The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-01-14
Miscellany
Britain and the Pacific Coast.

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with todays issuc of tho Times Is
published a large special number dealing
with the natural resources. the past his
tory and the probable future develop
ment OF tho Pacific coast states Of North
America. with special reference to the cf-
fccts that must follow the completion of
the Panama canal. There are reasons
in our opinion, which render the present
moment peculiarly appropriate 10 such
review. IL is the present decision of the
British government that this country
shall not be Officially represented al the
great Panama Pacific exhibition, with
which. in little more than years time,
America and San Francisco Will celebrate
the opening Of the worlds new waterway.
beginning, that that decision was an un-
fortunate mistake, and that IL should be
recircd without further loss OF time
The principle involved IS much greater
and more important than the mere cues
ton OF pounds, shllines and pence Il is
outside the sphere OF the profit and loss
calculations proper 20 the board OF trade.
That Is plainly shown In the dispatches
from our correspondents at washington
and San Francisco, published yesterday
and today. The news which they con-
tain is complete vndicdtiou OF the a.
tttude which we have taken up on this
exceedingly delicate but perfectly simple
problem of international policy. Already
the mischief which was foretold as the
mined upon by the government is begin
ming to work. The leading newspapers
In New York and San Francisco have.
In the last two days, printed stories
which. as our Washington correspondent
points out, q few months ago would never
have been allowed 10 see the light; and
unfortunately we may be certain that
they are being repeated all over the
United States. Because OF their attitude
toward the San Francisco exhibition, this
country and Germany are accused OF hav-
wage war against American commerce
all over the world.
1t Is difficult TO imagine any charge
moro likely TO impair the friendly relr-
tions existing between the Americans
and ourselves. Responsible people in this
country know that the imputation Is as
groundless as the rumored reasons on
which Il is based-the most damaging OF
them Is the alleged desire on our part to
cultivate an emphatic anti-American
policy. In order 10 freeze the Americans
out OF South America. But IL Is one
thing TO know that all such accusations
are mistaken, and quite another to con-
vince the people OF America and the cit-
zens OF San Fra ncisco that this is the
fact. The truth Is that the question is
perfectly simple one and is well under
stood here outside government circles.
BY almost superhuman energy and perse-
verance the Americans have virtually
ing and building the canal, the despair
OF generations Of the worlds foremost
engineers. Naturally and rightly. they
are proud OF the great boon that they
have bestowed on the commerce and
means OF communication OF the whole
human race. In the chief town of the
oldest OF the five states Qncludcd among
which is our own British ColunbIa) tha.
Will derive most Immediate benefit from
the canal they propose now 70 hold an
exhibition to celebrate the triumph OF its
completion. II IS unthinkable that we.
Of all the nations OF the world, should
from motives OF economy hold aloof
Considering the Importance which Amer
leans, in the east no less than in the west.
attach to the exhibition. II Is clearly our
policy, TO put II on the lowest grounds
to take worthy share In II, not only as
individuals, but as nation. In spite OF
occasional points Of Disagreement be
tween the two countries. and the perma-
nent hostility of the h-American fac
ton, we believe that the friendship be-
tween Britain and America is so strong
that IL can never be overthrown. But
risk of being shaken, all for the sake OF
saving hundred thousand pounds by
disregard on our part OF the requirement
of international courtesy.
Apart from this question OF the San
Francisco exhibition, the one other point
in which there Is a possibility OF q diff
ference OF opinion between the two coun-
tries with regard TO the canal and the
Pacific coast states Hes in the exemption
OF American coastwise shipping from
Panama tolls, There are, however, good
grounds at last for hoping that the reso-
luton proposed by Mr. Adamson, doing
away with this exemption for the time
being, is assured OF the approval and sup
port OF President Wilson. Another sub
iect dealt with in our special number,
In which the personal attitude OF the
president is Of the utmost Importance. is
the future development OF Alaska, Fortu-
uately there Is no doubt as TO what he
proposes To do In his message TO con-
gress at the beginning Of this month he
announced that in his view It Is an I'm