AMERICAN OUTRAGE.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 November 1922, Page 1

AMERICAN OUTRAGE.

BRITISH SHIP HERD UP ON HTGH SEAS. LONDON “EXPRESS” INDIGNANT. The lengths to which a fanatical officialdom can go are illustrated in the recent cases of British vessels being held up (Aitsido the three-mile limit on the American, const. These ships were stopped by prohibition officers under suspicion of smuggling liquor and a protest was promptly lodged by the British Government. Of course an apology was forthcoming, but now the American prohibitionists are agitating for an extension of the territorial limit to twelve miles from shorn instead of three. The London “Daily Express” comments on this as follows

“AYe hope ‘Pussyfoot’ and bis coworkers, are pleased at tlu* elevation of their ‘cause’ into a diplomatic incident between Great Britain and the United -Stated. America, it seems, would like to search British ships beyond' the three-mile limit, se as to catch whiskv-laden smugglers from A Vest Indian ports, which lie outside American territorial waters, and on moonless nights transfer their pivciotts cargoes to bootleggers in small 1 oat-s.

‘•This we clearly cannot permit. Such a toncession might be used, to our detriment, by other Powers in inconvenient ways. Tho American aigumciit that we searched their ships when we were at war with Germany, and l hat the United States is at war with alcohol. is probably not meant more seriously tliau it sounds. “There is n serious side to this situation, which we trust ‘Pussyfoot’ and Lis friends will ponder well. If fanatical legislation which they promote ever succeeds ill causing friction between the two great English-speaking peoples, more harm will hr done, thereby than has Ison caused by all the alcohol poured down human throats since Anacreon first composed immortal odes in his cups.” The mischief-making propensities ot the era nk-in-offico are a danger to every community. Keep prohibition with its officialdom out of New Zealand. Vote Continuance —88.