Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-20
TEN Reasons Why Congress
Should NotYield Our Panama
Canal Rights at England's
Demand.


country built and the canal ANY foreign power
may remit the tolls paid by ships Spain has already de-
cidd Other nations may reimburse their shpownes
all Panama Canal charges encouragement TO commerce
England Germany pay enormous subsidies to their snip
President Wilson declines Ito have controversy
England right give privileges whatsoever to
our own domestic commerce in our own canal
IL
The Clayton Bulwer Treaty bearing the contro
The Contemplated that treaty
built for the simple that England never uneo
part understanding The Clayton Buwer Treaty con-
smpated the construction OF an nteroceanc canal nty ny
the Governments of Britain and the United States In
period political timidty with civil threatening our Gov
1850 heated to enter great project With
out cooperation The United States had earlier
by treaty Central American States (ranada) procured
permission canal but England formally demand
cd be made party to the enterprise Believing that England
would supply part Of the funds the United States yielded Hav
ing the treaty England did nothing The
Treaty yne years later superseded and abrgated the
earlier treaty Canal then became exclusively
American enterprise only for the Hay Pauncefote
Treaty the repeal of the older one
Article of the treaty says that the United States shall
enjoy rights of ownership except indicated in the
treaty shall enjoy exclusive control and power over the canal
shall make all rules and establish the rates This article
quoted the advocates of Great Britain claims But 1t
is controlling. The next article 81 provides
free and TO nc reds Of commerce
Of nations OBSERVING THESE RULES on terms
entire equality there shall discrimination against
respect Of che conditions or charges Of "afh or
In other words the United adopts the rules and it
guarantees equality itself all other nations but
equality nations obying its rules The discrimina
ton between States and other nations e. the diff
and the landlord is in the terms OF
the treaty itself.
II the contention Britain that it is not American
canal but an canal true
sary follow that warshps of the United States
exactly footing the warhps of Great Britain be-
treaty provides that vessels of of begerent
shall take any the most
extraordinary proposition Senator Cummns has well stated
if applies to that has been advanced by
President the United States is at reduced to
the gaekeeper and toll collector of the Panama
Canal and is not its rghtful owner.
Henry Cabot Lodge has stated that such inter-
probation Britain makessuppored by President
Wsonhad been expressed at the time he would never
chairman Committee Foreign Relations have
reported Pauneeoe treaty to the Senate and could
have been adopted President Taft good lawyer
CURED in this view
The freedom of tolls granted ships applies only
domestic 1t does not apply to American ships in
foreign AS to the latter Congress has put the ships
of all nations including equality to tolls The
of Congress granting free tolls shipping
discriminate against foreign ships because foreign
ships permitted that trade This has been true
for nearly century No foreign ship clear from any
port with cargo any other American port that
right reserved exclusively to American ships.
wi
Free tolls is doctrine the Democratic party because
believed that would make for cheap food and otherwise
benefit by cheapening the rates of transportation be-
the Pacific and the Atlantic seaboard One of the
mary objects building the canal to develop compe
on with the transconnenal railroads ship of 5000 tons
burden bringing food from Southern California York
charged $4,000 tolls in going through the canal that $4,000 will
added the price of the food ratable
price every transported by rail
roads the continent because the will
land
VII
Great Britain has interpreted her treaties regard
ing equality of rates and port charges she seeks compel
the United States interpret the Hay Paunoeote treaty
The Treaty of Commerce between the United States
Great Britain signed in 1915 provides that higher
duties charges shall be imposed the ports His
Majesty territories in Europe the vessels
than shall be payable in the ports British vessels