New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-13
Lawmakers Want to Know
What Ambassador Meant
by His Remarks.
SENATE CALLS ON
BRYAN TO EXPLAIN
President Smilingly Comments
That Mr.. Page Is Learning
Language of Diplomacy.
From The Tribune Bureau. ]

fFrom The Tribune Bureau.l
Washington, March 12.-When Presi-
dent Wilson's attention was called to-
day to cabled excerpts from the speech
of the American Ambassador to Great
Britain. in which Walter Hines Page
was quoted as having defined the Mon
roe Doctrine md having made semi
humorous reference TO the benent
which England would derive from the
Panama Canal the President re-
marked. smiingly, that apparently Mr..
Page was learning the language OF
diplomacy.
When asked if this administration
had been ca''ed on TO define the Mon
roe Doctrine ir connection with ce-
velopments in Mexico. the President
said it had not, and when it was sug-
gested that there was much discussion
as TO he meaning Of that policy, he
replied that there was much discussion.
but little doubt.
Senator Chamberlain, of oregon.
violent opponent Of the repeal OF the
free tolls provision. took, or appeared
TO take a more serious view of Mr..
Pages remarks. and procured the pas
sage of resolution calling on the De-
partment of State for a transcript OF
the ambassadors speech. Mr.. Cham
berlain's colleagues declined TO discuss
the subject, but permitted the resolu-
ton TO pass without objection.
Recalls Bayard incident.
The incident recalls the tempest in
teanot which was raised when Thomas
F.. Bayard, then Ambassador to Great
Britain. referred in a humorous speech
in Glasgow to his fellow citizens as a
turbulent and a dangerous people
While the Senate was adopting the
Chamberlain resolution Representative
alfalfa Bill Murray, Of Oklahoma
introduced in the House a resolution
calling on the Secretary of State for
a detailed statement Of what Ambassa-
dor Page said and meant.
Mr.. Murray's resolution recites that
the ambassadors reference to the Mon
roe Doctrine lis in effect declaration
tIat this doctrine ia not an American
policy, but merely an American desire
10 be expressed TO European mon
arches. but not TO be enforced, and 1t
would seem to portend the policy of the
State Department to abandon upon first
demand the Monroe Doctrine and to in
vite such European violation or de-
mand"
The resolution directs that the Sec
retary OF State inform the House
whether the statements of Ambassador
Page, if made, have the sanction OF the
department, and whether it is the in
tention of the department to abandon
the Monroe Doctrine.
Wants to Know the Meaning.
Mr.. Murray also demands that the
State Department obtain and furnish
information regarding the meaning OF
Ambassador Pages reputcd statement
that "it had added greatly to the pleas
ure of building that great work the
canal to know that British vessels
would profit most by its use"
The Secretary of State is directed TO
inform the House whether this Is to
be construed as indicating new
American policy of subjecting Ameri-
can veal TO the selfish interests OF the
nations of Europe upon their demand
in the use of Americas private proper
ty, constructed and financed under our
own control and bearing the same re-
lation in international law, as the
private property of this nation. among
the nations of the world as does pri-
vate property belonging to an indi-
vidual within a nation between citizens
OF such nation, and to state whether
that Is the fundamental reason for a
demand to repeal the law now in force
exempting American vessels conduct
ing coastwise trade from canal tOlls,
and thereby the use by Americans OF
private property constructed and own
ed by the American public, in order 10
give to Great Britain a greater advan-
tage."
Mr.. Murray's resolution was not
taken up for action by the House to-
day.