New-York tribune., 1912-08-29
GREAT BRITAIN REVIEWS
CANAL BILL PROTESTS
hdheres to Original Views and
Hints That 1t May Be
Necessary to Arbitrate.
T0 SEND NEW STATEMENT
perards as Peculiar Ignoring
of Original Informal Protest,
Submitted When Panama
Bill Was Pending.
From The Tribune Bureau.

From The Tribune Bureau
washington. Aug. 2S.-Great Britain re-
,.ved its protest against the Panama
r.psl bill to-day. Mitchell 1nnes, charge
Es1aires. submitted to the acting Secre-
nry Of State a memorandum setting forth
,be fact that his government adhered to
the vews previously expressed regarding
n. Panama Canal bill; that he had for
wsrded to the Foreign Once copies of
tho oil as finally approved, together with
, copy of the memorandum of the Presi-
dent. and that IN due course his govern
man; would submit a comprehensive and
srgumentative reply, and, finally. that In
tho event that the differences between the
.wo governments did not yield 20 diplo-
uatic negotiations. IL would probably be
NECESSARY for Great Britain to appeal TO
arbitration under the terms OF the gen.
oral treaty with the United States.
This is probably the conclusion OF the
6-st cnapter in the negotiations regard
ipg the canal bill, and it is not expected
that the argumentative protest Of Great
britain will be submitted for several
nopths-possibly not until after the cleo
top. Having filed this renewed protest.
,hs British charge and Lord Eustece
percy, the third secretary. have left
Washington for Kineo, Me. where is To-
Gated the summer embassy OF Great Brit
ain. II is not expected that any reply TO
tO-day's protest will be made, as this gov
ernment will doubtless await the formal
argumentstive representation which to-
DAYS communication promises.
Course Of v. S. Regarded as Peculiar.
On the reply which is made to the ar
gumentative protest viii depend. doubt
less. the decision of Great Britain re-
gsrding the advisability of asking that
the question be submitted to arbitration.
From the standpoint OF Great Britain
the course Of the United States has been,
TO say the least, peculiar. An informal
and friendly protest addressed 10 the
Secretary Of State when the legislation
was pending. and which was submitted
al that time because it was believed that
Il would be Ear easier TO prevent a vio-
lstion of the treaty before than after
action by Congress- has been ignored so
far as the making of any reply is con-
erned. and instead Of being treated az q
friendly suggestion the protest was for
varded 10 the chairman OF the Inter
Neanic Canal Committee and its sub
stance made public. II was, doubtless.
he expectation OF the Foreign Office
lat its original protest would be ac-
xpted as suggestive rather than formal.
I'D that ii would be withheld from the
wess while the Secretary Of State would
axe such steps TO obviate a violation of
he treaty as his judgment might die
aie
The attitude and course OF Secretary
Knox greatly perplexed Great Britain.
lon the one hand. he maintained that
pending legislation. being an affair OF
the legislative and not the executive
branch Of the government WAS not
proper subject for negotiation. and on
the other hand he passed along TO
committee Of Congress the friendly pro-
test Of Great Britain. And finally. AL
though no reply had been made 10 Great
Britain. the President took occasion in
.fect 20 reply 70 England's protest in
memorandum addressed 10 Congress and
admitted along with his advice that
be had approved the bill, although off,
tally England has received no copy OF
his memorandum and has no knowledge
that any reply TO its protest has been
made.
Different Views as TO Arbitration.
One State Department official declared
a-day that he did not believe Great
Britain had case to carry before The
Hague tribunal. Messrs. Root. Lodge and
sAer Senators are en- record as declaring
hr the United States would certainly
las should the case be referred 10 The
Hare.
Ottawa, Ont. Aug. 8.-Speaking on the
hnama Canal question at dinner 10
'-tlng British nnanciers and legislators
here last night. Sir wilfrid .Lsurier said
as believed British Canadian and Ameri-
san diplomacy would bring about ar
sgrsement satisfactory to all.
Pointing 70 the fact that for more than
| Ia years differences between Canada and
he United States had been settled with
vt resort 20 arms. Sir Wllffd declared
hat poor arbitration was better than
I he most successful war.