Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-25
O[NEY OPPOSES
ACTION BY HAGUE
Declares Its Settlement of
Canal Tolls Issue Would
Be Farce.
SAYS u. S. HAS RIGHT
TO ACT AS 1T PLEASES
Former Cabinet Officers Paper Read
Before American Society of In
ternational Law.

CharacterizinS the proposal to submit
to The Hague for arbitration the diff
ferences between Great Britain ana the
United States as to the Panama canal
as an event which would be a farce if
carried out. an address prepared by Rich
ard OIney. former Secretary OF State, and
who recently declined the ambassadorship
to Great Britain. was read today before
the American Society of International
Law at its convention in progress at the
Willard Hotel.
Mr.. Olney. who is a vice president of
the society. telegraphed from his home
in New York that he was prevented from
addressing the society in person. and
asked that his paper be read to the
gathering. II was read for him by Wal
ter s. Penfeld of this city.
The former Secretary of State an
nounced that he holds that as the United
States Is the sole owner of the canal II
can fix such terms for its operation as
the American government may please.
Hague Would Be Partial.
IF this question is submitted to arb-
tration.' Mr.. Olney said. 1t should not
be submitted TO The Hague, but to
special tribunal. The Hague would be-
partial. as. amittedly. all European
powers are interested in the outcome. To
submit II to The Hague would be in the
nature of a farce
Three Neutrality-suspicious. at today's ses-
sion delivered addresses in regard TO the
Panama canal tolls question, which is
the subject of all the deliberations of this
convention of the society. The meeting
was opened by James Brown Scott.
recording secretary. 'ho introduced
Judge George Gray OF Delaware. vice
president. as the presiding officer in the
. absence of Senator Root. who is the
president Of the organization. but who is
prevented from attending the sessions
Should Keep Faith, He Says.
Crammond Kennedy Of the District OF
Columbia bar was the rirst speaker, de-
claring that the faith of the HayPaunce-
fote treaty should be kept by the United
States. and urging that if it is TO be
changed modified ii must be with the
consent of both parties to il. Great Brit
ain as well as the United States. Mr.
Kennedy quoted authorities in support
Of views he expressed. He predicted that
Great Britain would pay more than haif
Of the funds coming in as tolls FOR the
support of the Panama canal, as that
country he said has done in support OF
the Suez canal. because of lacr great mar
time interests. This view. he said is
concurred in by Prof. Emory Johnson.
who prepared at former President Tafts
request the figures on which it has been
announced the canal tolls are to be based.
Great Britain. Mr.. Kennedy said. would
furnish one quarter of all the tonnage
passing through the Panama canal Mr.
Kennedy expressed views opposite TO
those of Mr.. Oiney as TO The Hague, say
ing:
..If We cannot agree with Great Britain
on the true meaning of the Hay-Paunce-
unworthy fear that impartial arbitrators
cannot be found, and submit our differ
ences to this peaceful method OF settle
ment, as we are bound by treaty to do
Shows Issues Raised.
Chandler T. Anderson. former coun-
selor of the State Department. who has
just been succeeded by Prof. John Bas-
sett Moore. prepared at the request of the
committee OF the society having the
vention In charge a paper. which he
read. showing the issues raised in tn"
diplomatic correspondence of the Ameri-
can State Department applied % the
canal. The paper cleared popular misap-
prehension as 10 what is being argued
between the United States and Great
Britain 10 the canal tolls.
Rear Admiral Charles H. stockton. l..
:. y. retired. president of George Wash
tilNtESilN- Sltht IN ann dllOn Oh
the question. Does tine expression ali
nations in article :. of the Hay-Paunce-
fote treaty include the nited States
He cited reasons why United States ships
in coastwise trade should pay canal tolls
as contended by the British government
The Hay-Pauncefote treaty" Admira!
Stockton said. which Is now in force
does not supersedc the Clayton Eulwer
treaty. and II is only for the purpose Of
allowing the United States To construct
the canal without impairin2 the princi-
pies Of the older treaty. Had iAe ordi-
nary meaning been The Cne Intended I'M
the -Pauncefote treaty il would have
been expressed all foreign nationS not
al nations. as in the treaty.