The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-06
Pleads With Congress
to Uphold Honor Of
United States.
ASKS SUPPORT OF
FOREIGN POLICY
Despite Fact of Vigorous Oppo-
sition Both in Senate and
House, There Seems Little
Doubt That Request of
Chief Executive Will
Be Granted.

Washington. March 5.--Pres!dent Will
son went TO Congress to-day and
pleaded for repeal Of the provision of
the Panama Canal act which eScmpts
American coastwise shipping from tolls.
He terseiy assorted that his reason for
asking the repeal was because every
(. where except In the United States tho
tolls exemption was regarded as a vio-
lation OF tho dIay- Pauncefote treaty,
and mo further asked it In support OF
the administrations general foreign
policy.
That the Presidents request will be
granted there seemed little doubt to-
night. despite the fact that there VIII
be vigorous opposition both in the SEN
ate and the House. Initiative action
VIII be taken tomorrow when tho
House Interstate ana Foreign Com
merce Committee will meet to consider
the message. IT was said o-night that
THIS committee would report n bill To
iiatly repeal the exemption provision.
In the Senate to- day senator .Chilton,
- Democratic member OF the Inter
oceanic Canals Committee introduced
an amendment to the canal act to give
the President authority to make or
suspend tolls by proclamation and TO
prescribe tolls In cases exempted. This
would put 1t up directly TO the Presi-
dent To eliminate the exemption
Attract Widespread Comment.
Aside from the bearing of to-days
message on the Panama tolls question
some OF the phrases used by the Prcsi-
dent attracted widespread comment in
congressional quarters as bearing on
foreign relations In general. In some
quarters there was disposition to
regard some of his statements in the
nature OF !, warning regarding the diff
culties involved In other matters OF
even greater delicacy and nearor con-
sequence"
Later in the day ,he President him
self. talking with callers, explained
that these phrases had no significance
beyond their bearing on the need of
rigorous good faith on the Panama
tolls question. as an evidence OF un-
warcring faith on all other questions.
and that nothing critical was pending
In foreign relations. But the language
OF the message continued to be com
mented upon as having an applica-
tion considerably broader than the
Panama question.
Three points In particular were
noted:
First. the Presidents statement that
no communication lie had addressed to
Congress carried "sraver or more far-
reaching implicat tions to the interest
OF the country: second, that every
where outside the United States the
language of the Hay -Pauncefote treaty
was given but one interpretations; and
third. the concluding statement as to
other matters of even greater deli
cacy and nearer consequences"
View of European Nations.
The President further told his callers
that. while he never had received any
formal communications on the subject
he had understood that European ma
uons generally took the same View as
did Great Britain, that tho HAY
Paunccfote treaty was violated by tho
Panama Canal act. He pointed out
thnt in dealing with foreign affairs,
nations which believed the United
states did not keep Its promise on so
important treaty as the Hay -Paunce-
fote convention, would not be likely
to expect sincerity on other delicate
questions.
Word had come to the President OF
general impression in Europe that
the United states was sailing as close
to the wind as possible" In Interpret
ing promises made In its treaties No
pressure had been brought to bear by
any nation. but the President felt con-
hdent that foreign governments had
this feeling on the subject.
In this connection, Mr.. Wilson re-
vealed the fact that since his talk a
year ago with former Ambassador
krycc. In which lie gave assurances
that the tolls question would be taken
up 1T the regular session of Congress-
no communications. formal or other
wise. had passed between Great Britain
and the United States.
Earnestly Seeks Action.
The President said no PARTICULAR
thing had caused him to read the mes
sage, except a doubt that had existed
In some quarters in Congress as TO
how strongly convinced he was as to
the necessity OF repeal. He had felt
that he wanted members OF Congress
To realize that he earnestly sought them
10 reverse their action of year ago
senator Shively, acting chairman OF
the Foreign Relations Committee,
commenting to-nighi, said he was as-
surcd President Wilson's reference to
other matters" meant all foreign mat
tcrs confronting the government Tho
administration has inherited many for
eiGn problems" lie said. "and 1t Is
necessary that our foreign relations
be rcadjustcd. That is what l think
the President had In mind
When the House Committee on In
terstatc Commerce meets tomorrow
II is expected TO favorably report tho
Sims bill 10 repeal the exemption
clause. On the Senate side. bin fol.
that purpose was introduced last year
by Senator Root. OF New York.
senator Chiffon. discussing his amend
ment 10 indirectly accomplish the re- :
peal. said IL was his own idea OF u
way out of the dinculty. The PresI-
dent had not been consulted with roia-
tion TO 1t. he said Some Senators were
Inclined to the belief that tho Chiffon
amendment would leave Congress opeu
to the change that 1t had attempted 10
dodge the issue. Senator Root assert
ed that the result would be the same AZ