The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-04-13
Secretary of State Deals at
Length With Important
Matter.
GREAT BRITAIN is
TAKING NO HAND
Declares Opponents Of Re
peal Are Appealing to
Prejudice Rather Than to
Reason - Repeal is Not
a CONSTRUCTION of the Hay
Pauncefote Treaty, Says
the Secretary of State.
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS.

Washington, April IL. - Secretary
bryan in a statement made public to-
day lengthily reviews the Panama tolls
question, and in the course of the
statement declares that the repeal of
the tolls exemption in the Panama
Canal Act cannot be construed to be
a construction Of the Hay y-Pauncefote
treaty" but Is simply refusal on the
part OF the United States to raise that
question in that way"
Mr.. Bryan discusses various featS
ures of the subject, the limiting of
debates in the house of representa-
tiyes. the Baltimore platform, and the
effect of repeal on the treaty.
Claiming that the opponents of the
repeal had seized upon the charge
that the president was "surrendering
to England, Mr.. Bryan declared that
the opposition to the repeal had at
tempted to appeal to prejudice rather
than TO reason"
What has Great Britain done, he
asked. ito jusmfy the accusation that
she IS trying to dictate to this coun-
try. She has simply called attention
to the terms of the treaty. and asked
for arbitration OF the question of con-
struction, in case this government diff
ders from the British government in
the construction to be placed upon the
Language. The very men who are so
1nsiStent upon constituting the treaty
to permit free tolls delayed for months
the ratification of the treaty with
fion 70 any a1bitrat tton of the sapleck2
thdn Ubj6cf9d to allowing any inter
national court TO express an opinion
on the subject. II. as matter OF fact.
the treaty grants the rights which
Great Britain claims is Il a ssurren-
der to Great Britain. for our nation to
repeal q law that raised that ques
fi0nT The repeal of the law cannot be
construed to be a construction Of the
treaty 1t Is simply a refusal on the
part OF the United States to raise that
question in that way. In the contro-
versy over the Weliand Canal Canada
had made fn8fayor Of Canadian ships.
in order that no cause for Fiction
with the United States authorities in
regard to the matter sLoule exist
WHAT IS TO PREVENT
Why cannot the United States
withdraw u discrimination for the
same reason When the treaty in
yoIved was before the senate for ratI-
fication an attempt was mad 50 50
amend R a. TO permit a dIscrIrnira-
tion I'm favor Of coastwise vessels but
II was voted down bg a decided ma
jority. With this record TO support
them. Is It strange that foreign n&
sions question Our right 60 make an
exception In favor Of American ves~
seisr"
" Discussing the presidents r7al4e to
expect the support Sf Congress- ef1Sn
he deals with fnternse1ons7 caess80nss
Secretary Bryan adds !
'~The chief exec9t9Ve Sps3}SS for tas
nation In intefnasEonai affairs, ard is
Ms only fair TO ass0na@ thas ne speaks
advfs@d1y when he declares that in
tercourSS with 0s5er nations * s@~
riously enoaFFassed by tne ffee~t05Is (
law which ne seeEs % repeal
CONFLICTING POSITIONS.
I'VE occupy today a Proud position
among the nations Ws are the fore
most advocate o. peace and ar3Itra
tion; we are becoming more and more
q moral factor throughout the world.
Can we afford TO surrender this posi-
ton? Can we afford TO bsilttlc ths
great enterprise which has reached its
nation desires to be measured by in
tellectual and ethical standards. how !
unworthy to bras OF our strength and
to threaten to use that strength. we
are ready to fight does not arouse the /
enthusiasm now that 10 did q few cen /
turtles ago. Brute force Ia not the
level upon which this nation settles
its controversies today. The question |
is not what we can do but what ~
ought to do. The path Of history ~
strewn with the wreck Of nations that |
boasted that they were all powerful. |
This question must be decided on
moral principles and not by the count !
ing of our regiments and battieships. !
What shall it profit a nation If IL con- |
(Continued on Page Three)