New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-14
CHOATE FOR HAY TREATY
Opposes Toll Exemption for
American Ships.
CHAMBER TABLES QUESTION
w. H. Douglass Says England
Wants to Stab Our CoastWise
Trade in the Back.

Joseph ri. Choatc. former Ambassador
to Great Britain. declared himself AT yes
terday's meeting Of the Chamber OF Com
merce To be unaterably opposed to the
exemption Of American coastwise ships
from the payment Of the Panama Canal
tolls. Qualified TO spcao as he was. by
association and friendship with Lord
Paunccfotc and John Hay, he said that if
they were alive to-day they would unques-
tionably hold the view that he advanced.
Lewis Nixon spoke for the third or
fourth consecutive time that the question
had come before the Chamber of Com
mcrcc only 10 he laid on the table. His
arguments i'm favor of the Interpretation
OF the Hay-Pauncefote treaty permitting
the remission Of tolls 10 our own ships are
well known. He was supported in the dis
eussion by william II. Douglass, who as
serted that England wished ITO stab our
coast trade in the back. as she has done
our deep sea commerce
1T has been said that we have nothing
TO do with arbitration" said Mr. Choate.
II say that we have ever lang to do with
it in this question What country but the
United states has been the champion Of
arbitration for tho last fifty years? We
have said that arbitration Is the only
method of settlement Of international dis
putes. | don't understand how any person
could possibly reconcile the clause In the
IIay-Pauncefote treaty which demands
equality for the ships OF all nations using
the canal and the contrary clause i'm the
Panama Canal bill
The fact is that they cannot be recon-
ciled. The persons who drew the original
treaty must he presumed 10 have had in
mind a change In conditions in the future
The question Of money involved is neg
lIgible in Compa rison 10 the principles
or course. the case can hardly be said to
concern the honor OF either country. and
the idea Of war IL scarcely 10 be feared
In fact. do not believe khat under any
circumstances to-day could the United
states and England be- provoked 20 war
ION the other hand, suppose there We're
arbitration. No court or board, reading
the contradictory clauses could decide in
favor OF the United states. Why. then. is
it not emphatically 20 our interest to with
draw gracefully. although we are not
forced to do so? There is no reason why
we should not be honest and courageous
in our relations with other countries"
The discussion was on the report Of
yelling Ring. chairman OF the committee
OF foreign commerce and revenue laws.
which supported Senator Roots amend
mcnt to the Panama Canal measure by
striking ont the provision FOR free pas
sage for American coastwisc trade Chair
man Ring said public opinion In this coun-
try was very largely opposed To free pas
sage for coastwise tonnage.
Jacob n. Schin spoke briefly. assuring
the members that although he had pro-
posed M previous meeting that the Ring
measure be laid OF the table. he did not
consider himself inconsistent now in sup
porting Mr. Choate.
Mr. Nixon said that Senator Root had
gone back 10 the treaty preceding the Hay
Pauncefote covenant Tor his authority and
proceeded 10 emphasize his contention that
the neutrality clause OF the Hay treaty
vas binding only I'm time of war Equal
its Of treatmen, was not the same as ncu-
,rality. The equality clause meant simply
he said. that all foreign ships should be
admitted on an equality I'm time OF war,
and the neutrality clause could not posi-
by govern tho actions Of the United
states in time OF peace or prevent the gov
eminent from enjoying the rights IL was
entitled to after constructing the canal