PANAMA AND THE POWERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 183, 2 August 1913, Page 4

PANAMA AND THE POWERS.

While the attitud-e that- the American Goveron>e,nt means to adopt in regard to the Panama Canal is still open to doubt, the feelings of the European Powers on this question are becoming more strongly pronounced than ever. If the extreme ""jingoietio". section of the American people get their not only will the Canal bn. fortified to enable the United .States lo defend its interests there under all possible conditions, but a scheme of difTerejitial charges will be established so as to seenre the greater part of the commercial benefits derived from the Canal for American shipping. A-s most people arc aware by this time, thr righ-t to fortify the (."anal was practically su rrprjdcred by Amfiriea when site tuivpted the Hay-Pauneef-ortr treaty,

and this same treaty it is maintained by the European Powers, laid down the principle of absolutely equal treatment for all nations using th° Canal. On this point, it must be admitted, tho Americans can make out a tolerably strong ease for themselves, not only in regard to the verbal interpretation of the treaty, but on purely equitable grounds. However, the proposal to differentiate in favour of American shipping has been very unfavourably received abroad, particularly iv England ami Ccrmany, and tbongh thorp is some hope that the Washington Government may consent to submit the whole matter to the Hague Tribunal or some other court of international arbitration, the Powers are not content to aequirsce passively in tbe silnation. Germany has formally declined to talce part in the projected Panama Exposition of 191-5, and England has now made a similar official announcement. Xo reason has been specified for this decision, but it is generally understood that it represents the protect of the.se Powers against what they regard as the unfair treatment that the United States propose to me.te out to their commercial rivals using the Canal. The statement thaC foreign patents would not be adequately protected at the Exhibition is no doubt a plausible pretext, but the true reason is obvious enough. It now remains to be seen whether the American people will be found vulnerable on this side. The a.ppe-t__r to the na-cion 's sense of justice and honour, which many leading Americ_a_s have made recently, have apparently fallen on deaf ears; but it is possible that an appeal to less elevated and more sordid motives will prove more effectual.