Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-10-19
LIQUOR RAIDS
MADE ON TRUNKS
OF DIPLOMATS

| WASHINGTON, Oct 16.-Action of
| govrnment agents in selling liquor
| consigned to the diplomatic corps in
| Washington has led to some complt-
| cations, it was learned today at the
| state department. While no formal
| protests have been lodged with the
| government, the situation has reach
ed the point where the department
felt called upon today to issue a
public statement.
The hope is expressed In this
statement that no agent OF the gov
eminent will interfere with the bag
gage or other personal possessions
of any member of the diplomatic
corsp or of his family.
Information has reached the state
department, it was said today, tnat
| in some instances trunks and other
personal baggage of the olpioLnalS
have been entered by the tederal
agents and liquors seized; Pf fSptb
claim from the owner, but depart
ment officials said there were cases
where the liquor had disappeared be-
| fore it could be called Tor.
Ordered by shouss
Diplomats contend that it is rec
ognized principle of international law
| that the personal baggage of dip
ionat is free from inspection by Gus
toms or other agents OF a frlend!y
nation. When the prohibition amend
ment became effective they generally
expected that members of the d1plo-
matte corps in washington Vould De
permitted to obtain supplies of bev-
erages from their home countries
without interference by the Amer
lean government.
orders to customs officials to
search the baggage Of diplomats were
of the Treasury Shouse, whose res
ignation was announced yesterday, eff
fective November Is. The order
said:
ton of intoxicating beverages in vio-
lation of the national prohibition act
as construed by the attorney general.
it has become necessary to require
the examination Of all baggage and
effects for which free entry is grant
ticle 376 Of the customs regulations
of 1915"
The article referred to governs the
privilege Of free entry extended to
the baggage and personal effects Of
foreign representatives accredited to
the American government.
The decision also included these
instructions to the collectors of GUS
toms:
You will hereafter make an i'm
mediate report to the secretary of
the treasury division OF customs) of
all violations Of the prohibition law
which come to your attention as the
result of such examinations.
Secret Instruct ons
GAS this practice will be a distinct
departure from the custom that has
prevailed of waving examination
when admitting effects to free en-
try, you should take immediate steps
to impress upon your force the neces-
sity for careful compliance with the
regulations as amended by this de-
cision."
Confidential Instructions as to the
methods to be employed in searching
the baggage of diplomats also were
sent to the customs force, but the
treasury department refused to make
these public.
The state departments statement
regarding importation of intoxicants
by members of the diplomatic corps
"Regarding published references. to
the importation of liquor by foreign
diplomatic officers, the department
of state made the following state
melt:
""The department presumes that
the practice which has prevailed in
the past will not be discontinued at
this time: that is, there will be no
possession of a diplomatic officer or
a member of his household. The de-
partment, of course, assumes that no
official of the government would at
tempt to pry into the baggage Of a
foreign diplomatic officer"