The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-10
TAFT WON'T SHIRK
The President Has No Intention
of DOdging
The Responsibility of the Pan
anna Canal Situation.
TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION
He Recognizes There May Be
Ground for Arbitration.
Little Can Be Done Without
Consent of Senate.

Washington, Dec. 10.-With the
formal presentation of Great Britain s
formal protest against the Panama
canal bill, Secretary Knox today got
down to a careful study of the objec-
tions raised by Sir Edward Grey in
the lengthy note transmitted last night
by Ambassador Bryce.
The British minister for foreign al
fairs basing his principal objection on
the proposal to relieve all American
shipping from paying canal tolls
either by exempting it from charges
or remitting the tolls paid, contends
that section of the law is in violation
of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty, and
proposes that if the question can be
settled in no other way it be submitted
to arbitration at The Hague. Minister
Grey also touched on the provision
against trust ships and gave
notice that if tht were to apply to
ships of all nations Great Britain
might desire to supplement her pro-
test further.
Now that the proposal for arbitra-
ton has been squarely presented, the
means by which the question might
be presented to The Hague are a cen
ter of interest. The existing arbitra-
ton treaty between the United States
and Great Britain expires by Hmita-
ton next June.
If the controversy were to be de-
1ayed until then there will be no
treaty under which the dispute might
be arbitrated. In any case, a special
agreement approved DY the senate
would be required before the dispute
could be referred to The Hague, and
there is a variance of opinion as to
whether majority of the senate
would permit the case to go there.
Several senators, among them those
considered the best lawyers in the
upper house, have declared the United
States would surely lose it's case at
The Hague.
Knox Will Reply.
nv h a rafe eaV-Xr
pare reply to the British note. 1t
will be of the same friendly tone as
was Minister Grey's communication
entirely lacking any elements of bel
Egerency.
Today was a regular cabinet meet
ing day and the subject was up for
informal discussion by President Taft.
Secretary Knox and the rest Of the
line of this governments reply proba-
bly, will not be discussed until the
president and Secretary Knox have
had opportunity to go over the British
note thoroughly, which may be a few
weeks.
Some official expressions prior to the
delivery of the British note afford
ground for the belief that while not
agreeing with the British contention
that the canal toll act is in violation
of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty. the ad- !
is inclined to admit that
the subject is one over which there
might be a fair difference of opinion. |
it is known that the president |
does not regard the subject as one f.
fecting the vital interests of the United |
States but rather as of purely pccuni- |
ary consequence and therefore not |
among the prohibited subjects men |
toned in the existing special arbitra- |
ton treaty with Great Britain. There
fore while that result may not be |
reached Immediately it is probable that
in the end the administration will hold |
that the question at issue is clearly an |
arbitra BILE one.
Senate Has Last Word.
The next step would be to negotiate
with the British ambassador with a