The Washington times., 1913-05-16
.KNOW[AND DEFENDS
PANAMA CANAL TOLL
Congressman Declares Treaty
Obligations Are Not Violated
BY Free Passage.

AOHONK LAKE, n. Y. Nay 16.-
Declaring that to repeal the toll pro-
vision of the Panama Canal bill would
be an abject surrender Of Americ IN
rights. Congressman Joseph B. Know
land of California today defended tie
right of the United States to control
the canal in a speech before the Inter-
national Peace Conference here.
mo patriotic American would count
enance the violation by this country Of
a sacred treaty obligation" said Know
land, who Ii member of the House
Committee on Interstate and FOREIGN
Commerce. .'on the other hand. would
not citizen be lacking In patriotism
who would hastily and without careful
and painstaking investigation blindlE
accept an interested. foreign nation
Interpretation of a disputed treaty, a
construction that would not only de-
prive this country for all time OF the
most Important commercial advaa-
tages, but would be q surrender CT m
valuable rights Affecting the very safet!
of the United States?'
English Demands Criticised.
Knowland denied the charge that The
treaty obligations had not been given
proper consideration. and pointed out
the extended debate in Congress. In
summing up the British ob9cctlons'
knowland said:
we are denied the right to pass free
of toll our own battleships and other
government vessels; ships engaseo "a "a
which the ships Of England cannot en-
gage, must pay toll in passing through
this American waterway; We are Virtu-
ally asked to violate our treaty obhga-
there Is a practical denial Of the right
to follow at Panama the practice OF
foreign nations In remitting tolls to
merchant ships through the Suez Canal
thus placing this country at dissI
vantage, and. finally. in reference 70
the excellent provisions of section II.
we are threatened with protest II
Canadian steamships, owned by Cana
. dian railroads, which railroads have
voluntarily come under the interstate
commerce act. and thus suo3eeteo mem nd
selves to the same restrictions and
, regulations as American railroads, are
to be amendable to the same laws.
"was there ever a more striking ex-
ample of inconsistency! Equahty OF
treetment demanded for British ship
owners In sharig benefits, but a protest
against equal treatment when the act
imposes restrictions applying to Amer
can shipowners!
Z Blames Canadian Railroads.
Knowiand declared it was generally
protest was due to the action Of
Canadian railroad officials. He outlined
the situation in Congress and the
cIause in the Hay-Pauncefote treaty
which II is claimed this country vio-
lated. He declared that foreign ships
WIN derive the chief benefit OF the
canal because we have practically no
American ships in foreign trade.
'Ninety-one per cent of our foreign
commerce is carried in foreign ships,
said Knowland. Unless we grant some
favors TO our own ships in the coast
: Wise trade our benefit would be small.
"while / am a Californian. it does
not follow. even in view OF recent nap
penings, that ! am particularly bel
fiserent A serious contention WIN
Great Britain over this question Is not
.unthinkable. While many WHO hold
. similar views are strongly opposed to
eubn ting this question to arbitration.
do not go so far. A fair arbitraf tri-
bunal should be possible for the de-
. termination of this question.
"The Hague would not be such BODY
Z in my opinion. The common sense OF
! the American and English people should
enable these English-speaking nations
TO agree upon impartial arbitrators. Be
fore such body our case is so strong
we have nothing to fear.
ITO repeal the toll provision would be
an acknowledgment that after expend-
ing 500. 100000 in the construction of
an American canal, through what is
practically American territory. this na-
ton was stopped forever from accord
ing single advantage to an American
I'VE would be compelled to pay a toll
upon Government ships. According TO
some very high authorities we would
surrender rights that might imperil our