The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1913-01-22

WASHINGTON. Jan. 21.-'Shan we
inform the world that the United
States is false to its agreements, false
to its pledged word? Shall we have
it made known the world over that
you must look out for the United
States or it will get the advantage of
you? That the United States is astute,
cunning, Alippery?v
With this vigorous denunciation of
the attitude of this country in the Pan
anna canal controversy with Great
Britain. Senator Elihu Root closed
two hour speech in the Senate today
with an appeal for the submission Of
the Panama question to arbitration. or
the repeal of that section of the canal
law that would give free passage to
American coastwise ships.
Speaking from the experience of a
member of President Roosevelt's cab
purchased and when over % arbitration
treaties were made with. foreign ma
tions, Senator Root delivered a most
vigorous attack on the present atti-
tude of the United States.
Senator Root declared the United
States would violate all it's pledges and
promises to the world; would be guilty
of false pretenses" in its advocacy
of general arbitration, and would
proclaim itself Indifferent to national
honor and integrity If it refused to
submit to arbitration or to retreat
from the unjust position 1t had taken
COASTwISE TOLLS ILLEGAL
He declared free coastwise tolls to
American ships were illegal. unless
equal concessions were made to for
eign ships The claim that the United
States had domestic rights over the
canal because 1T owned the canal zone
constituted a violation OF the express
guarantee of the United States to
Great Britain, he said.
TT is not our territory except in
trust" he declared. Treaty or no
treaty, we have long asserted that the
nations OF Central America had no
right to debar the world from it's right
of passage across the isthmus. Upon
that we based the justice of our en-
tire action, which resulted in our hav-
ing the canal zone"
..The United States had preached ar
bitration for years." said Senator Root,
"and had besought the nations of the
world, In season and out of season. to
enter into arbitration agreements for
the settlement of all disputes.
.ARE WE PHARIsEEss"
Are we Pharisees?" he cried. 'Have
we been insincere and false? Have we
been pretending in all these long years
of declaration? Are we ready now TO
admit that our country. through It's
presidents and congresses. has been
guilty of false pretenses, of humbug,
of talking to the galleries, of uttering
fine words to secure applause?
The instant that an interest is at
stake we propose to falsify every dec
laration, every promise by the arrogant
insistence that we alone can determine
the Interpretation of this treaty, that
we will refuse to abide by the treaty.
And is the game worth the candle?
Is 1t worth our while to remain in
position. to maintain which we may
be driven to repudiate our principles,
our profession and our agreements, for
the purpose OF comforting money
benefit at the expense OF the treasury
OF the United States of the most highly
and absolutely protected special indus
try in the United States-our coast
wise shipping
HAVE ASSURED ENGLAND
1--WE are not at liberty said the
senator .to put any construction on
the Hay Payncefote treaty that vio-
lates that controlling principle of abso-
luss equality embodied in the other