent the subject is extraordinary in
several particulars. 1trepresents an
unparalleled effort to interfere with
the domestic concern of this country.
Two questions of international inter-
est are involved-the question of
fortifcation of the canal and the
question of tolls. 1t would be ab-
solutely folly for any power to raise
objection to the fortification of the
canal by the government that built
it, that owns the strip contiguous to
it, and that has laid upon it the
moral responsibility that the great
work shall not fall a grey to any
belligerent in case of hostilities
between the nations. The funda-
mental right and moral necessity for
fortifying the canal have been ac-
knowledged by all persons in this
country save the sentimertalists,
who would see in refusal to fortify
an illustration of the peace sincerity
of the United States.
''As to the question of tolls,
about which the British note would
hinge, the latter has already 6een
threshed out, pro and con. Had the
British government assurance of
sound principle for any objection
that might be interposed to the
abrogation of tolls or the lessening
of tolls in favor of American vessels,
it would have been content to wait
the action of the Congress and then
to have entered formal objection and
called for adjudication ny The
Hague. Either lack of confidence
explains the action by the British
authorities or it is q confession of
the weakness of the case they are
believed to be about to set up.
Otherwise, the peculiar request for
postponement of legislation must be
taken as indication of preliminary
notice which England may feel it
important to make in advance 70 T
any action by this country commit
ting it to free Panama transit for
American ships. 1t is not couceiv.
able, however, how such advance
notice would give Great Britain
better standing in the interna
tionaI court of arbitration.
cit is not believed that tn,
United States will delay action upor
the pending bill becaue of the re
quest from foreign nation to d.
so, as upon the early passage o
that bill rests the success of Col
onel Goethals in building up a per
msnent canal organization from the
experts now employed upon tn &
work. The acceptance of the gaug
of diplomatic controversy in advanc
of legislative action would certainl
prevent the passage of the pendin
bill at this session and so delay tn
opening of the canal. Therefore it
hardly to be believed that the re
quest will receive consideration othe
than courteous refusal.
England is not more intereste
than any other country in the ques
tion of the abrogation of tolls fo
American ships. Under the treat
of 1903 it was, indeed, specifcalI
agreed between the two countrie
that the canal should be free an