The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-01-22
QUESTION OF
PANAMA TOLL
IS DOMESTIC
Says Mark Sullivan Declares
Motives Which Have intro
duced the Problem Are
Local.
INTEREST SECTIONAL
Bv MARK SULLIVAN


WASHINGTON, d. c.. Jan. 22.-It is
bassador Geddes in reporting to his
home government will avoid an error
into which ne might readily fall.
1t is true that the intention OF Mr..
Harding and other Republican leaders
to take advantage of our ownership of
the Panama canal by exempting our
vessels from paying tolls, is in its
nature an International matter and
can only be accomplished in decency
through diplomatic negotiation with
great Britain. But the motives which
have brought this subject up just now
are not international but wholly do
mestic. They are less than domestic.
they are local. -e-E
1t is not unfriendliness to Great
Britain that is behind it, but the local
commercial interests of a comparative
ly small section of our country. There
are SO many issues between ourselves
and Great Britain that if We can de-
tach one of them from the spirit of
controversy it will be useful.
England Affected Little.
Undoubtedly, if we take the step of
exempting American ships from pay
ing tolls at the canal, the result will
be to deny to British ships an equal
tty of treatment they now enjoy But
the number of British ships affected
will be small, and, except as a matter
OF principle, the whole thing in its
practical outcome will have only a
minute effect on British interests.
1t is true that in connection with
this subject Harding has announced a
policy of making America "The great
est maritime shipping nation in the
world" That policy. If carried out,
would be matter of the gravest con-
Germ to Great Britain. 1t amounts to
determination to unseat Great Brit
aims dominance in what has been for
generations the industry which forms
the economic base of the Empires
existence.
Natural Forces.
But such things as this come about
not through declarations of policy but
through the evolution of natural for
res. Whether the forces are going to
make us greater maritime nation
than Great Britain will be clearer
several decades in the future than it is
now.
In any such process the exemption
Of American coastwise shipping from
paying tolls at Panama would have an
utterly. negligible effect. Those who
are behind this exemption act are not
threatening Great Britain's maritime
position. Their aim is nothing SO
large as that. Their aim is merely to
give little help to their lumber in
dustry and to a few other industries
on the Pacific coast
Figures Largely.
Since this Panama tolls act figures
largely not only in the present discus
sion Of issues between ourselves and
Great Britain but will also be the sub
ject of one of the most serious con-
lroversies in the coming session Of
Congress, it will be we'll to understand
it,
When the United States decided
nearly 20 years ago to build the
Panama canal, certain rights which
Great Britain had long had at Panama
became the subject of negotiation be-
tween our then Secretary of State.
John Hay, and the then British Aul-
tassador, Sir Julian Pauncefote. The
conclusion of these negotiations was
expressed in treaty between the two
countries known as the "HayPaunce-
tote treaty
Ships Were Free.
Thereafter we built the canal. When
II was uHlSllcu anu AOIlSToSS pdSSeu
the act covering the details of it's
operation, it was provided that Amer
lean ships passing through tie canal
should be exempted from the payment
of tolls. Soon afterward the point was
raised that this exemption of American
shipping was in conflict with the Hay
Pauncefote treaty, which provided for
equal treatment Of the vessels of all
nations.
This point was for some time the
subject of a discussion which was al
ways leisurely and never became heat
ed. But President Wilson early in
1914 did dramatic thing which serv.
ed to give this issue an unfortunate
air of mystery. One day in the spring
of 1914 he sent for the senate COM
mittee on foreign affairs. saying that
he wished to confer with them.
The meeting in the white house had
little of the nature of conference,
because in the beginning of it Presi-
dent Wilson adopted manner and
made specific statement which fore
closed any questions or discussion on
the part of the members of the sen.
ate committee.
Begins Antauonism.
That episode in 1914 was by the
way, the beginning of the feeling on
the part of the senate committee on
foreign affairs that they were not
treated with frankness as equals, a
feeling that much to do with later
events.
The president said that a situation
had arisen which was of grave i'm
po.tance and which made it most de,
sirable that congress, in Difference to
Great Britain. should repeal that part
of the act for the operation Of the
Panama canal which exempted Amer
lean ships from the payment of tolls
Slow Resentment.
There was come resentment among
members of the senate committee over
President Wilson's failure to share
with them whatever information he
had, and on his asking them to take
step based on knowledge which
he was unwilling to reveal to them
There was much surmise as to just