Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-03-24
PEACE and The CANAL CONTROVERSY

A remarkable contribution to the serious con
troyersy over the Panama Canal tolls, partici
pated in by America and Great Britain, is thai
OF the trustees of the Carnegie Endowment fol
international Peace.
Signed by such men as Joseph HI. Choate, An
drew ID. White, Charles W. Eliot, Luke E
Wright, Elihu Root, Oscar S. Stratus and Charlie
magne Tower, it is strong protest against the
action of Congress exempting American coast
wise shipping from paying tolls. The statement
points out specifically the provisions of the Hay
Pauncefote treaty, as we'll as the treaty of 1905
which provides for the reference of international
questions to The Hague, and then goes on to com
mcnt:
The great design was to promote the construction
and maintenance of ship-cana between the two
oceans, for the benefit of mankind, equal terms
tn ALL and to protect the neutralized canal effect
lively when built In urging the British govern
ment the making of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty the
American negotiator said to Lord Palmerston: "The
United States sought exclusive privilege or pref
erential right of kind in regard to the proposed
communication THAT is a canal or railroad] and
their sincere wish, if 1t should be found practicable,
was to it dedicated to the common use of all ma
tons on the most liberal terms and footing of per-
feet equality for all That the United States would
not II they could, obtain any exclusive right priv
ilege In great highway which naturally belonged to
all mankind" This statement expresses accurately
the ayowed intention and resolve of the United States
from 1850 to 1912 concerning any Panama Canal All
treaties on the subject based this intention
and resolve, many times reiterated by official rep
resentatives of the American government.
In special sense the United States is bound to
observe faithfully and without question the treaty of
April, 190Si for the United States has been among
governments the great advocate of arbitration has
practised II 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 Interpretation of
the HayPauncefote treaty, without turning is back
very honorable chapter in its history, and
damaging throughout the world the of free in
situations. The republic ought to be the most
puous of all governments in the exact observance
OF treaty obligations must be absolutely faithful
to its word, even to its hurt
Assuming that the difference which has arisen
concerning he construction of the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty must be arbitrated unless the cause of the
difference be withdrawn desire to urge on
fellow-citizens the expediency of promptly
pealing that action of Congress which gave rise to
the difficulty.
Granting that some American shipping interests
might be benefited by the exemption of coastwise
vessels from canal tells since the term coastwise
now includes voyageSehaf round the globe America
surely has much lefser interests which woald be
greatly served by the prompt abandonment of any
Interpretation of the Hay Pauncefote treaty against
which Great Britain enter reasonable protest.
The United States has immense interest in the
sanctity of contracts and in the strict observance
CT all International conventions and treaties 1t has
an immense interest in the faithful observance of
any treaty between two or more nations which has
been entered into 'for the benefit of mankind" 1t
is true that IN times past many treaties have not
been strictly observed; that others have been suf
fered to lapse quietly; and that some have been vio
lated by one or parties, too impatient to wait
for new convention. Despotic and monarchical
governments often sinned in these respects and
renuhlics have been accused of like conduct All
the more reason that the American republic should
~ No act under a treaty which can be ques-
s.,od nv candid and honorable In the efficacy
- international agreements lies the chief hope of the
.orId for progressive civilization
The further promotion, in method of uncertain
-, 20 the interests of American coastwse ship
-. ;nterests already protected by the possession of
complete monopoly against all other nations, is
'So.s4fnI matter of commercial Improvement. The
49, not he large and might easily be completely
offset BY accompanying disady van but what a,
ever advantage might come TO this wellprofeeted In