The intimate papers of Colonel House arranged as a narrative by Charles Seymour.

THE PANAMA TOLLS CONTROVERSY

193

have agreed that, despite the overwhelming majority in
Congress that favored exemption, the American contention
ought not to be upheld.i It was of supreme importance to
emphasize international ethics by an insistence upon the
sanctity of treaties. On January 24, 1913, House discussed
the matter with Wilson:
'I asked him concerning his views in regard to the Panama
Canal tolls controversy with Great Britain. I was glad to
find that he took the same view that I have, and that is that
the clause should be repealed.'
Action could not be taken by the President during the
extra session of Congress. It was first necessary that he establish firmly his leadership, for what he planned was nothing less than a complete conversion of the party upon an
issue intensely troubled by the strong anti-British feeling
characteristic of many Democratic strongholds. The topic
was therefore not raised during the extra session. Ambassador Page did not fail to call constant attention to the
importance of the question, indulging in promises of the
benefits of repeal that might be regarded as exaggerated.
Ambassador W.,H. Page to Colonel House
LONDON, August 28, 1913
MY DEAR HOUSE:... If the United States will... repeal the Canal toll discrimination, we can command the British fleet, British manufacturers - anything we please. Till we do these things,
they'll regard us as mean and stingy and dishonorable on
occasion and, therefore, peculiar and given to queer freaks;
1 'The repeal of the tolls exemption was opposed by nearly all of the
Democratic leaders in Congress. To drive the repeal through the House
and the Senate, Wilson was compelled to have recourse to Cabinet
members, especially Burleson and McAdoo.' (Note by E. M. H.)