PANAMA CANAL IMPASSE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 230, 2 September 1912, Page 5

PANAMA CANAL IMPASSE

ENGLISH AND GERMAN COMMENT. [ PRESS ASSOCIATION’ --COPYRIGHT. ] London, Aug. 31. The "Daily Mail” says the United States has only one ground for its refusal to arbitrate on the canal question—namely. having broken one treaty President Taft and the Senate may insist on the right to break another. Berlin, Aug. 31. The "Vossische Zeitung” furiously attacks President Taft in expecta tion of his refusal of arbitration to Great Britain and his disregard of treaties, including his own arbitration proposals of a few months ago. AMERICAN OPINION FAVOURS BRITAIN. (Received 2, 9.15 a.m.) Washington, Sept. 1. Senator Simms has secured the support of the Interstate Commerce Committee' of the Senate, and next session presses a Bill rescinding the Panama provision exempting coastwise vessels from tolls. Public opinion is increasinglj 7 in favour of Great Britain’s attitude. Mr. Taft, in his efforts to make out a ease has convinced some of his own supporters that Great Britain is not acting further until the December session of Congress. In order that our readers may thorough!}’ understand the untenable position taken up by the U.S. Senate and endorsed by President Taft, it is only necessary to point out that the construction, maintenance, and defence of the canal by the United States only became possible by the abrogation of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty of 1850, which expressly forbade it. Great Britain gave up her rights in this regard on condition that, the United States signed the Hay-Pauncefote treaty, by which the canal was to be "free and open to the vessels of commerce and of war of al! nations. . . On terms of entire equality, so that there shall be no discrimination against any such nation or its citizens or subjects in respect of the conditions or charges of traffic or otherwise.”