The Topeka state journal., 1914-01-27
President Wilson Is Opposed
to Any Exemption
On COastwise Shipping Through
the Panama Canal.
VIEWS II As Discrimination
Not in COnsOnance Win tne
Hay.Pauncefote Treaty.
Inclined to Lift Embargo on
Export Of Arms.

Washington. Jan. 27.-That Fresl-
dent Wilson is opposed to the eAeiip
tion of coastwise ships from Panama
canal tolls was fatty asserted tooay
nv those who know what took place AT
the White House last nlght Oe'wII
the president and the 1oreie"
Senator'S who talked with the presi-
dent said today that Mr.. wilson Iuily
explained his position on tne ev'
question:; that his views 1ncune ~
ward the contentious OF Greal D'd ais
attitude. Several senators expresseu
surprise that, in view OF the Presl..
dents positive attitude, ne nau no'
urged some action at the extra seS-
sion of congress.
What the president may recon-
mend was not disclosed in todays re-
ports Of the White House conIerehce,
but it was pointed out that Two way
might meet the views OF the presl-
dent. One would be to repeal the ex-
emption provision Of the act. Inc
other would be the passage OF the
Adamson resolution to suspend Ior
two years the operation OF the ex-
emption clause and tnus demons'snse @ so1f sSse
tanning without tolls from American
ships.
It was said today that the president
was not opposed to tolls exemptions
as Sucn DuC tIldt nC was 81 OAAo-J
the opinion that they would be a dis
elimination which would not agree
with the provisions of the Hay
PauncefOte treaty.
Lifting the embargo on arms 1or
Mexico also was discussed at last
nights conference Some senators ia
vored it on the ground that it would
hasten hOstilities to conclusion.
One senator said that he believed the
president was inclining more and
more to that view and might l1ft the
embargo soon.
The Point in Dispute.
The dispute between the United
States and Great Britain turns on the
construction of article OF the hay
Pauncefote treaty, which provides:
1.-THE canal shall be free and open to
the vessels of commerce and war OF
all nations, observing these rules, on
terms of entire equality, SO that there
shall be no discrimination against any
such nation or it's citizens or subjects
in respect of the conditions or charges
of traffic or otherwise. Such condi-
tions and charges of traffic should be
lust and equitable" The British con-
tention has been that this clause of
''entire equality" was to be taken lit
orally. But the Panama canal act,
while providing equality of tolls on
ocean-going traffic, exempted Ameri-
can coastwise vessels from the pay
ment.
Sir Edward Grey, British minister
of foreign affairs, protested against
the exemption as contrary to the Ian
guage of the treaty. Mr.. Knox, while
secretary of state under the Taft ad-
ministration, replied to Sir Edward
Grey. But the attitude of the present
administration has not been generally
known up to the time of the presi-
dents conference with senators last
night, when according to the view
they obtain Mr.. Wilson supports the
view of equality of treatment under
the treaty.
1t was the general opinion of sena-
tors, after their talk with the presi-
dent on the japanese situation, that
officials in Japan were friendly to the
United States, but were being pressed
by radicals.