The Times of Friday publishes an important' message from President
Taft in regard to the Panama Canal controversy, in which the President declares that it seems to him "a very unfair argument to charge a man with being in favour of dis- honouring the treaty obligations of Ms Government when he asserts that his Government had never entered into suck treaty obligations. It is not competent to charge dishonour before it has been established that we have violated the Treaty." With this abstract view we entirely agree„ but we cannot admit that the Times or any other responsible news- paper in this country has charged the President with OM, sciously acting in a dishonourable manner. All tarns upon the interpretation of the Treaty. According to the British interpretation of the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty, that instrument pledges the American Government in law and in honour not
to do what the new Act of Congress does. Mr. Taft and Congress declare that, according to their interpretation, the said treaty allows them to do legally and honourably what they have done.
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