The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-09
Influence for CONNER
cial Expansion and
Cause of Peace.
TOLLS DISPUTE
STANDS IN WAY
With Exemption Clause Repealed
and Other Nations Assured
OF Honesty in Interpreting
Treaties, Government Hopes
to Get on Parity With
Other World Powers.

washington. March s.-Devclopmcnt
or tho American foreign policy, as an
influence for commercial eapausion and
tho cause or universal peace. tg i. y,,al
concern Of the Washington aainin.s-
trat!on In Its efforts To have repealed
mo Panama tolls exemption clause
aside from President Wilson's asser-
tion that national honor Is involved i'm
UNFOLDING treaty obligation, there
are circumstanccs surrounding set
tlcrucnt OF tho controversy which AR.
expected by administration official. 10
nave broad effect on tic United
States diplomatic relations with The
entire world.
Behind the protest OF Great Britain.
J; has become known authoritativcl~,
stands the united support Of furopean
nations. whose formal objections have
been held In allegiance to await tho
outcome Of Eneland's negotiations
with the United states. Underlyinr
the settlement OF the tolls dispute Is
an AMBITIOUS program Of American
diplomacy. which contenplntes an
ehrly adjustment of relations with the
nations Of tho globe 80 that the
Panama Canal may be opened in an
era OF diplomatic good feeling.
Though there exist no agreements
or obligations or UNDERSTANDINGS with
Great Britain To this effect, the cx-
tension OF Enslands reciprocal good
VIII. in tho Wow of diplomatists, cannot
but aid In bringing about eventual
triumph of the American policy in
Mexico. and n satisfactory settlement
Of delicate negotiations with Japan.
and influence n host of other d!plo-
matte difficulties which have accurnu-
lated to the United States In thc LIT
decade and Ia which the friendship of
Great Britain could be healthy fac
tor.
Tolls Not Mentioned.
Sir Lionel Garden. British minister
To Mexico, recently talked with Presi-
den, Wilson, but the subject OF the
tolls was no; mentioned. and the con
Ncrsation included no discussion OF
further plans or policies In Mexico.
though the british minister did carry
away distinct impression OF Presi-
dent Wilson'S unalterable opposition TO
lIuerta
This, il Is assumed. may now bo CON
veyed Ito the foreign diplomats III
Mexico Clty, as we'll as TO Hucrta HIM
self, In a manner that probably would
preclude amy further support from
Europe for Huerta. These possibili-
ties are pointed out by close observers.
who suggest that diplomacy often
needs no formal understanding or
agreement hut acts frequently on the
principle that one good turn deserves
another.
British participation In the Panama
IaClfc EXPOSITION. Tor instance. NJ"
IS being urged by the English press,
and 4, majority iu the House of Com
mons is supporting the movement
which is regarded IL many quarters as
aII instance or such reciprocity. World
wide participation In the exposition In
.identalIy is hoped for by the Wash
ington government. not only because
OF n natural desire for the success OF
an American enterprise. but because
the administration here expects TO
make OF the exposition an International
forum for the promotion Of universal
peace.
In Lead for World Pence.
The recent ratification Of eight ar
bitration treaties and tho consumTna-
tion Of the principles of investigation
~ q preventive OF war in treaties al
ready being drafted with several ma
tions are manifestations Of the pur
pose of the United States To take the
lead for world peace and the aboli-
ton of war In an atmosphere OF frank
dealing and international good faith liz
IS the wish of the United States gov
ernment to rehabiitatc the entire
structure of its foreign relations. In
this light, diplomatists understand
President Wilson'S reference In his
latest message to matters of greater
delicacy and nearer consequence"
which. nc said. were involved in the
proposed repeal That the President
anticipated difficulties hereafter in
dealing with those nations which had
regarded the United states as break
ing solemn promise for its own IN
terest. is the official explanation OF that
portion of the message.
An analysis OF the foreign relations
Of tho United states shows that not
only In the settlement of past dis
putcs, but in the negotiation Of new
trade agreements or treaties, the Amer
lean government is seeking to place
itself on a parity with other world
powers. so that its influence I'm Europe
as well as In the Far East may be
ascendant.
The United states realizes that Great
Britains sclf-restraint in the recent
Benton case, has lcssencd considerably
the likelihood that any European ma
ton would assume an aggressive post
tion In pressing the United States to
intervention or drastic action in Mex
leo or in any other emergency in Latin
America. Europe. 1T Is realized here,
often Is guided largely by the attitude
OF Great Britain.
Factor In Dispute.
Great Britain's alliance with Japan
it is believed. already has been a factor
i'll the dispute over the California anti
alien land laws. The incrcasin friend
ship OF the United States and Great
Britain, II is admitted, would render 1t
difficult for Japan to expect support
from her ally in,controversies with the
United States. There is said to be good
reason to believe. too. that the settle
1nent OF the tolls question on the basis
OF equal payment by all nations will
IND favor at Tokyo. where an exemp-
tion in favor OF American coastwise
shipping was regarded MS a serious
blow to prospective Japanese trade
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