Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1913-05-09

| American coastwise vessels from pay
ing tolls, thus giving American coast
Ing vessels a privilege which no other
vessels would enjoy, and diminishing
the probable income of the canal in
operation.
After an interval of several months,
Great Britain has presented to the
Government of the United States a
protest against the exemption of
American coastwise vessels on two
principal grounds. First, that such
an exemption Is inconsistent with the
provision of the ay-Pauncefote
Treaty that the canal shall be open
to vessels of all nations on terms OF
entire equality; and secondly, that
the exemption Of American coastwise
vessels would inevitably tend to in
crease the charges on all other vessels
using the canal, to the disadvantage
of all other nations in comparison
with the United States, disad want
age which might increase in the fut-
ure. since the higher the rates the
greater would be the privilege of ex.
emption from paying them.
The British arguments are calm
and free from exaggeration, and prove
that the action of Congress in exempt
ing American coastwise vessels from
the payment of canal tolls involves a
construction of the Hay-Pauncefote
Treaty which is fairly open to ques-
tion. A difference has arisen concern
ing the Interpretation Of a treaty.
On the 4th of April, 1908, the
United States and Great Britain
made another treaty in which they
agreed that differences which may
arise Of a legal nature or relating to
the Interpretation of treaties exist
Ing between the two Contracting
Parties and which it may not have
been possible to settle by diplomacy,
shall be referred to the Permanent
Court OF Arbitration established at
The Hague by the Convention of the
10Th OF July, 1899, provided, neverthe-
less, that they do not affect. the vital
interests, the pendence, or the
honor of the two Contracting States,
and do not concern the interests of
third Parties % The question whether
tolls for passing through the canal
| cannot possibly be said to affect either
nations vital interests or independ-
ence, or the "honor'' of either of the
two governments. Clearly, differ
ence relating to the Interpretation
OF treaty has arisen between two
governments which have agreed to
submit such differences to The Hague
Court of Arbitration.
In special sense the United States
is bound to observe faithfully and
without question the treaty OF A pril,
1908; for the United States has been
among governments the great advo-
cate OF arbitration, has practised it
in important cases, and has urged it
strongly on all other governments.
The United States cannot refuse to
arbitrate the difference which has
arisen concerning the proper inter
probation OF the Hay-Pauncefote
Treaty, without turning its back on
very honorable chapter In its own his
tory, and damaging throughout the
| world the cause of free institutions
The Republic ought to be the most
scrupulous of all governments In the
exact observance of treaty obliga-
tions. 1t must be absolutely faithful
to its word, even to its own hurt
Assuming that the difference which
has arisen concerning the construc-
tion of the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty
must be arbitrated unless the cause
of the difference can be withdrawn,
we desire to urge on our fellow-citi-
zens the expediency of promptly re-
pealing that action Of Congress which