Keeps Parliament Quiet.

New York Times 100 years ago today, July 17, 1912:
Grey Has a Question Asked So That He May Not Have to Answer Others.
    LONDON, July 16.— With a view of heading off attempts at premature and perhaps provocative discussion of the Panama Canal question, Joseph King, Liberal Member of Parilament from North Somerset, was put up in the House of Commons this afternoon to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs:
    "Whether friendly representations are being made to the United States Government with the aim of securing generous treatment for such British shipping as Shall pass through the Panama Canal."
    Sir Edward Grey, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in reply merely quoted Article III, Paragraph I., of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty, which reads:
    The canal shall be free and open to the vessels of commerce and of war of all nations observing these rules, on terms of entire equality, so that there shall be no discrimination against any such nation, or its citizens or subjects, in respect of the conditions or charges of traffic or otherwise. Such conditions and charges of traffic shall be just and equitable.
    Sir Edward Grey added: "As it appeared to his Majesty's Government that some of the provisions of the bill now before the United States Senate would not be consistent with this article of the treaty, it has thought it right to point out these objections to the Government or the United States in order that they may be taken into account while the bill is under consideration."
    Sir Edward can now stall off would-be catechizers by saying that he has nothing to add to to-day's reply.