Pueblo chieftain., 1921-01-23
MARK SULLIVAN REVIEWS THE QUESTION
OF TOLLS ON AMERICAN VESSELS
Continued from Page one)
treatment of the vessel. of all ma.

treatment of the vessels of all ma
tons.
This point was for some time the
subject of a discussion which was all
ways leisurely and never became heat
ed. But President Wilson early in
1914 did dramatic thing which serv-
Q. to give this issue an unfortunate
air of mystery. One day in the spring
of 1914 no sent for the senate commit
tee on foreign affairs saying that no
wished to confer with them. The
meeting in the White House had little
of the nature OF n conference because
in the beginning OF 1t President Will
son adopted n manner and made
specific statement which foreclosod
any questions or discussion on the
part of the members of the senate
committee.
That episode in 1914 was by the way.
tho beginning of the feeling on the
part of the senate committee on fore
ign affairs that they were not treated
with frankness as equals, feeling
that had much to do with later events.
The President said that a situation
had arisen which was Of grave i'm
portance and which made It most de-
sira bic that congress- in deferepce to
Great Britain, should repeal that part
of the act for the operation OF the
Panama Canal which exempted Ameri-
can ships from the payment of tolls
There was some resentment among
members of the senate committee
over President Wilson'S failure to
share with them whatever information
nc had and his asking them to take
n step based on knowledge which he
was unwilling to reveal even TO them.
There was much surmse as to just
what Mr.. Wilson had In mind. One OF
the surmises had TO do with Japan.
which seemed incredible now, but may
r lily have been possible at that time,
before tho beginning of the great war.
The story was to the effect that Ger
many had approached Great Britain
With a proposal that Great Britain.
Germany and France should insist up-
on their right to inter<ene In the dis
turned and revolutionary state of af-
fairs in Mexico. Tho story continued
to the effect that Great Britain had
refused to do anything which would
seem unfriendly to tho United states,
and that President Wilson, In return
was eager to do a gracious thing
appreciation.
In any event the bill for the repeal
of tho exemption to American ships
was introduced and encountered much
opposition in congress. To overcome
this opposition President Wilson again
ing that his wishes be met for reas-
ons that he did not feel willing to
disclose. The significant sentences
from President Wilson's request
which made congress willing to take
action to which It's Judgment was op-
posed were these.
"we ought to reverse our action
without raising the question whether
we were right or wrong. and so once
more reserve our reputation foS Eener-
osity and the redemption OF every OBJ
legation without auibble or hesitation.
I ask this of you In support ot the
foreign policy OF the administration.
shall not know how to deal with mat
tors Of even greater deIicacy and
nearer consequence u you do not grant
1t to mo in unErudging measure"
In response to this cryptic urging
tho repeal bill was passed. and since
then American ships passing thru tho
canal have been paying tolls the Same
as the ships of every other nation.
But there was always much restless
ness on the part of members OF con
rross who were dubious over what had
been hone.
Undoubtedly, the matter would not
have rested so long as It has but for
the fact that only few weeks later