THE PANAMA CANAL.

Evening Star, Issue 14965, 27 August 1912, Page 6

THE PANAMA CANAL.

THE PRESIDENT'S DEFIANT MESSAGE. WORTHY OF "A PETTIFOGGING SOLICITOR." A BLOT ON THE REPUBLIC. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, August 26. ' The Times,' commenting on the Panama Canal Bill and President Taft's messages and memorandum recommending further action, says that the measure is incompatible with the plain meaning of the Hay-Par.ncefote Treaty. The Bill creates a privilege, and however exceptional the conditions dominating politics in a Presidential year are, Great Britain cannot lose sight of the injury done to the trade of the whole Empire. If necessary, Great Britain will renew her representations at Washington, and, failing redress, will request the reference of the whole controversy to The Hague Tribunal. The 'Daily Mail' says President Taft has not scrupled to give the Bill his benediction. His memorandum might have been written by a pettifogging solicitor, instead of by the chief of a great Republic. The ' Morning Post' regrets President Taft's attempt to justify a breach of faith. The Bill violates treaty rights, and seriously injures Great Britain's trade with Canada and Australia. If it was so transparently plain that the Bill squared with the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty, it was surely a waste of words to expatiate on its inoffensiveness from the foreigners' standpoint. The 'Daily Express' says the protest of many Americans has splendidly vindicated the honor of the American people, but the President's signature to the Bill will remain a blot on the Republic's reputation.