Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-11-05
HARDING BELIEVED
|NFAV0R Of CANAL
TOLLS ACT REPEAL
Visit to Panama Thought to
Have Significance in Old
Question.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

MARION, Ohio. November 5.-Presi-
dent-elect Harding has special pur-
pose in wanting to visit the Panama
canal. The full significance of the
trip will not become apparent until
March 4. But the truth is Mr. Hard
ing is in earnest about reviving the
Panama canal tolls controversy He
wants to see American ships exempted
from the payment of tolls. and will
press for that exemption when he is
iinaugurated
President Wilson found himself con-
!ronted with the same question when
he took office in March. 1913. The
democratic platform written at Balti.
more in July, 1912, had gone on record
In support of the action of the demo-
cratic Congress in voting to exempt
american ships from the payment of
tolls. But Great Britain insisted that
this piece of Legislation was in effect
discrimination against British ships
and a plain violation of the terms of
the Hay-Pauncefote treaty. That
compact between England and the
United States was made as direct
result of the surrender of certain
rights England had to another inter
oceanic canal in Nicaragua. and the
understanding was that if Britain re
linquished her rights America would
not discriminate against here.
Much Debate over Treaty.
There has been much debate as to
whether the treaty actually prom
Used that America would not discrim-
mate against Great Britain as be
tween foreign nations other than the
United States, or whether the promise
not to discriminate included American
shipping. Some international lawyers
argued that. of course. America as
the owner and builder of the canal.
had the right to do as she pleased
about tolls, and that the discrimtna-
tion did not apply with respect to our
own ships. Other authorities argued
to the contrary. Senator Lodge and
Elihu Root, who also was in the Sen
ate at the time, made eloquent
speeches. saying the law ought to be
found republican as well as demo-
cratic support in both houses OF Con-
gress when he declared that America
could not afford to take advantage of
other nations by insisting upon a
selfish Interpretation Of an ambiguous
article in any treaty. He also limited
at large and vital questions OF diplo-
macy when he said that the law ought
to be repealed and friendship with
Great Britain maintained on account
of matters of far nearer ana more
delicate concern"
Just what Mr. Wilson meant by the
foregoing phrase was never pooliciy
explained, though 1t 10 co0nonly
BuVpOSSQ III g0h lf@8t Lie
President was playing for A{itain's
friendship because Of the deaitate re-
lstiouahip hetweAn Japan - the
United states over the Caiiforjii4 alien
land, Law. ..------.
DeeneA Inportant 10 u. 3.
The world aees mt know bow close
Auofl0A 4nd Japan came to war that
Britain, with her powerful navy. was
deemed extremely important to the
United States. especially in view Of
the Anglo Japanese offensive and de-
fensive alliance. Similarly. England
had an an h anti,Japaness problem ane .r to
tralian dominions, and the wisest d.
plomacy of the moment seemed to be
a firm hand Of friendship and pool
ing of interests between America and
Great Britain. The Irsh-American
and German-American societies
fought President Wilson on the issue
and rallied all their friends in Con-
gress, but Mr.. Wilson won out and
that part of the Panama canal act
exempting United States vessels from
the payment of tolls was repealed.
Circumstances have changed to some
extent since 1913. In the election
which has just closed millions of
Americans of Irish descent docked to
the Harding standard. Aside from the
fact. however, that the new Presi-
QSul pOSillOh picdScu IuOSC III
our population who are opposed to
everything British. the determination
to revive the controversy does not
have it's origin in that quarter.
Somebody of influence urged the re-
vival of the matter when the repub-
lican platform was written at Chicago
last June.
Pledge in Platform.
Here is the pledge in that platform:
hof q
gagged in coastwise trade and all ves-
sells of the American merchant marine
shall pass through the Panama canal
without payment of tolls"
Moreover the speech Of acceptance
of Senator Harding in Marion last
July contained the following para
graph:
'I like that recommittal to thoughts
of America first which pledges the
Panama canal, an American creation.
to the free use of American shipping.
1t will add to the American re-
awakening"
Doesn't Senator Harding realize, il
will promptly be asked. that the rela-
tions between Japan and the United
States over the California situation
portance of an Anglo-American un-
derstanding is as great as ever?
Expects Friendly Negotiations.
The answer is that the President
elect expects to negotiate the whole
question in a friendly manner with
Great Britain. For instance, it might
be advantageous to England to have
a definite understanding with the
United States on the question of naval
armament. With Germany helpless,
the American Navy alone stands as
a possible competitor. England needs
every cent of her budget for things
other than naval armament and she
would, it is argued. save a great deal
if she were assured concerning the
American naval building program.
That is just an idea which the Presi-
dent-elect is said to be considering as
a sort Of quidproQuo in the settlement
of the Panama canal tolls question.
Also, there are questions OF tolls in
the Suez and other British water
ways which could be adjusted in a
general discussion of the whole sub
ject.
senator Harding has been impressed
with the necessity Of securing ad-
yantages for the American merchant
and the visit to the Panama
canal is the beginning of q thorough
study of the entire subject by the
next President of the United States.
what Great Britain will do or say
about it is quite another question.
Copyright, 1920.D
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