The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-11-06
|HARDINCTOOPEN
PANAMA ISSUE
President Has Purpose
in Visiting and Studying
Canal Zone.
TO FARLEY WITH BRITISH
my DAVID LAwRENcE)

Marion, o.. Nov. g.--(Copyright for
rhe Chattanooga News. l-Presiden
elect Harding has a special purpose in
wanting TO visit the Panama canal.
rhe full Significance Of the trip will
not become apparent till after March 4,
hut the truth ~ Mr.. Harding Is In earn
tolls controversy. He wants to see s,
American ships exempted from the
payment Of tolls. ami win press for that
exemption when he ~ inaugurated.
rront eden l,n Wson found himself con-
he took Office In March. 1915. The deni-
ocratic platform written At Baltimore
IN July, 1919. had gone on record In
support Of the action OF the democratic
ships from the payment OF tolls. but
Great Britain Insisted that this piece
OF lcgisla ton was In effect 4 discrlmi-
nation against BritisJ ships and a plain
Violation Of the terms of the Hay-
tween England ana the United RAs states Gs
was made AZ q direct result Of SUR
render OF certain rights England had to
another interoceanlc canal In Nlca-
Il Britain relinquished her Fights.
Americans would mot discriminate
against her. There has been much de-
bate no 70 whether the treaty actually
PROMISED that America would not dis
tween. foreign nations other than the
United states. or whether the promise
not TO discriminate included American
shipping. Some international lawyers
owner and builder pu u the e canal had he
r!ght 10 do az she pleased about tolls
and that the discrimination did not
apply with respect to our own ships.
Other authorities argued to the con-
who also was In the senate az the time,
made eloquent speeches saying the law
ought 70 be repealed.
Had Republican support.
Indeed, President Wilson found re-
publican ~ we'll as democratic support
In both houses Of congress when he
% as sh Asr ~ s2ed n MI G
Insisting upon d selfish Interpretation
Of Nm ambiguous article In any treaty.
He also hinted AT large and vital aues-
tions OF diplomacy when DC said that
ship with Great britain maintained On
account .of matters Of far nearer and,
more delicate concnrn,'
Just what Mr.. Wilson meant by the
foregoing phrase was never publicly ex-
planned, though i ID commonly sup,
was playing for Brltain's ifiendshlp
because OF the delicate relationahip has 4
tween Japan and the United states
Dver the California alien land " Mr. 'Ias \
world doesn't know how close America
shs eenasSp q e Great wsr h Brsn wss
her powerful navy was deemed ex-
especially IN View q the Anglo
Japanese Offensive and defensive al
lance, similarly. England had an
own Canadian and Australian domino |
Ions and tho wlBeat diplomacy OF the
moment seemed TO be q tirm hand Of
friendship and 2 pooling ,of titcrnsts
American and Crest britain. The
societies touTb. a Presidsnt Wilson on
tho Issue and rallied ali their friends
Ia congress, but Mr.. Wilson won out
and that part of the Panama canal
act exempting United states vassels
from the payment Of tolls waa res.
pss'', S,'lreum,saooss A.. chaeusd.
Z CifcufhHthhcea have changed 10 BONE
extent since 1918. IN the election which
has Just closed millions Of Americans
q Irish descent noclssd 70 The HARDING
ever. that the new presidents position
has pleased those In our population
who arc opposed TO everything British
the determination to revive the con-
trcversy does not have It's origin In
urged the revival az the matter when
the republican platform was written ri
Chicago last June. Here 10 the ?icast
In that piAtformi
1--WE recommend that az ships en-
ea9ed In com~twise trade and all YES.
sells OF the American merchant marine
shall pass through the Panama canal
Without payment OF tolis."3Hu
Moreover the speech ofsoeeentance.
OF Senator Harding IN Marion last
July contained the foiicwing para
graph.
II like that recommittal 10 thoughts
Of America first which pledges the
Panama canal, an American creation TO
the free use % American shipping. II
win add to the American reawaken-