The Washington herald., 1914-04-12
.DISMAY IS felt
AT TOLLS MIX-UP
Provisions Of Treaty with Co
lombia Inject Fresh
Complications.
REPEAL FORCES UNEASY
Opponents Are Prepared to Make
Most of Apparent Inconsistency
of Great Britain.

Dismay Mt the confusion OF the PAN
anna Canal tolls issues through the dis
closure at this time of the provisions Of
| the new treaty with Colombia was Wis
ible in administration quarters yesterday.
II IL admitted that fresh complications
have been injected into what already Is
one Of the most involved disputes that
has been before the country in years
Defense OF the concession TO Colombia
of the right TO pass government troop
ships and warships Of any character
through the canal without payment Of
tolls already has begun. Administration
supporters were quick TO recognize yes
terday the danger to their cause that lies
in the disclosures regarding the contents
OF the Colombian treaty.
II will be contended that the United
States owes a double obligation for its
rights in the Canal Zone. Legal title
was obtained from the Republic OF Pan
anna, il IL asserted but moral title"
must be acquired from Colombia. the
original sovereign of the territory
through which the canal passes. This
argument implies. OF course. that the
morality OF the United States taking IT,
tie from Panama is questionable. and II
IL certain this defense of the concessions
to Colombia will arouse opposition.
VIII Hurt Administration.
This argument also will react against
the administration in its effect upon the
prospects for ratification OF the Colom-
bian treaty. 1t already has been clearly
demonstrated that no treaty with CO.
lombis containing an Acknowledgement
OF -wrongdoing. or an apology. or Eek
preston OF regret has a chance Of rat!-
81
gument advanced on behalf OF the con-
cessions to Colombia is recognized to be
that moral reparatiOn" is due Colombia,
just as that country has for ten years
claimed.
Opponents OF the repeal are prepared
to make all possible capital out of the
apparent inconsistency o. Great Britain
in consenting TO the granting OF cOnces
sions to Colombian ships using the canal
which are denied TO the United States by
Great Britain. II is maintained that II
the position OF Colombia in relation to
the canal is such as TO entitle IL to spe-
cial privileges in the use OF the waterway,
certainly the United States Is the more
entitled to special considerations
IL is furthe' argued that the failure
OF Great Eritain TO protest against the
exemption Of tire vessels of the Panama
government from payment OF tolls as
lltdlg VI lfo. - n ItNOE-
milton OF the contention that there were
TO be no exceptions from the phrase all
nations" Yet this was assented to by
Great Britain by her silence. and she also
assented to the exemption in favor OF
Colombian vessels. The only objection !
lodged by Great Britain was against The |
proposed exemption Of certain classes OF
United States vessels. though the United !
States stands in a much closer relation !
H..
or Colombia.
Root Furnishes Argument.
The argument in answer TO this com |
IentiOn. however has been furnished the !
by Senator Root. WHO is |
Dne OF the Presidents strongest support I
nrs on the Republican side with regard /
10 the repeal OF the exemption clause. !
Before the Senate committee considering |
he tolls question Senator Root stated the !
ground upon which the concessions TO
'olombia are justified. He said then
Whatever the Hay-PaunCefote treaty I
means. We hold the Canal Zone under a .
practical trust. We have declared the !
Of = trustee in the most uu-
eGuivocal man1er." |
That is. the Senator holds that whi'e |
Ihe United States owns the Panama
'anal IL holds n restricted title. For this |
&
held to be a matter Of the rights Of /
Panama, inasmuch as she did not sur
render to the United States fun ;itle TO
he Panama Canal Zone, and therefore ,
here remains to her the right to free /
passage of her ships through her own
territory without charge.
II is eXDe ted little light will be
brown on the situation with the pTbi-
"A ion of the fun text OF the new treaty
NJ .1WI
Intention to place II before the publir
Wednesday. although there MAJ he sune
iclay about this, as its publication Is
dependent upon agreement with the
Colombian government
Choate TO BE Heard.
An interesting array OF witnesses has
zen subpoenaed tc appear this weeF
,efore the Senate Committee on Inter-
,ceanic Canals. Among them. is Joseph
/ Choate. former Ambassador to Great
Britain. and Henry White. n. one time
ecretary of the embassy att London.
They are expected TO testify as to
whether the diplomatic representatives
4 the United States pledged Great
Britain that our government would rot
xempt any of its ships from the pay
rent of tolls for the use of the Pcnama
anal. The question is as to whether
uch a promise was made while negotia-
ions were pending that led up - The
IgninG of the Hay-Paunceforte treaty.
other witnesses who have been asked
q appear are Oscar S. Strauss. Freder-
ok w. Lehman. former Solicitor General
4 the United States under President
'aft: Benjamin Ide Wheeler, prSsIdcE: OF
he University of California; Horace
White, of New York. Frederick n. jed
on, a St Louis lawyer; II. G. HerEeI,
resident of the Chicago Manufacturers
.ssociation. and William Reed. of Chi
ago.
Jones' Predicts TrOubIe.