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Show LODGE SUPPORTS TOLLHOUCY Conditions Abroad Demand Prompt Repeal of Exemption Exemp-tion Clause of Canal Act. LARGE ISSUES AT STAKE President's Attitude Upheld History of Canal Clayton-Buiwer Clayton-Buiwer Treaty a Blunder. Washington, April 9. Senator Lodge, ranking Republican member of the foreign relations committee, addressed the senate today in support sup-port of President Wilson's Panama canal tolls policy. He maintained vigorously vig-orously the legal right of the United States to exempt its shipping, foreign as well as coastwise, from tolls, but asserted that "a decent respect to the opinions of mankind" and the "distrust in some cases dislike," with which the United States is regarded abroad, demanded prompt repeal of the exemption clause of the canal act. "Whether we shall insist upon giving giv-ing to our ships two or three millions of dollars in a disputed way, is In my conception, a small question compared com-pared to the larger issues involved," the senator said. "When the year 1909 opened, the United States occupied a higher and stronger position among the nations of the earth than at any period in our history. Never before had our relations rela-tions with the states of Central and South America been so good. It seemed as if the shadow of suspicion which, owing to our dominant and at times domineering power.Jiad darkened darken-ed and chilled our relations with the people of Latin-America had at last I been lifted. This great position and j this commanding influence have been largely lost. "I am not in the councils of President Pres-ident Wilson, buf I believe that during dur-ing the past year the present position posi-tion of the United States in its foreign for-eign relations has become very apparent ap-parent to some, as It has to other responsible re-sponsible and reflecting men. and with this appreciation of our present position has come the earnest wish to retrace some of our steps, at least, and to regain, so far as possible, the high piano which we formerly occupied. occu-pied. Distrust of United States. "It would bo an obvious impropriety improprie-ty to point out the specific conditions of our present relations with tho various va-rious nations, both In the old world and the-new; it is enough to note the fact that we are regarded by other oth-er nations with distrust and in some cases with dislike. Rightly or wrongly, wrong-ly, they have come to believe that ve are not to be trusted; that we make our international relations the sport of politics and treat them as if they were in no wise different from questions of domestic legislation. "I supposo that at this moment in the midst of the adroitly stimulated passions raised against the president's presi-dent's recommendation that we should repeal the toll exemption it will be thought very poor spirited and even truckling I believe that is the accepted word to suggest that in deciding this question we should take into consideration the opinions of other nations. Nevertheless, I consider this a very importnut element ele-ment in any decision which 1 may mi u i.auumj 11 n uiiii'iinnij roach and 1 am encouraged to believe that I am right in so thinking, because be-cause I have the warrant and authority author-ity of the nuthor of the declaration of Independence. When Jefferson framed fram-ed that great instrument he declared that the Impelling reason for making the declaration was 'a decent respect to the opinions of mankind.' Delay Arouses Suspicions. "The long delay in the ratification by the senate of the treaties renewing renew-ing the arbitration treaties of 1908 produced a widespread feeling among other nations that our championship of the principle of arbitration and our loud boasts of our devotion to the cause of peace were the merest hypocrisy, because we seemed ready to abandon the cause of arbitration when it looked as if our treaties might bring us to the arbitration of questions which we did not desire to have decided by an impartial tribunal. trib-unal. "The president renewed the arbitration arbi-tration treaties and finally, after a delay which, as I have said, aroused, unpleasant suspicions those which have been sent to the senate have been ratified. This was the president's presi-dent's first step as I looked at It In his effort to restore the Influence and reputation of the United States, which ho had found to bo impaired. The second step Is his recommendation recommenda-tion of the repeal of the toll exemption exemp-tion clause of the canal act. "The outcry about exhibiting subserviency sub-serviency to Great Britain or any othor country because we see fit to repeal the tolls seems to me hardly worthy of serious consideration. The United States is altogether too great and too powerful to be subservient to anyone." History of the Canal. In opening his address Senator Lodge rehearsed the history of the canal negotiations previous to "tho blunder of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty." which, ho said, "had committed com-mitted the United States to obligations obliga-tions pregnant with future trouble." "I am of the opinion," he said, "that under the terms of the treaty wc have a legal right to exempt our own vessels no matter what trade thoy are engaged in. In my view, If we admit ad-mit that wo have not the legal right to exempt from tolls vessels engaged In foreign trade we hnve no right to exempt or refuse to collect tolls from vessels of the United States engaged in any trade. I think, however, that we have the legal right to exempt or refuse to collect tolls from all vessels ves-sels of tho United States. United States' Legal Right. "It is clear that the United States has rightfully, and in accordance with the terms of the treaty, built the canal through territory which is Its own, for canal purposes, although the ultimate sovereignty remains with tho republic of Panama and the treaty accords to the United States all rlghtB incident to building the canal. ca-nal. It is also clear that in undertaking undertak-ing the canal on these terms the United States did so with the purpose of excluding all foreign control beyond be-yond tho stipulation to preserve the 'general principle of neutralization and for. equality of terms to all users of the canal. All Nations Clause. "Those who deny the right of the United States to exempt Ub own vessels ves-sels rest their case on the language of article 3, which declares that: " 'The canal shall be free and open to tho vessels of commerce and of war of all nations observing these rulefs, on terms of entire equality and more 'particularly upon the propo-sltlon propo-sltlon that the words, 'all nations' must include the United States. I freely admit that this is a fairly arguable argu-able point but It does not seem to me that the words, 'all nations' In this connection necessarily include the United States " |