New-York tribune., 1917-07-27
Senators Aroused
By British ENJOYS
Letter to Hale
Approval of Harbor I'm
provement Is Called an
"Impertinence"
From Tbs Trbun. Bureau

Washington, July 26.-British Am
bassador Sir Cecil Spring-Rice's in
dorsement of the move to improve the
harbor of Portland, Me-, and his state
ment that such an improvement will
be of great service" and "of great i'm
portance for the successful prosecu-
ton of the war" led to sharp criticism
in the Senate to-day.
Senator Sherman, of Illinois, declared
that a former British Minister, Sack
ville-West, had been recalled for a
similar offence.
81 am willing for England to take
our money" he said, "but | am not
willing for the United States to take
England's advice"
Senator King, of Utah, referred to the
British Minister'S letter as an "imperti-
nence."
Senators Knox, of Pennsylvania, and
Hale, of Maine, rushed to Sir Ceicil's
defence. Mr.. Hale pointed out that he
had written to the British Ambassa-
dor asking for this Endorsement, and
that both the State and War Depart
ments had been consulted by Sir Cecil
/ before he replied.
| The British Ambassadors letter dis
closed that he also had consulted the
/ Governor General of Canada before re-
plying. There has always, in peace
times, been the most intense rivalry be-
tween the st. Lawrence River ports and
/ the ports in Northeastern United
States.
Spring Rice's Letter
The British Ambassadors letter to
Senator Hale follows:
81 have informed the Canadian gov
ernment of the provision in the House
/ River and Harbor bill relative to i'm
proved facilities for Portland Harbor.
/ The Governor General informs me that
( the Canadian government would be glad
J to make use of the facilities recon-
mended by the Board of Engineers OF
/ the War Department during the con-
( tinuance of the war, and that these IA
I clities would be of great service during
+ the time navigation in the st. Law.
/ renee, is closed. They would be OF
great Importance for the successful
prosecution OF the war"
"This is a piece of emergency legis-
lation," said Mr.. Hale, that will be OF
direct benefit TO our allies in this war
| object to having this piece of legisla-
tion put in the category with that 10
which the Senator from Illinois alluded
yesterday when he said that the river
and harbor bill is no more connected
with the national defence than my
last doctors bills"
Impertinence, Says King
/ 81 want to say" said Senator King
chat If the only ground upon which
this appropriation can be defended is q
letter from the British Ambassad
I Notwithstanding the English are oui
allies in the contest, ] should now fee
4 like voting against the measure. II
seems to me that il is an impertinence
on the part of the British Ambassador
TO intrude into this matter, although
/ he is our ally"
/ 4 think the Senator from Utah. said
Senator Knox. has without proper
( consideration used the expression i'm
/ pertinence' as applicable 20 this COM
muncation. As | gathered the sense
/ Of il, it only indicates that the Can
/ adian government would be glad "a
/ avail itself of the facilities of Port
/ land Harbor if the channel were deep
enough so that il could be used tC
| advantage. | rather think that the
Senator from Utah should withdraw
the observation because the sugges-
tion is useful as bearing upon the
advisability Of making an appropriG.
I ton for that purpose"