PANAMA CANAL TOLLS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1641, 7 January 1913, Page 3

PANAMA CANAL TOLLS.

i • CANADIAN COAST TRADE. UNEQUAL TREATMENT. The Panama Canal tolls question was brought up in tho Senate on November 28 by Sir Georgo Ross, tho newly-elected Ljader of the Opposition, in the Senate, on a motion calling for all the correspondence which has passed between the Government of Canada and the Secretaries of State for -tho Colonies and for Foreign Affairs with respact to tolls on foreign or ecastwise vessels of nny nation using the Panama Canal. This is tho first timo that the subject has been brought up, and tliß Canadian Parliament regarded it as important, since it is likely strongly to affect the Canadian coastwise shipping between British Columbia and the Atlantic ports using the Panama ..Canal. It is not known whether the move of Senator Ross will be followed in the House of Commons, but it will probably bo discussed. Senator Ross introduced the resolution, with a lengthy speech, in which he made a full historical resume of the conditions antecedent to tho construction of the Panama, Canal by the Uni'ccd States and of the diplomatic negotiations ■■ between Great Britain and the United States relative to the conditions under which the latter undertook the'construction of the canal. He pointed out the groat advantages the Panama Canal would offer\ to transportation between Vancouver and tho Canadian Atlantic ports, as well os between the Canadian western ports and Liverpool, by greatly shortening the sua journey and by avoiding the long railroad route across the'-Continent. ' The canal would also, lis pointed out, bo of great assistance in increasing the trade with the West Indies under the new-reciprocal trade arrangements, and also. v with tho South American Republics. .EQUAL TERMS FOR ALL. It had been the settled' policy of the United- States and of Great Britain that the canal territory should be neutralised and all nations permitted to us"b the canal on terms of equality, tho first declaration to that effect having been made, by the United States in 1835, and adhered to thereafter a. spart of the policy of the United States until th 6 abrogation of tho. Clayton-Bulwer Treaty condition, that the United States should "keep the canal open on equal .terms to all nations, in accord-1 ance with our traditional policy." Senator Ross then dealt with- efforts of the United Staes Congress to relieve American shipping to the extent of all tolls, and the various denunciations of those efforts in the American Senate as an underhandedattempt to'obtain improper advantages tor American shipping. "With the final decision, that vessels engaged, in the foreign trade should bo placed on a basis of entire equality ,as to tolls, Canada has no objection to offer. We ore quite willing that the United.Staes should,receive ample compensation for the vast investment of making the Panama Canal, which work has placed the entire world under an obligation." But .tho-American Senate had decided to relievo American vessels engaged in the coastwise trade of canal tolls, thus placing Canadian vessels under, an unfair discrimination totally at variance to the decision respecting foreign trade. Senator' Ross argued that/if-the States were, justified • in.relieving their own coastwise'shipping from canal tolls, then precisely the same . argument applied to Canada, since .vessels of all nations were to be treated on terms "of entire equality, without discriniina■.tioih" DEMAND FOR CANADA'S RIGHTS. 1 "If tho treaty , allows ' the coastwise traffic of the. United States to be free," continued Senator Ross, "then certainly it should allow tho same privilege to tho ; Canadian coastwise traffic;, and that right should be insisted ufion by the Government of Canada in the strongest terms." ..When the Hay-Paunceforte'/Treaty .was . 'entered upon, it certainly was not'anticithat it would prove detrimental to r Canadian subjects in their'; coastwise 'trade, but now it was boing construed «i as tu effect an Amcrdcani.-diacriminntion ' against Canadian shippingiinterests.' "The ; ."question," he said; *'ior' Canada 'we-'any. remedy for tho'injustice, under i which wo aro bound to suffer if. this ;. ; coastwise arrangement is not withdrawn ?" '■In tho' caso.. of, tho Welland. Canal tho [States retaliated until the discrimination against American vessels.was withdrawn; -;but Senator Ross deprecated retaliation iu this case, as i ( t would bo opposed to peace] and harmony. ■'. c ■ Ho'• advised that there should be no appeal to the States, but merely the simple demand for Canada's rights under the flay-Pauncefoto Treaty. " "What is tho mode of redress-most consistent with tho .'dignity-of Canada?", asked tho'Senator. 'To submit without remonstrance is out of the-question. The first'step should be an appeal couched in tho strongest terms to, the British Foreign Office for consideration of Canada's grievances, since they negotiated the Hay-Panncefote Treaty. If tho Foreign Office decides ugainst Canada; then the question ends, and we must accept our fate. If it decides in our favour, , correspondence -should at once be conduct- ' ed with the; Washington Government for '. the remission of all tolls on Canadian coastwise traffic through, the Panama Canal, and if this is refused, application should be mado to The Hague Tribunal, which so satisfactorily settled the fisheries dispute" : , ,' " ■' '' v . If it would strengthen the, hands of tho Government for the Seriate to pass a resolution or address expressing disapproval of tho action of the United States, this could bo done. Senator Ross closed by quoting President Cleveland's dictum, that "a Government does but half its duty whon it protects its citizens at home, , and permits them to be imposed upon and humiliated by tho unfair and overreaching disposition of other nations.