Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-12-13
SCAN TREATIES
IN CANAL CASE
Wilson Administration Has
One of hardest Problems
In Panama Tolls.
NOTE CAREFULLY STUDIED
State Department Is Giving
Careful Consideration to
the British Protest.

Washington, Dec. 13.-Secretary OF
State Knox ordered the printing Of the
complete text of Sir Edward Grey's
note Of protest on the free tolls pro.
vision of the Panama canal act. While
the document wifi not be sent to the
senate as an official communication
from the administration, the printed
copies will be available for senators
and others interested In it. 1t is felt
that the complete text Of the British
note cannot be too soon In the hands
of the senators and others in order
that they may become familiar with
the question of treaty Interpretation
and points of argument raised In the
British note.
That the Taft administration win con-
duet only the preliminaries Of the Pan
m canal controversy with Great
Britain is daily becoming more and
more apparent. Though President Taft
intends to carry matters Is far a. he
can in the short time left to him, It is
becoming recognized that comparative
ly little can be accomplished In the ten
weeks before the incoming Of the VIII
son administration. This view, 1t is
known. is shared by the British en-
bassy and the British foreign ONCE
President Taft will not. however. sheive
the matter merely because he Is to re-
tire from once or March 4. Neither
win he shift responsibility by putting
the whole matter up to the senate at
once.
Time to Prepare Answer.
1t took the British foreign ofice three
| Secretary Knox last Monday, and 1t Is
now realized that 1t will take a consid-
cradle time to prepare the answer Of
the United States. Though much has
been done since last July, when the
British government first gave notice
that 1t would object to legislation per-
hitting any United States ships to pass
through the canal without payment of
tolls. the real task has only Just begun.
Records dating back more than sixty
years must be brought out and search
ed for anything which will throw fur
Their light upon the circumstances un-
der which the Clayton-Bulwer treaty
of 1850 and subsequent treaties were
negotiated. Great Britain has based
her case largely IN, the reading of the
Clayton-Bulwer and Hay-Pauncefote
treaties. thus making 1t necessary for
the United States to produce evidence
which will controvert her view OF the
two documents and the understa nding
which existed on both sides when they
were drawn snd ratified.
Aside from this phase Of the task,
however. the British note itself II to b.
carefully studied. There Is much in
the note Of Sir Edward Grey which
many believe IL not quite clear. It is
not improbable that the British gov.
eminent will DO asked to explain more
precisely what is meant by some pas
sages OF the Grey note.
No Chance Yet For Protest.
The interesting observation was
made that the present situation with
regard to the canal controversy With
Great Britain Is quite unusual In that
nothing has vet actually been done
against which Great Britain In COM
planning No United States ship has
yet passed through tie Panama canal
under circumstances more favorable
than those accorded to a british ship
Nothing mas yet been done which
would afford ground for a charge of
discrimination.
Protests are seldom made. It was
pointed out. against something that
has not been done. while arbitration
of an alleged discrimination Is most
unheard Of before the alleged dlscrimi-
natory act has been committed,