The Dominion TUESDAY, AUGUST 5, 1913. THE COLD SHOULDER.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1820, 5 August 1913, Page 4

The Dominion TUESDAY, AUGUST 5, 1913. THE COLD SHOULDER.

The people of the United States are extremely sensitive when matters having any bearing on the dignity of their country are under criticism. Their national character contains a strango combination of business and sentiment, and they are often quick to take offence for reasons which seem to outsiders comparatively unimportant. They havo a proper sense of tho nation's greatness, and are rightly jealous for its honour; but this sometimes causes them to see slights where none are intended, and to be unduly suspicious of the motives of other countries. Thero is a large section of the American people which is by no means scrupulous when British feelings are concerned, but which is all nerves when -British criticism is directed at any phase of tho domestic or foreign policy of the 1 United States. An excellent illustration of this state of mind is provided by the anti-British outburst which lias followed the announcement that Britain will not participate in tho coming Panama Exposition. This decision is attributed by some of the American newspapers to a desire to punish the United States for its policy regarding tho Panama tolls, which has elicited protests from the British Government and tho Governments of other nations, as well as from leading public men in America itself. As a matter of fact, there is a feeling abroad which seems to be

growing more pronounced that the exhibition idea is being worked to death, and that world's fairs are becoming too common. The result is that tho British Board of Trade has failed to persuade a sufficient number of manufacturers that adequate representation at the Exposition would be worth the trouble and expense involved.

Although tho non-representation of Britain at tho Panama Exhibition is no doubt mainly, if not entirely, attributable to commercial as distinct from diplomatic reasons, there is certainly a strong and quite justifiable resentment both in Britain and other countries regarding the provision of tho Panama Canal Act which exempts American coastwise shipping from tolls. Britain has officially protested against this as an infringement of the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty, and this view has the support of a considerable body of opinion in the United States. President Taft, while holding that tho Treaty is not violated by the disputed provision, expressed himself in favour of submitting tho question to arbitration, but ho was succeeded by President Wilson before having taken steps to give effect to this suggestion. It is generally understood that the new President is of opinion that the ships of other nations should be permitted to pass through the Canal on the same terms as American vessels, but he is anxious not to raise the question in Congress at tho present time._ He fears that it might cause a split in his party which might interfere with the passing of the Tariff Bill._ He naturally wants to avoid tho introduction of any element of discord among his followers at this critical juncture; but it was reported some time ago that he had intimated to Mr. Bryce, formerly British Ambassador at Washington, that the settlement of the tolls question would be favourable to Britain. Mr. Fairbanks, a well-known American politician, recently-stated that tho British case was so strong that Britain should not be put to the trouble of resorting to arbitration. If, however, the United States was unable to accept the view that it was not entitled to preferential treatment then the matter should be submitted to an impartial tribunal. It is not only Britain that is standing aloof from the Panama Exposition. Other nations are-adopting a similar attitude, and tho promoters of the undertaking arc beginning to fear that its claim to be a world's fair will not bo supported by facts. Germany has decided not to be represented, because it is not satisfied that tho guarantees for the protection of trade secrets will be effective, and it appears that only two of the great nations, namely, Franco and Japan, have so far agreed to send exhibits. There is an uneasy feeling in America that Britain's example will be followed by other countries, and that the Exposition will fall far short of expectations. This would bo a severe disappointment to a people which has a traditional admiration for the "stupendous," and is never content with anything less than "the greatest thing on earth." Moat Britishers would bo genuinely sorry if tho success of the great fair should be impaired by any international friction, and if, as is possible, the enthusiasm of other.nations has been in any way chilled by the Panama Tolls Act, it is to be-hoped that the United States Government will take an early opportunity of removing this very real grievance, or at any rate submit tho dispute to arbitration.