The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-25

BIRMINGHAM MEN
/. GIVE OPINIONS ON
CANAL TOLL ISSUE
Considerable Difference in
Attitude of Well Known
Men on Subject
BUT ALL BELIEVE IN
ABIDING BY TREATY
If Convinced Treaty Is a Mistake,
Then Immediate Steps Should
Be Taken to Rectify 1t
aAmicably

4 Considerable interest is being taken
by Birmingham citizens in the negotia-
tions between the state department and
| Great Britain over the regulation of the
ship tolls to be levied in operating the
Panama canal.
Secretary Knoxs reply yesterday to
the British protest submitted to the
United states government some time
ago by Sir Edward Grey has tended to
revive the debate over the question as
to whether or not the United States
government Is showing bad faith, is
violating the provisions of the Hay
Pauncefote treaty or whether 1t is act
ing in accordance with the laws of In
ternational relations and Is merely
standing on its own rights in the case.
Those seen in Birmingham yesterday
expressed their views on the matter
with the understanding that the inter-
views would be prefaced with the state
ment that they had given no deep study
or inquiry into the mattNr one way or
the other. but that what they knew was
gathered from hasty reading of news
paper dispatches covering the different
chapters which have been written in
the diplomatic negotiations so far.
Shook Says Stand by Treaty
I'VE should live up to the Hay-Paunce-
fote treaty" said Paschal G. Shook,
but as to exactly whether we are do
ling tha6 or not / would not wish to
state 1t is too fine point for me to
decide as | have only been keeping up
with the matter in general way. We
should not violate our word of honor
or show bad faith.
The thing to submit to an investiga-
ton is the treaty. Then II IL Is shown
by a fair and square Interpretation of
the treaty by disinterested parties that
the United States has taken wrong
position In granting free passage to
American owned coastwise ships, | say
live up to the treaty. Live up to the
treaty as long as it is in force. But IL
il is finally determined that by obeying
the fair Interpretation of the meaning
of the Hay Pauncefote treaty we are
working an injury to ourselves, that the
treaty Is unfair to this country, In 9TH
er words that the treaty Is mistake,
then immediate steps should be taken
to modify the treaty or abrogate 1t
and make a new one in which would
not exist such a mistake.
THE canal is ours. We built 1t and
think we should have the right to use
conforms to fair and reasonable in
lternational relations; but do not think
we should violate our word and dis
obey the mandates of a treaty just be-
cause the treaty was mistake. II
1.-The Hay -Pauncefote treaty Is wrong,
make it right; but until it is right, |
think we should conform to the wrong
one.
There is just one feature of the
regulation bill passed by Congress In
reference to the canal that / object to
land that is forbidding passage to rail-
road owned coastwise vessels l think
II is unfair because railroad owned ves-
sells of foreign countries can use the
lcanal by paying the regular tolls
BOYD Has Not Studied 1t
''I have been keeping up with the
ma tier fairly we'll" stated city Attorney
lRomaine Boyd, when asked for an opin-'
lion, but to be candid | don't know
| whether the United States Is showing
had faith or not | am at sea, so to
sneak. for / have not been able to form
Ian opinion one way or the other.
Ihave desired for some time to do some
Ist,dving over the tangle merely for
lcuriosity's sake and to arrive at an
lopinion. but / have not done so and
Iwould say nothing at the present time"
DIR. Phillips on World Aspect +,
am the light of the public opinion of
tho world.n stated DIR. j. Fl. Phillips,
s,iperintendent Of the city schools, II be-
Iieve Congress should repeal the action
which IL has taken and refer the whole
matter to The Hague conference unless
II can otherwise be amicably and satis-
factorilv settled between the United States
and Great Britain
This country should not act arbitra-
rilv Az to whether or not we are show
i,o had faith does not matter, since
there has been such a difference of opin-
ion from all parts of the world on the
different features of the case. On the basis
If these different opinions and protests
the action Of Congress should be repealed,
| the fact that the protests have been made
being sufficient excuse. 1t is not a local
| Tajr. that is, not United States af-
| fair. hut 1t Is a matter of international
| concern IL Is a world question, and
on these grounds the present Congress
should repeal its action regulating the
tolls of the canal, let the matter go over
for the incoming democratic administra-
| tion to handle and then, II a satisfactory
settlement cannot be arrived at with
Great Britain submit 1t to The Hague
tribunal and let both nations abide b.
the result.
| an a certain sense the canal is our
! local affair and there are some reasons
for exemption of tolls for American coast
| wise vessels but as | said the matter
Is a great world question after all, and
in nv estimation it is not likely that
| Great Britain or any of the other great
nowers concerned will insist on any pal
pable wrong or hardship or advantage
| beine taken of this country IL the matter
J must finally go to The Hague court Of
| arbitration.
CARRIER and Monroe Doctrine
II believe, in the first place. stated
| Alex NJ CARRIER former attorney gem
eral. and who has just returned from
! Washington, "in the control of its domes-
! tic commerce by sovereign state. How
| ever what l am saying | want to preface
/ With a statement to the effect that such