THE PANAMA EXHIBITION

Otago Witness, Issue 3099, 6 August 1913, Page 26

THE PANAMA EXHIBITION

REFUSAL TO EXHIBIT. LONDON, July 31. The Daily Mail’s Washington correspondent reports that the British Government lias announced that it will not participate in the Panama Exhibition in 1915. Some of the Continental Governments threaten absence on the ground that America cannot guarantee the protection of foreign patents which may be exhibited. August 2. In commenting on an anti-British outburst in some of the American papers it is explained in London that Britain's refusal to participate in the Panama Exposition is due to the Board of Trade failing to induce sufficient manufacturers to incur the expense of preparing and exhibiting. It is current opinion that there are too many world’s fairs. The refusal to exhibit has nothing to do with the question of canal tolls. Germany has also declined to exhibit, not being satisfied with America’s guarantees respecting the protection of trade secrets. The Daily Telegraph states that out of 22 countries only two great nations — Franee and Japan—have so. far accepted the invitation to exhibit. It is stated in Washington that Mr Bryan is trying to induce London and Berlin to reconsider their decision. Several English papers point out that the British refusal is based on purely commercial grounds. NEW YORK, August 3. The press generally decline to accept the British explanation that the refusal of Great Britain to participate in the Panama Exposition is due to commercial, not to diplomatic, reasons. The New York Sun says that there is an uncomfortable suspicion that the explanation is designed to save the necessity of calling attention to the existence of strong resentment over the canal tolls question. It is not surprising that England is disinclined to participate in a celebration which is virtually to give a slap in the face to the United States. England has not lacked patience, neither Iras she used jingo talk, her feeling being rather one of pained surprise. But when, after five months of a new administration, no attempt has been made to deal with the question, England naturally feels she is not being .treated rightly.