The Washington times., 1914-04-10
SENATOR LODGES AD-
DRESS.

Senator Lodge has presented one
of the ablest and most coIS lncing ar
currents yet put forth, ir favor of
the proposition that the United
States has the right to exempt its
ships from tolls payments at Panama.
He not only believes that we have
the right under t:2e treaties to eH-
empt our coastwise. but all the rest
Of our shipping from tolls.
More than that, tie Senator con-
fesses that ne doesn't shy at the idea
Of subsidy. 9e believes in the policy
of building up our merchant marine,
and in using subsidies to do it.
With all this, buttressed by much
close touch with the whole negotia-
tior and ratification of the Hay
| Pauncefote treaty, the Senator yet
concludes that he favors repeating
the tolls-exemption Legislation. Why?
To quote an excerpt from his own
language
Il am not" said he. in the councils
of the President of the United States.
but l believe that during the past year
the present position of the United states
in It's foreign relations has become very
apparent 20 him. as it has to other re-
spcnsible and rejecting men. and with
this appreciation Of our present position
has come the earnest wish to retrace
some of our steps. at least. and to re-
gain. SO far as possible. the hisa plane
which We formerly occupied.
1T would be an obvious impropriety
tC point out the specific conditions OF
our present relations with the various
nations, both in the Old World and the
new; it is emo lSh to note the fact that
we are regarded by other nations with
distrust and in some cases with dis
like.
Rightly or wrongly, they have come
10 believe that We are not to be trusted;
that We make our international reIa-
tions the sport Of politics, and treat
them as if they were in no wise differ
ent from questions of domestic legis-
lStior."
Senator Lodges logic does not
strike one as being so clear as it
commonly is. Our foreign relations
have been carelessly, thoughtlcssly,
handled. We do not stand very we'll
internationally. So he would do the
handsome and generous thing in the
matter of the canal; he would re-
linquish something to which we are
justly entitled, by way of amends for
mistakes we have made in other di-
rectionS.
This does not seem the right way
to make amends. To infict wrong
in one quarter, and then do gen.
erous act in another, comes far
from maintaining that even keel of
policy on which foreign relations
should be navigated. 1t would seem
vastly better to make the amends di-
rectly; to right the specific wrongs
that have been done; to make good,
even though tardily, whatever COM
mitments we have outstanding. Sup
pose Japan is aggrieved with us in
the matter Of the Western States
land laws: is it to be assumed that
we can perpetuate blunder in that
direction, and then Jolly Japan into
amiability by making concession
to the maritime world in the matter
Of the canal? 1t seems improbable.
Again, we are at this time without
a commercial treaty with Russia. We
need one, because we revoked the old
one. But it may be doubted whether
Russia will especially appreciate an
amiabie concession at Panama, which
would benefit some of her rivals
vastly more than it would help her.
The proceeding looks too much like
slappirg man on one cheek and
then satisfying him by kissing him
or the other.