New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-28
Ex-senator, in Paris, Says He
Has Noticed Revision of
Feeling Toward Us.
WITHIN LAST SIX WEEKS
70 Panama Bill, He Says, Is Due
the Profound Distrust of
U. S., Replacing Friend
ly Admiration.
fBy Cable to The Tribune. J

10y CGbsc " ht II ipuHts
paris. Aug. 27.--"Our national honor
hangs in the balance before all the
World because Of the Panama Canal
Mil" said former Senator Chauncey
n Deuew to-day. Il have been In Eu-
,ope six weeks, which is just the time
the bill has been before the public, and
during this brief period I have seen
rurope's attitude toward America
change abruptly from friendly admira-
ton 10 profound distrust.
Il have met in a business way and
socjally a number of earnest minded
Enzlishmen, Germans and French,nen
and their unanimous opinion may be
expressed in this way: We under
stand now what you mean by your fine
talk Of International arbitration. We
ace that you did not mean to include
questions Of honor or even questions
involving your financial interests. It
was heads we win, tails YOU lose.
Fortunately. the Senate barred the
treaty IN time TO prevent us from be-
coming your dupes.
att lakes several hundred years to
establish national honor. and il the
United States persists in its present
attitude the cause OF international ar
b,tr ton will be set back for at least
generation.' Such is the European
point Of view.
Honor Versus Commerce.
Europe sees the affair only from the
uoint o. view of honor: the United
States sees only the commercial sid.
We seem 10 think il is merely a dues
ton Of swapping jackknives. There is
no danger. however. of serious compl-
cations with England. England Will
simply protest officially. then shrug her
shoulders and say: 1T is your affair.
If you think you can afford 10 compro-
mise your honor. go ahead.
What do you expect will happen
Ultimately" asked the correspondent.
After the Presidential election, when
the people see that the national honor
is really involved, expect there Will
be q tremendous revulsion of feeling
against the bill.
Incidentally" said Mr.. Depew, smil
Ing, there is a good laugh on the DEM
Ocrats for their inconsistency. They
have always opposed a ship subsidy and
decried the law excluding foreign yes
sells from our coasting trade as the
worst form Of protection, yet their ma
jcrity in the House of Representatives
passed the Panama bill with a whoop.
thus favoring the strongest form of
subsidy and UNFOLDING the exclusive
rights of American coasting ships
French Press Retieent.
The French PRESS Is reticent on the
subject OF the Panama bill, but In the
main It agrees with the English press
that the United States lie on the verge
Of compromising its honor.
The only effect of President Taft's
message in which he attempts to jus
tify the Panama canal Oil Is 10 prove
that the bill is a questionable one" Is
the verdict of lie Temps" to-day.
The newspaper continues that Great
Britain in demanding arbitration at
The Hague will certainly have the
moral support OF all the powers which
stand TO gain BY the treaty which she
holds has been violated.
LIE Temps hopes Americans will take
OF the door left open for re-
of the matter by Con-
sressman Thetus w. Sins's proposed
bill repeating the provision Of the Pan
anna Canal bill providing for the free
dom from tolls Of American ships en-
gased in the coastwise trade.