The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1914-03-25

both contracting powers, on terms o.
equality. However, afterwards II
was learned that Canada had been ex.
empting all vessels, entering Canadian
ports, to the extent of eighteen cents
on each ton carried. and was charg-
ing twenty cents per ton on all yes-
sells, entering the United States. this
being the toll stipulated In the treaty.
me United States took the position
that this exemption was in violation of
/ the equality clause of the treaty. and
Great Britain subsequently yielded.
The spirit of the Clayton -Bulwer
convention was clearly set forth In
the following note by the United
States, at the time the convention was
held:
" That the United States would
not, If 1t could. obtain any ex-clu
sive right or privilege In a great
highway, which naturally belonged
10 all mankind.
Was No Abrogahon.
There was much discussion by the
United States and Great Britain az to
the obligations of this treaty, but
Secretary Olney, in 1896, clearly set
forth a memoranda upon the subject.
He stated that If changed conditions
now make stipulations, which were
once deemed advantageous, either in
applicable or injurious, the true rem
edy was not in ingenious attempts to
deny the existence Of the treaty, or
fritter away its provisions, but by a
reconsideration of the whole matter.
The question was again taken I'D by
he Hay-Pauncefot treaty which was
not an abrogation of the Clayton Bull
xer treaty, but was a modification
hereof. That treaty contained this
1.-The canal shall be free and
open to the vessels of commerce
and war of all nations, on terms
of entire equality, SO that there
shall be no discrimination
against any such nation or It's cit
izens or subjects in respect of the
conditions or charges of traffic, or
otherwise"
GOyernmant Acnufrnd TorA
However, on the other hand, 1t is
trongly urged that at the time of
he HayPauncefot treaty, the Uni
ed States did not own the land,
trough which the Panama canal was
onstructed, but since then the Uni
ed States has become the owner of
:, and that this fact entirely changes
ne matter of the treaty, and that en-
)ying the ownership of the property,
le United States can dictate as 1t
leases as to the exemption of tolls,
ecause the Hay-Pauncefot treaty pro-
ided:
Subject to the provisions of
the present convention, the said
government, the United States,
shall have and enjoy all the rights
incident to such construction, as
well as the exclusive right Of pro-
viding for the regulation and man
agement of the canal.'"
There Is much to be said on both
des. l know we believe that the
1ited States shall keep its pledged
ord, yet we are not prepared to say
is in the wrong, or has not kept
word. Our government has ac-
mplished the engineering marvel OF
e ages, and it has brought to
alization the dream of the ages, in
and human achievement.
e entire commerce of the United
ates is likely to be changed.
No Question of Money.
The question seems to be not SO
lch the dollars and cents levied up
coaSt-W1se snlpplng, but rather the
sulation Of American ships using
canal that would compete with
eat Britain or any other nation, and
III that right be interferred with
questioned by any other nation. 1t
an earnest desire on the part OF
United States to avoid acknowi-
ing the right of foreign interfer-
e with our own ships, who seek the
of this great highway, and wheth-
the American people will tolerate
delegation OF that right to any
er nation. However, the amount
the tolls levied upon all traffic
sing through this canal is left ex-
'ively with the United States. 20