The Washington times., 1922-06-17
"Remember nom thy Creator in the days of thy yout
A Well Earned Tribute
to British Diplomacy

onsder the infinite TACT skill and with which Brs
statesmen in London and Washington have handled the issue
between their country and America, in recent years
l. The Panama Canal designed built and paid for
domestic American waterway Our vessels in the coastwise
trade be free from paying tolls in passing through the
canathis the solemn pledge of both Republican and
Democratic platforms in 1912 The pledge enacted into
law, signed by President Taft before leaving office 1t
opposed by combination of European diplomats but Secre
tary of State Knox overcame all objections to it.
Woodrow Wilson, a candidate for President called at
tenton the free tolls and pledged hsme
force it.
But Woodrow Wilson, in office visited by the British
ambassador few months before the canal opened for traffic.
he message Congress asking repeal the law the
ground that it violated a treaty.
He added the cryptic warning that he would not know how to
deal with matters of greater dcacy and
unless his request granted ungdgng
His request granted.
A triumph of British diplomacy American policy
@ The American Merchant Marine from 1900 1850 built
up to the first position the mainly through the in
fuence of preferential customs duties That u.s. extra duty
of 10 per levied imports not brought in American
ships simple expedien that created world wide
of American goods in American ships.
So the Underwood tariff of 1913 included clause revivng
the preferential duty The Supreme Court decided that the
preferential confced with commercial treaties existing in
1920 Then Congress directed the President within ninety
days from June s. 1920 modify abrogate the treaties
Again the British ambassador visited the White House.
Something happened, although Mr.. Wilson in office
nine months he refused to modify abrogae the treaties
to put the preferential duty into effect BY ignoring the
press command of Congress- Mr. Wilson failed faithfully to
execute the office of President" his oath.
Another triumph of British diplomacy American policy
g. Mr.. Wilson, in 1920 failed to induce to accept the
British-made League of Nations
Arthur Baour year later, Washington and by
the Four Power treaty accomplished most of
what Lloyd George and Jan SHUTS missed accomplishing
at Paris We pledged to guarantee British and Japanese
possessions the Pacific.
An epoch-makng triumph of British dipomacyto win
from ancient policy of aooness from foreign alliances
f. Three Congresse-two Democratic and Republican,
united in voting appropriations for naval which in
1925 would make the first naval power The thing that
England greatly feared to her: another nation
to become mistress of the What could she dof
What did she do at the Washington Conference the closing
months of 1921 No knows What do know is that
out of the crucbe of discussion the subtle alchemy British
craftsmanship produced astounding result.
We agreed to destroy thirteen baeshps and battle cruisers
of them 80 per finished In return for this His
Maests Government is to certain blue prints and to
build batteship Because of Englands greater
chant MARINE built sxnch her naval
is restored by consent.
resounding triumph of British diplomacy American
policy of maintaining naval equality at least for coast defense
and protection of our commerce.
s. Today the Shipping Board presents to Congress Ship
Subsidy bill whose greatest virtue is its indrec ads to
American shipping.
Sir Auckland Geddes the British ambassador selects just
clause of that bill for his attention happens to be the
vital feature of the BILL servng to American ships so cent
of immigration That the construction of twenty
five American steamers to handle this most valuable
of all traffic the ocean.
Sir Auckland Secretary of State persuades
him that the may infringe British treaty rights
Hughes change the BILL
done The immigration clause is to take effect until the
President has negotiated the necessary changes eateNwh
which it appears to conflict
So the present. great British shipping
panies the North Atlantic supreme that German
yoffo 10 need fearno Amprican