The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-17
CHOATE SENDS NOTE
TO AID TOLLS REPEAL
Ex-Ambassador Says Treaty Ne
gotiations Provided Only
One Exemption.
THAT WAS IN CASE OF WAR
Prof. Richard, Representing
German Americans. Pleads
for Repeal Bill.
THAT WAS IN CASE or WAR

WASHINGTON. April 16--The most in
teresting development OF the hearing be-
fore the Senate Committee on Interoceanic
Canals to-day on the Panama tolls repeal
bill was the reading Of letter from Jo-
soph II. Choate. who was Ambassador to
Great Britain during the negotiations Of
the Hay -Pauncefote treaty.
Mr. Choate went suuareiy to the front
in favor of the repeal Of the exemption
clause. He expressed regret that the con-
dition Of his health would not permit him
to appear personally before the committee
The ex-Ambassador sent to the COM
mittee copies of correspondence which had
passed between himself and the late John
Hay Secretary Of State. while the neso-
tiations were on. Mr.. Choate expressed
the opinion that the United States has no
moral right under the treaty to exempt
any Of its vessels from tolls.
Senator O'Gorman submitted the corre-
spondence to the committee. The most
interesting Of the letters was one written
BY Mr.. Choate to Henry White. ex-secre-
tary OF the Embassy In London. under
date Of April II, 1914.
Intent ~ the Parties.
In that letter Mr.. Choats said:
II wrote to Senator O'Gorman yester-
day enclosing to him. with permission Of
the Secretary Of state. copies OF my let
tiers to Secretary Hay between August
ana October l2, 1901. To my mind they
establish beyond question the intent Of
the parties engaged In the negotiations
that the treaty should mean exactly what
Il says-and It excludes the possibility OF
any exemption OF any kind OF vessels Of
the United States.
Equality between Great Britain and
the United States In the constant theme.
and especially in my last letter OF Octo-
Der Q, 1901, when I speak OF Lord Lans-
downe's part in the matter and say:
ale has shown an earnest desire TO
bring to an amicable settlement honor
able alike to both parties. this long ana
important controversy between the two
nations In substance I've Rbrogates the
Clayton Bulwer treaty. gives US an Ameri-
can canal. ours to build as and when We
like, to own. control and govern on the
sole condition OF Its being always neutral
and free for the passage OF the ships OF
all nations on equal terms. except that II
we get into war with any nation we can
shut its ships out and take care OF our
selves"
There was also incorporated In the rec
ord OF the hearings to-day an extract
from speech by eN-Prcsident TAFT IN
ne said that In his opinion the tolls mat
ter would either have to be arbitrated or
the tolls exemption clause repealed SEN
ator simmons OF North Carolina produced
this contribution and had 1t incorporated
in the record.
Prof. Richard . witness.
Dr. Ernest Richard OF New York. a
professor at Columbia University and
president of the German American Peace
.ocieiy was witness before the com
nittee in favor OF repeal.
Questioned as to what particular inter
est he represented. DIR. Richard said that
he appeared expressly TO represent the
North American Gvmnastic Union. He ex-
planned that Theodore Stuempfel OF In
dianapolis was the president OF the or
ganization and that Stuempfel had said
that repeal was peremptory as matter
OF honor. justice and fair dealing"
Or Richard declared that the organi-
sation he represented had 10000 mem
hers throughout the country and that they
were a unit in favor OF repeal He de-
clared that II was not fair to insinuate,
as the advocates OF free tolls have done,
that President Wilson was moved by con
siderations suggestive OF coward!ce.
~ do not think this 10 n good time to
make the eagle scream and get few
Irish votes and possibly few German
ones in the wake" said he
Senator OGorman asked whether or
not the witness attached any weight Ia
the attitude OF ex-Presidents Taft and
Roosevelt.
II do not think they were infallible,"
replied the witness.
Senator Gore, who II taking a poll of
delegates to the Democratic national com
vention, made public to-day the following
brief letter from Herman Ridder
CHN
April IL at hand. I am with President
Wilson on the repeal OF the free tolls
act. Faithfully,
HERMAN RTppER~