Omaha daily bee., 1914-01-28
WILSON OPPOSES FREE TOLLS
President Objects to Clause Exempt
ing Coastwise Ships.
ACTION IS EXPECTED sHORTLY
Executive Takes Position that Pro-
visieh IL "a Discrimination which
Violates the Hay-Paunce-
fate Treaty.


WASHINGTON, Jan 27-That Presl-
dent Wilson is opposed to the exemption
OF American coastwlse ships from Pan
anna canal tolls was flatly asserted at
tho capitol today by those who know
what took place at the conference last
nlght between the president and senate
foreign relations committee.
Senators who talked with the president
said today that Mr.. Wilson fully ex-
plained his position on the tolls question
that his views incline toward the CON
tentloss Of Great Britain, and that he
would make public his attitude In the
near future. Several senators expressed
surprise that in view OF the president s
positive attitude he had NOT urged some
action at the extra session of congress-.
What the president may recommend
was rot disclosed IN today"g reports of
the White House conference, but IL was
pointed out that one way would be TO
repeal the exemption provision OF the
act, and another the passage OF tn ,
Adamsen resolution TO suspend for two
years the operations of the exemption
clause. and thus demonstrate whether
the canal would be self-supporting with
out tolls from American ships.
II was said today that the president
was not averse to toll exemptions as
such. but that he was strongly OF tho
opinion that they would be a dlsorimina-
uon which would not agree with the pro-
visions OF the Hay-Pauncefote treaty
Lifting the embargo on arms for Mexico
was also discussed at last nights con-
ference. Some senators favored 1t on
the ground that It would .haAten hostill-
ties to conclusion. One senator said
today he believed the president was in
elining more and more 10 that view and
might lift the embargo soon.
II was the general opinion Of senators
after their talk with the president on
the japanese situation that officials In
japan we're friendly to the United states
but were being pressed by radicals.
Basis for Dispute.
The dispute between the United States
and Great Britain turns on the construo.
ton Of Article 3 OF the Hay-P Pauncefoote
treaty, which provides:
THE canal shal be free and open To
the vessels OF commerce and OF nations
observing these rules on terms of entire
T"~~Nsf - Ntht theit ofdll ot no us
criminatlon against any such nation or
It's citizens or subjects In respect of the
conditions or eharses OF traffic or other
Wise. such conditions and charges OF
trainc should be lust and equitable"
The British contention has been that
this clause of 'entire equality" was To
be taken literally. But the Panama canal
act which providing equality OF tolls on
ocean-going traffic. exempted American
soastwise vessels from the payment. Sir
Edward Grey, British minister OF foreign
affairs protested against the exemption
az contrary to the language OF tho
language OF the treaty,
Mr Knox, while secretary OF the state
under the TAFT administration, replied 10
Sir Edward Grey. But the attitude of the
present administration has rot been gen.
orally known up 20 the time OF the
Presidents conference with senators last
nitht, according. 20 the View they OBJ
tainsd sMr- Wilson supports the view OF
equality Of treatment undor the treaty.