RUM-RUNNING TREATY

Evening Star, Issue 20135, 27 March 1929, Page 6

RUM-RUNNING TREATY

CANADA AND UNITED STATES Dl FFEEENT VIEWPOINTS. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. WASHINGTON, Alnnh -’O. A diplomatic clash between the Governments oi : tlie United Stoles and Canada over the l ! in Alone ease appeared probable to-night, billowing liie ■intensification of the situation by AI r Mellon's statement. With the discovery that the I'm Alone was of Canadian registry the Canadian Legation here Jtas taken over the handling ot the incident, and the possibility of unpleasantness is feared, due to Canada's interpretation of tile rnm-runnHig treaty with the United States. This treaty, although identical with that between the United States and Great Britain, is jn tlie case of Canada regarded as a separate paper, and the, interpretations of the Canadian Government and the American Treasury Department differ greatly. The main point of dilierenee seems now to he on the matter id the coastguards’ right to pursue the I’m Alone from the point where the vessel was first met, and it is expected that lengthy and complicated negotiations .between the two countries will follow. An investigation is now going on at New Orleans. — Australian Dress Association. DRUG SMUGGLING SUGGESTED. AMERICAN LEGISLATOR'S STATEMENT. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright NEW YOItK, March 25, Representative Dorter, who has been the American representative on various V League of Nations narcotic bodies, has issued a sharp statement alleging that he had information that the I’m Alone was engaged in drug smuggling, and if ,so its crew were fiends and murderers. Air Dorter said: “Our ties with Britain arc far too .strong to be disturbed by such an incident as the sinking of a smuggling ship. If Britain takes this sinking of a smuggling schooner seriously and attempts to raise the issue it would bo an opportune time for onr Government to make an offer to buy all the Briitsh possessions in the Caribbean Sea, including West and East Belize and British Guiana, as partial payment of the war debts. The British ports off our coasts are infested with smugglers, who are hound to cause increasing irritation and friction between Britain and ourselves. All these British possessions are well within onr sphere of influence, both commercially and geographically.”—Australian Dress Association, CAPTAIN RANDALL DEMANDS CREW'S RELEASE. Press Association-By Telegraoh -Copyright NEW YORK, March 20. The New Orleans correspondent of the New York ‘Times ’ states that the possibility loomed largo to-night that the crew of the I’m Alone would be set free to-morrow. The charges brought by the United States Government '•against the men ignore/! any offence immediately preceding the chase and the .shelling of the boat, and were based on an alleged otfenco in December last. Captain Randall to-day made a formal demand that lie and his crew should bo considered shipwrecked mariners and released. Should the Federal Commissioner fail to release them following the preliminary hearing to-mor-row, his attorney announced that lie would immediately institute habeas corpus proceedings. Captain Randall declared that he did not violate the law. and that the authorities have no evidence of violation. Tie declared that he delivered liquor in December to an unknown boat well outside the treaty limits, which boat may or may not have smuggled it ashore. Charges were prepared to-day by the Federal Attorney alleging conspiracy to violate the Traffic; Act. based on the I’m Alone’s visit on March 20. but before they were filed attention was called to the fact that there had been no overt act. The charges were then hastily changed to make the conspiracy deal with the alleged offence in December.—Australian Dress Association.

THE LONDON PRESS. Pres* Association—By Telegraph —Copyright LONDON, March 26. The newspapers give prominence to "the story of the captain of tlio I’m Alone, and .stress tlie serious issues "raised thereby.—Australian Press Association.