Evening journal., 1913-05-08

earnest advocate OF International
peace, has received from the board Of
trustees OF the Carnegie Endowment
for International Peace the following
statement concerning the exemption
of American coastwise vessels from
tolls on the Panama Canal.
The undersigned, members Of the
board of trustees of Carnegie Endow-
ment for International Peace, invite
the attention of their fellow citizens
10 the following statement concerning
the grave International discussion
which has arisen over the exemption
OF American coastwise vessels from
tolls on the Panama Canal:
On November IS, 1901, a treaty ito
facilitate the construction Of ship
canal 70 connect the Atlantic and Pa
cifc oceans" was concluded between
the United States and Great Britain,
at the request and on the Initiative OF
the United States. The essential pro-
visions of the treaty we're ID that
"the canal may be constructed under
the auspices of the Government of the
United States" and that the said Gov
eminent shall have and enjoy all the
rights incident to such construction,
as we'll as the exclusive right of pro-
viding for the regulation and manage
ment of the canal; % that "the
canal shall be free and open to the
vessels of commerce and Of war OF all
nations observing these rules. on
terms Of entire equality; CD that the
plant for operating the canal and the
canal itself shall be "neutralized'
and shall enjoy complete immunity
from attack or injury by belligerents;
(4) that the United States shall be at
liberty to maintain an adequate milf
tary police along the canal; and t5)
that mo change of territorial sover-
eighty or of the international relations
Of theS country or countries traversed
bv thG aforementioned canal shall af-
feet the general principle OF neutrali-
cation or the obligation Of the high
contracting parties under the present
treaty"
The concluding Of this treaty-conl-
monty spoken of as the Hay-Paunce-
fote Treaty-was a necessary prelim-
mary to the construction of any 18TH
mjan canal by the United States o.
under its auspices; because by pre-.
vious convention between the same
parties, concluded in April, 1850, tho
limited States and Great Britain haC
bound themselves that neither woul6
"ever obtain or maintain for itself any
exclusive control over" an isthmiar
cahal or maintain any fortification'
commanding the same" or exercise
dominion over ANY part OF Centra
America" The contracting parue
further agreed to protect the cana
from interruption, seizure, or unJus
confscation," and to guarantee u
neutrality
This vention-cOmmonly spokel
OF as the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty
made. at the request and on the ini
tiative of the United States, estab
lished the general principle of tn
naturalization of any isthmian cana
which might be constructed, a princl
ole which the ay-Pauncefote Irea'
reaffrmed.
The great design Of both treaties
that of 1850 and that OF. 1901 was {
promote the construction and mainte
nance Of ship canal between the tw
oceans. for "the benefit of mankind, o
equal terms to all" and to protect tn
ueutralized canal effectively whe
Quilt. In urging on the British COY
ernment the making Of the clayton
Bulwer Treaty, the American nege
nator said to Lord Palmerston: I'm
United States sought no eHciusN
privilege or preferential right OF an
kind in regard to the proposed con
municction (that is. a canal or rai
road). and their sincere WISH II
should be found practicable, was
see il dedicated to the common use
all nations on the most liberal term
and a footing of perfect equahty lo
all. That the United States woulu no
If they could. obtain any eNciusl'
right or privilege in a great hignWa
which naturally belonged to al ma,
kind" This statement expresses d'
curately the avowed intention anu r T.,
solve of the United States from 10.
20 1912. concerning any Panama S@aha @
All treaties on the subject are oase
on this intention and resolve nldn
times reiterated by othclal represei
tatives of the American GoVerhmen,
In the summer OF 1917 Oohele'
passed bill fixing the Tolls 10 Oe pa
for passing through the Panama San
CONSTRUCTED by the uniteo Stal'
and approaching complexion,
added a section which eNeHpl'
American coastwise vessels from pa.
ing tolls, thus giving American eoss i
ing vessels privilege whicn no o.ii
Vessels would enjoy, and dlmihlsnil
the probable income OF the candl
After an interval of several month
Great Britain has presented to u
covcrnment of the United states
nrotest against the exemption
American coastwise vessels on "
nrincipal grounds. First. that su,
an exemntion is inconsistent with u
nrovision of the Hay-Paunceto
treaty that the canal shall be op'
m vessels of all nations on terms
entire equality; and secondly, tha' =
svemntion of American coastwise We
sels would inevitably tend TO lncrea
INC charges on all other vessels usll
he canal. TO the disadvantage wnl
might increase in the tuture' since
higher the rates the greater Wouiu
he privilege Of exemption from ps
ing them. :.
The British arguments are calm a
free from exaggeration, ana pro
,hat the action of Congress in exeml
Ing American coastwise vessels ire
he nayment of canal tolls involves
ronstrnction of the Hay-Pauncefo
treaty which is fairly open to Que
Hon A difference has arisen concer
Ing the Interpretation of treaty
ON the 4th of April 1908, the Unit
States and Great Britain made a
other treaty in which they agreed n
"differences which may arise OF
legal nature or relating to the int
nretation of treaties existing betwe
- 49,. ..4-ooffpu parfiog and Whi