The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-04-22
OF
TREATIES SOUGHT
FOR FREE TOLLS
Senator Chamberlain Would
Prevent Arbitration by Re-
pudiating Agreements.
PASSAGE IS NOT LIKELY
Proposal Thought to Amount to an
AAfont to Great Britain.
Comment Differs.

Abrogation of the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty and the Clayton-Bulwer treaty,
under which the construction of the Pan
object of a joint resolution which Sem
ator Chamberlain of Oregon, a Demo-
crat. introduced yesterday in the SEN
ate. The brief debate on this radical
resolution indicated that Senator O'Gor-
man of New York. chairman of the SEN
ate Committee on Interoceanic Canals,
is inclined to favor this resolution.
The resolution was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Relations, where
1t probably will slumber for some time.
The appearance of this resolution in
Congress is part of the fight Of the
free toll advocates against any efforts
to arbitrate the question or to repeal
the legislation that is so offensive to
Great Britain.
While there is no likelihood of the pas
sage Of the resolution, it is certain to
stir up keen resentment in England. and
to emphasize the extreme to which some
Senators are willing to go in this mat
ter. Several members of the Senate re-
garded the action of Senator Chamber
lain as most unfortunate. They declared
that the abrogation Of the Hay-Paunce-
fote and Clayton-BuIwer treaties would
amount to an affront to Great Britain,
which might have serious consequences.
The Senators added that it would be i'm
possible for the United States to call
such action .'abrogation." 1t would
amount to an absolute Reputation of the
sacred pledges and honor of the United
States.
Compact Is Solemn.
1t was pointed out. as soon as the res
olution was introduced. that there Is no
provision in the Hay-Pauncefote treaty
providing for its termination by either
government. The United States. when
il entered into The compact, assumed
solemn obligation which it is bound to
abide by, unless it desires 10 disregard
its pledged word to England.
Only once in the history OF the Cnlted
States. according to Senators familiar
with foreign affairs. has the United
states abrogated a treaty which had no
proyision for it's termination. That was
in 179S, when the French treaties were
terminated At that time war with
France had not been. actually declared,
but the country was on the verge OF
armed conflict.
The Chamberlain resolution alleges
that Great Britain itself substantially
abrogated the Clayton-Bulwer treaty oy
refusing to abide by its provisions. the
resolution holds also that two years al
ter the negotiations of the Hay-Paunce-
fote treaty, the United States entered
into a subsequent treaty with Panama
which completely changed the basis OF
the Hay-Pauncefote treaty to an extent
TO nullify it by giving the United States
itself Jurisdiction over the Panama Canal
Zone.
The apparent flippancy with which some
members of Congress are coming to re-
gard the treaty obligations of the United
States is worrying many OF the older
members of the Senate. Recently there
has been talk of disregarding the arbi-
tration treaty with England in the mat
ter of a settlement of the canal tolls
question. Only recently the Democratic
caucus of the House adopted a provision
in the tariff bill. which. according to
some authorities. violates twenty-five
or thirty commercial treaties which the
United States has with the civilized ma
tons of the world This provision is the
one granting a preference to goods car
ried in American bottoms.
On top of these instances comes now
the Chamberlain resolution, proposing
Of the Hay-Pauncefote and
Clayton-Bulwer treaties.
Committee Is Polled.
A poll of the Senate Committee on
Foreign Relations yesterday on the
resolution disclosed Out-and-
out opposition by the Republicans and
on the part of the Demo-
Gratis. with the exception of Senator
O'Gorman, who openly supported the
Senator Bacon, chairman of the COM
mittee, would not discuss the resolution,
beyond saying that it would receive care
full consideration by the committee.
1T is a serious matter 1 won't know
it is matter of international
until 1 have gone into it,
was the expression Of Senator Stone.
"All / want is a fair presentation of