, 1921-09-06
THE PAGE

We are given light on the cause of President Will
sons action with reference to forcing through con-
gress repeal of the law providing free tolls Tor Amer
lean coastwise vessels passing through the Panama
canal
The Democratic platform of June, 1912, declared
for remission Of tolls on American vessels. Mr.. VIII
son was nominated by the same convention and was
a candidate for president on this same platform. He
was inaugurated in March, 1918, and by July the
same year, was ready to repudiate his party platform,
deceive those who voted for him because Of toe Pan
anna plank and surrender to Great Britain upo. some
wholly imaginary Interpretation Of the Hay-Paunce-
fote treaty.
The light shed upon his strange action is found in
the correspondence of Ambassador Walter II. Page
with the state department covering the years 1913
1918.
AT the particular time referred to, British interest
in Mexico was acute and it was the desire to reeog-
nize Huerta and Wilson's declination was not in ac-
cord with the British idea. In his effort to establish
an understanding Ambassador Page secured a "free
hand in Mexico for the American administration on
q trade for the repeal of the free tolls law.
This is confirmed in Mr.. Pages letter to Mr.. Will
son dated in January, 1914, which reads in part:
. They've done all we asked and more; and,
more wonderful yet, they've come to understand what
we are driving at. As this poor world goes, all this
seems to me rather handsomely done. At any rate,
it's square and it's friendly.
"Now, in diplomacy, as in other contests, there must
be give and take it's our turn.
II you can see your way clear, it would help the
liberal government (Which needs help) and would be
much appreciated, if before February 10, when par
lament meets, you could say a public word friendly
to our keeping the Hay-Pauncefote treaty-on the
~ S1fh heAs, WueueVtI you see
your way clear"
Then comes Colonel House, the presidents ''per-
sonal representative" into the correspondence. On
January "a he wrote Mr.. Page that he had gone over
the whole situation with the president. That the SEN
ate committee on foreign relations would be called to
the White House and told Of his intentions regarding
Panama tolls. To carry out this plan the president
addressed both houses of congress on March 9th ask
ing for repeal of free tolls He concluded with these
words:
81 ask this Of you IN support Of the foreign policy
OF the administration I shall not know how to deal
with other matters of even greater delicacy and near
er consequence if you do not grant it to me in un-
grudging measure"
The law repealed no one heard further of the mys-
teries or the reasons for the discrimination against
our own ships and the bowling to the wishes of Great
Britain.
We are seeking no controversy with Britain over
Panama tolls. The enterprise is ours, built with our
money and to be administered by US. We shall con-
duct it as we see fit, the same as we conduct other of
our business affairs.
The time is approaching when We win undo this
wrong perpetrated by the Wilson regime, just as we
arc undoing hundreds of others. The Hay-Pauncefote
treaty will be int.preted by Mr.. Hughes as John Hay
intended it to be understood, not as Mr.. Wilson and
Great Britain twiTed it to mean in a trade for a free
hand in Mexico, which, by the way, was a most alb
ject and asinine proceeding.