Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-24
Now UP to England.

can coastwise shipping from tolls in the
Panama canal having been received in
London it is now incumbent upon the
British foreign office TO come to a de-
cision at once as to the course to be
pursued in the continuance Of the nego-
tiations: to determine whether the ef-
fort shall be continued to adjust the
supposed differences between the two
countries by further exchanges, or to
accept Secretary knox's offer to ex-
change ratifications of the knoXBryce
general arbitration treaty as amended by
sion the task of finding the actual facts
as a basis for possible arbitration.
Show Great Interest.
Officials here are awaiting this decision
with great interest because upon it will
depend the probability of President Taft
reaching satisfactory settlement of the
question before he leaves office. If the
British government should decide to re-
gard as satisfactory the American state
ment that its apprehensions for the future
treatment of British shipping in the
canal are Sroundless and viii. so express
for the time being. or until some subse-
quent Congress might endeayor to act in
a way as to warrant the charge OF dis
elimination against foreign shipping.
Taft Ready to Act.
II Sir Edward Grey prefers to immedi-
ately exchange ratifications of the pend
ing arbitration treaty, President Taft is
ready to almost Immediately appoint the
three American members of the special
commission provided under its terms to
ascertain and report upon the facts.
The United States Senate cannot inter-
$lxSr
on the part of the President, and while 1t
is true that the special commission would
have no power to force arbitration of the
question of canal tolls. it Is probable that
the recommendation of such tribunal,
required by the terms Of the treaty to be
supported by no less than five Of the six
members. would carry such weight that
1t might be difficult to resist the accept
ance of its plan.
Addressed to Laughlin.
The answer of the United States to
Great Britains note of protest on the
Panama canal tolls question was stimuli
taneOusly issued yesterday in Washing
ton and London by arrangement between
the two governments. The American
note. which was cabled to London.
was addressed to Irwin 3. Laughlin,
charge d'affaires of the American en-
baSSI 10 tHe court ST. James. MI.
I-auahiin was instructed to read the note
70 Sir Edward Grey, the British minister
for foreign affairs.
Mr.. Knox does not admit that the situa-
ton has yet assumed a phase where
arbitration or the services of a Joint high
commission of inquiry is necessary. He
contends that Great Britain has been
laborinS under misrepresentation as to
the rights of the United States in its
control and operation of the Panama
canal and makes homes of fbat
Great Britain was not aware of all the
United States had done under the terms
of the canal act when Sir Edward Grey's
protest was written on November IA last.
Import Of Statement.
of diplomacy. and resort to the more ex-
pressive vernacular of circles less infiu-
enced by the necessity for precise and
elegant diction. Mr.. Knox virtually tells
Sir Edward Grey that Great Britain has
hOilered before she was hurt.
His majestys minister for foreign af-
fairs has been setting up a straw man
if Mr.. KnOx's Judgment is to be taken
and good deal of the fine rhetorical am
munition has been wasted on this effigy
You can't arbitrate or even consider In
diplomatic way something that Is mere
ly hypothetical. argues the Secretary oi
state. In other words. to paraphrase Mr.
Knox. the British note Of last Noyembe,
was written without the necessary knowl
edge as to the facts Of the case.
Takes Back Nothing.
Throughout Mr.. Knox's 5000 words O
response to Sir Edward Grey's objection.
is a stern resistance to the idea that ther,
S anything to arbtrate in the canal toll
controversy, but there is an expression o
Willingness TO have joint commission
of inquiry pass on the facts at issu
should any such facts arise. Mr.. Kno.
takes back nothing. He upholds tn
American attitude as just and fair.
Sir Edward Grey contended that IN
purpose of the provision in the treat
agreement between England and Amertc;
that the canal tolls should be ''just an
equitable" was so to limit the tolls as 4
make their aggregate an amount repre
senting the interest on the capital ex
pended In the canal and the cost of tn
canals operation and maintenance. Re
spending to this contention Secretar
Knox points out that the tolls have bee
so calculated as to include all commercis
shipping passing through the canal tn
effect of the remission Of the toll o
American coastwise traffic is therefor
only a domestic subsidy and not an In
crease OF tolls on foreign shipping.
Rests on Conjecture.
Mr. Knox assures the British govern
ment that 1t is getting into the realms q
fancy when II proposes to have this 60,
Continued on Tenth Page.).