The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-03-11
WANTS IT REPEALED
WILSON SPEAKS 70 congress
ABOUT PANAMA TOLLS

WORLD Deems Us WRONG
Packed Galleries and Attentive
Benches Hear Wilson Plead for
Strict Observance Of Treaty Obi
cations to Great Britain-Congress
VIII Probably Yield.
President Wilson went to congress
Thursday and pleaded for repeal OF
the provision Of the Panama canal
act which exempts American coast
wise shipping from tolls. He tersely
asserted that his reason for asking
the repeal was because everywhere
except in the United States, the tolls
exemption was regarded as viola
ton. OF the Hay-Pauncefote treaty
and he further asked it in support Of
the Administrations general foreign
policy.
That the presidents request will
be granted there seemer little doubt
Thursday night, despite the fact that
there will be vigorous opposition both
In the Senate and the House. Aside
from the bearing of the message on
the Panama tolls question, some OF
the phrases used by the president at
tracted widespread comment in con-
gressional quarters as relating to for
esgn relations in general. In some
quarters there was a disposition to
regard some Of his statements in the
nature Of warning on the difficulties
involved in "other matters OF even
greater delicacy and nearer conse-
quences."
Later in the day the president him
self, talking with callers, explained
that these phrases nad.no significance
beyond their bearing on the need OF
rigorous good faith in the Panama
tolls questions, as an evidence Of un-
wavering good faith on all other
questions, and that nothing critical
was pending in foreign relations.
But the language Of the message con-
tinued to be commented upon as hav-
ing an application considerably
broader than the Panama question.
Three points in particular were
noted: First, the presidents state
ment that no communication he had
addressed to congress carried "graver
or more farreaching implications to
the interests Of the country; second,
that everywhere outside the United
States the language Of the Hay
Psuncefote treaty was given but one
Interpretation; and, third, the con-
cluding statement as to "other mat
ters Of ever greater delicacy and near
er consequence"
The president further told his call
ers that while he never had received
any formal communication on the
subject, he had understood that Eu-
ropean nations generally took the
same view as did Great Britain-that
the Hay-Pauncefote treaty was vlo-
lated by the Panama canal act. He
pointed out that in dealing with for
eign affairs, nations which believed
the United States did not keep a
promise on so important & treaty as
the Hay-Pauncefote convention would
not be likely to believe the nation
sincere on other delicate questions.
Word had come to the president OF
q general Impression in Europe that
the United States was sailing as
close to the wind as possible" in in
teroreting promises made in its
treaties. No pressure had been
brought to bear by any nation but
the president was confident that for
eisn governments had this feeling on
the subject.
The Panama tolls question has
been a subject Of dispute for nearly
two years. Diplomatic correspondence
between Great Britain and the United
States found the question unsettled
when President Taft left office. Ex-
cent for an assurance to James Bryce.
then British ambassador, when ne
left the United States year ago that
the question would be taken up N
the regular session Of congress. Pres
ident wilson has never directed any
official communication to England on
the tolls question. The president re-
Gently told callers he had never dis
cussed. the, matter formally or infor-
mally with the British ambassador
here, Sir Cecil Spring-Rice, because
he believed the obligation on the part
OF the United States to repeal the ex-
emntion clause was one which this
government itself should realize with
out outside influence or pressure.
The House chamber and galleries
we're packed as usual to hear the
president read his address. The
French and German ambassadors and
other members of the diplomatic
CORDS we're in spaces reserved for
them. No official Of the British en-
bassy was present. The Misses VIII
son had places in the executive gal
lery and Mrs. Wilson for the first
time was absent. She has not yet re-
covered from the shock OF fall IN
the White House several days ago.
President Wilson reached the capl-
tol 10 minutes before the time for
the reading and waited In Speaker
Clark's room until 1880 O'Clock