The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-04-26
UNITED STATES HAS
CONTROL Of PANAMA
CANAL, SAYS OLNEY
Aged Statesman Opposes Sub
mission of Question to the
Hague Tribunal
THIS COUNTRY CAN
ACT AS 1T PLEASES
Canal Belongs to Us, He De-
clares in Letter to American
Society of Interna-
tional Law

Characterizing the proposal TO sub
init to The Hague for arbitration the
differences between Great Britain and
the United States as to the Panama
canal as an event which would be
farce IL carried out, an address pre-
pared by Richard Olney. former sec
rotary of state, and who recently de-
elned the Enthusiastically TO Great
Britain, was read today before the
American Society of International Law
at its convention in progress at the
Willard hotel.
Mr. Olney, who ia a vice president of
the society telegraphed that he was
prevented from addressing the society
in person. and asked that his paper
be read to the gathering. Ii was read
for him by Walter S. Penfield. of this
city.
The former secretary of state an
nounced that he holds that as the
United States is the sole owner of
the canal IL can Ak such terms for it's
operation as the American government
may please.
Hague Would Be Partial
III this question is submitted TO
arbitration" Mr. olney said. Iii should
not be submitted 10 The Hague, but to
a special tribunal The Hague would
be partial. as. admittedly. all Euro
pean powers are interested in the out
come. To submit Ii to The Hague
would be in the nature of farce"
Three Washingtonians at today's
session delivered addresses In regard
TO the Panama canal tolls question,
which IN the subject OF all the deliber-
ations OF this convention of the
ciety. The meeting was opened by
James Brown Scott, recording seere-
tary. who introduced Judge George
Gray. OF Delaware, vice. president.
as the presiding officer, in the alb
sence of Senator Root. who is the
president OF the organization, but who
is prevented from attending the SEES
sions.
Crammond Kennedy, of the District
OF Columbia bar. was the first speak
sr, declaring that the faith Of the
Hay~Pauncefote treaty should he kept
by the United States. and urging that
IL IL il to be changed or modified 1t
must be with the consent of both
parties To IL, Great Britain as well as
the United States Mr. Kennedy
quoted authorities in support Of views
he expressed. He predicted that
Great Britain would pay more than
half OF the funds coming in as tolls
for the support of the Panama canal.
as that country. he said, has done in
support of the Suez canal, because Df
her great maritime interests.
Favors Arbitration.
This view. he said. Is concurred in
by Professor Emory johnson. who
prepared at former President Taft's
request the figures on which it has
been announced the canal tolls are
to be based. Great Britain, MIR. Ken
needy said. would furnish one quarter
Of all the tonnage passing through the
Panama canal MIR. Kennedy ex-
pressed views opposite to those of Mr.
oiney as to The Hague. saying:
III we cannot agree with Great
Britain on the true meaning OF the
INTERCHANGEABLE treaty, let us rid our
selves of the unworthy fear that i'm
partial arbitrators cannot he found,
and submit our differences To this
peaceful method of settlement. as we
are bound by treaty to do
Chandler r. Anderson. former
counselor of the State department..
VINO has just been succeeded by Pro-
lessor John Bassett Moore, prepared
at the request of the committee OF the
society having the convention in
charge a paper. which he read, show
Ing the issuessraised In the diplomatic
correspondence of the American state
department. as applied to the canal
the paper cleared popular misappre-
nension as to what Is being argued
between the United States and Great
britain as to the canal tolls
STOCKTON fHvorS hrftatn.
Rear Admiral Charles Fl. Stockton.
". 3. N, retired. president OF George
Washington university. spoke In AFR
nation of the question. Does the
expression all nations in article 3 of
she tiay-Pauncefote treaty include
the United States? He cited reasons
why United States ships in coastwise
trade pay canal tolls as contended by
the British government.
pa
miral Stockton said, which Is now in
force. does not supersede the Clayton
buiwer treaty, and ii is only the pur-
pose of allowing the United States to
construct the canal without impairing
the principles of the older treaty. Had
the ordinary meaning been the one
intended in the Hay Pauncefote treaty
~ would have been expressed ALI for
eign nations. not all nations as in
the treaty"
The hest American jurists hold"
ADMIRAL Stockton declared, that we
are now violating our treaties with
colombia (fS4s). and with England,
Russia and Japan ton furs and seals)
and 1t would be still further besmirch-
ing our national honor to equivocate
IN lodging this treaty in regard to
the Panama canal"
Nixon For Free Tolls.
Lewis Nixon. of, New York. dele
gate OF the United States to the fourth
Fan-American congress, delivered an
address, taking the opposite side from
Admiral Stockton, in which he de-
ciared that the expression "aiI ma
tons In the treaty does not include
the United States.
There is not one word or phrase"
Mr. Nixon said. that even by impii-
cation denies our right TIC give free
tolls to our vessels in any trade.
Money given by we'll meaning and
conscientious men to further peace
CONTINUED on Second PaEe.l