No Suez Reprisals.

New York Times 100 years ago today, August 24, 1912:
Directors Deny Any Thought of Competition with Panama.
    PARIS, Aug. 23.— The Suez Canal Company declares that it is a mistake to imagine that the reduction of the Suez Canal dues is connected with the possibility of Panama Canal competition.
    In reply to reports cabled here from America stating that a canal rate war was predicted in Washington, and that this would involve all the maritime nations, the canal company to-day authorized the following statement:
    "For many years the Suez Canal Company has pursued a policy by which every time its dividends have increased the tolls have been reduced. It was in accordance with this traditional policy that the stockholders were advised at the general meeting in June that a reduction of dues would be granted. The Directors of the company have in no way considered the hypothesis of measures of reprisal."
    The canal company, at is annual meeting in Paris on June 3, reported an increase of $866,000 in its receipts compared with the preceding year the total for 1911 being $27,762,000. This it was said at the meeting justified a further reduction in the tariff on vessels which would go into force in January.
    The reduction in tolls will amount to 60 centimes (10 cents) a ton.