PANAMA TOLLS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8681, 14 March 1914, Page 5

PANAMA TOLLS

ALLEGED LOBBYING EVIDENCE BEFORE SENATE COMMITTEE. AMBASSADOR TO EXPLAIN SPEECH. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright WASHINGTON, March 12. Before tne Senate Lobbying Investigation Committee a witness, Clarence Knight, admitted receiving a thousand dollars from ex-Admiral Bowles, head of a shipbuilding company, for lobbying in favour of the exemption of American canal tolls. He was promised additional sums, but never received them.

Admiral Bowles denied the charge. The Senate adopted a resolution demanding Mr W. H. Page (American Ambassador to England) to explain his Panama Canal-speech before the Associated Chambers of Commerce in London. Senator Chamberlain (Oregon) took exception to Mr Page’s definition of the Monroe Doctrine, and also wished for an explanation of Mr Page’s meaning when he said that Great Britain would profit most by the construction of the canal- ... The resolution was passed witiiout debate. - Mr Chamberlain opposes the repeal of the exemption clause. MONROE DOCTRINE NOT OBSOLETE. Ut Tolceraph—tresa Association— CopyrlEli* (Received March 13, 9.15 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March 13. President Wilson informed callers that the Monroe Doctrine was as much a part of American foreign policy! today as it was a hundred years ago. Without expressing any opinion on Mr Page’s speech, he refused to believe that there was anything in the suggestion that the doctrine was obsolot©, A Senate resolution declared that Mr Page’s remarks -portended that the policy of the State Department was to abandon, upon demand, the Monroe Doctrine, thus inviting an European violation thereof.