TREATY RIGHTS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12816, 16 July 1912, Page 2

TREATY RIGHTS.

(l'ross Assn. — By Telegraph.— Copyright.) j LONDON, July 15. The Times' Washington correspondent says that the debate on the Panama Canal Bill may start al- any tim<\ when Senator Root will fight for absolute equality. Much depends upon (he inli'i pi elation of the spirit of the Hay-I'auncet'ote treaty, with a, view to determining how! far it perpetuates the sense of thn Clay-ton-Bulwer Convention. Hence the fact that Mr Hay's successor to the State Department is on Britain's side is of great significance. On the other hand, the opposition is active and ingenious. In the meanwhile there is growing talk of arbitration. : A cablegram published on. July Ist stated that the London newspapers were beginning to discuss the resolution passed by the United States Congress) exempting American coasting vessels from the payment of Panama- Canat dues, and Canada's consequent threat to retaliate against American shipping m Canada's waterways, v. Some Ameri-; cans, it was stated, proposed compliance with the letter of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty, providing for the entire equality of all nations using the canal, but they suggested the payment of a subsidyequivalent to. the tolls paid on American ships. In giving evidence before the American Senate's Committee on Inter-Ocean Canals m May,, shipowners declared that the free passage of American .ships through the canal would be necessary to build ,vp i the mercantile marine, which, it .was' stated, is now m a parlous plight. ■■ J . ■ ,■