LIQUOR ON SHIPS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1922, Page 5

LIQUOR ON SHIPS.

AMERICA’S DRASTIC PLAN. PROTEST BY BRITAIN. SEARCH RIGHT DENIED. By Telegraph.—-Press Assn.—-Copyright. Received Oct. 17, 7.55 p.m. Washington, Oct. 16. In a communication, delivered to the State Department, Britain, it is understood, declined to agree to a suggestion by Mil C. E. Hughes (Secretary for State)) for a reciprocal extension of the right of search and seizure, so as to give the American prohibition authorities jurisdiction outside the three-mile limit. The British Note was in reply to a Note from Mr. Hughes of June 26, which recited the serious difficulties encountered by the American authorities in their efforts to enforce the law against the. illegal shipment of liquor from British possessions. The British Note declared its refusal to negotiate such a treaty was based on the principle under which the British opposed search in peace time of British vessels outside the three-mile limit. Britain always opposed any extension of the limit, and cannot acquiesce or abandon a principle of such importance to meet a temporary emergency. The Note assures the United States that Britain is desirous of preventing illegal practices and breaches of the law, of which the United States complained, and every precaution will be taken to prevent illicit trade in liquor between British bases of operation and the United States. The Note adds that strict instructions have been issued to all officers in British possessions to exercise their authority to prevent a breach of the British or local law.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. With the object of reducing the smuggling of liquor into the United States, the Attorney-General recently ruled that the sale or carrying of liquor in all vessels, American or foreign, is illegal within the three-mile limit, thus preventing any ship visiting an American port from carrying liquor. Protests have already been made and the White Star, the Cunard, and other British shipping lines have secured orders restraining the enforcement of the injunction pending a decision in the Supreme Court.