PANAMA CANAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1529, 27 August 1912, Page 5

PANAMA CANAL.

MR. TAFT SIGNS THE BILLBRITISH TREATY RIOHTS DISPUTED. "ABSURD CONCLUSION-" By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright Washington, August 25. President Taft has signed the Panama Canal Bill. Mr. Taft has issued a statement in which he says the British treaty restricts the United States from using its own Canal and aiding its own commerce in a way that every other nation is free to do. The United States has absolute rights of ownership. Tho whole question at issue is: Has the United States, by tho Hayrauncefoto .Treaty, deprived itself of tho right to pass its own commerce freo through the Canal, or l'emit tolls collected for use of tho Canal? Mr. Taft points out that tho rules specifled in the treaty wereadopted by The United States as a basis for tho neutralisation of the Canal, and for no other purpose. The rules, were never intended to restrict the United States in its sovereign powers over tho Canal. Ho adds: "The British protest leads to the absurd conclusion that the Government, in constructing the Canal, maintaining the Canal, and defending the Canal, finds'itself shorn of the right to deal with it-3 commerce in its own way, while all other nations using the canal in competition with the American commerce enjoy that right unimpaired." Mr. Taft contests the argument that the Bill' will affect American shipbuilding interests adversely. After notification had been received that the President has signed the Bill, Mr. Simm 3, in tho House of Representatives, introduced a Bill repealing the provision for free tolls for American coastwise shipping. Ho explained that the Bill had the endorsement of a majority of the Inter-State Commerce Commission. It was intended to avert international com- I plications. Tho measure goes over to the December session. THE BILL CONDEMNED. ENGLISH PRESS CRITICISM, BLOT ON AMERICA'S REPUTATION. (Rec. August 27, 0.55 a.m.) London, August 26. "The Times," in commenting on the' Panama Canal Bill as signed, and Mr. Taft's message and memorandum recommending further action, considers the measure incompatible with the plain meaning,of the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty. It creates a privilege, and however exceptional the conditions dominating politics in Presidential year, Britain cannot lose eight of the injury done to the trade of . the whole Empire. Britain ought, if necessary, renew the representations to Washington, and failing Tedress, request the reference of the whole controversy to The Hague Tribunal. ' The "Daily Mail" says Mr. Taft has not scrupled to give the Bill his benediction in a memorandum which might have been written by a pettifogging solicitor instead of the chief of a great Republic. The "Morning Post" regrets Mr. Taffs attempt to justify the. breach of faith, in the Bill, which it declares violates British treaty rights, and seriously injures British trade to Canada and Australia. If it is so transparently plain that the Bill squared with the Hay-Pauricefote Treaty, it is surely a waste of words to expatiate on its inoffensiveness from the foreigners' standpoint. The "Daily Express" says the American protest against the Bill has splendidly vindicated the honour of the American people, but Mr. Taffs signature to the Bill will remain a blot on the Republic's reputation.