Arizona republican., 1920-10-17
ALIEN DIPLOMA TS EXEMPT FROM DR LAW RULE STATE
 SECRETARY SAYS
Revenue Department Will No Longer Search Bag gage of Foreign Diplomats At Port of Entry
STATE DEPARTMENT
 OPPOSED TO SEARCH
Confiscating Liquor Found In Diplomats Baggage Causes Concern In Of ficial Circles
IRepublIean A. ?. Leased WIrel

IRepublIcan A. p. Leased Wirel
 WASHINGTON. Oct. 16.-Disclosure ! of a new prohibition snarl, in which three government departments and members of the diplomatic corps arc involved, was made today when the state department issued a statement saying it assumes no official of the government would attempt to pry into the baggage of a foreign diplomatic officer"
 The unusual course of the state de- partment in making what appeared to be a public appeal to other govern ment officials was adopted, it was learned, after the treasury depart ment had amended customs regula- tions to require baggage of diplomats to be examined and liquor removed. Back of the action of the treasury, it was disclosed, was an opinion rem 6ered by the attorney general. It was said that the Nolsted act withdrew from diplomats the exemption from customs examination Of their baggage heretofore accorded.
 Diplomats have made no formal pro- test. The state department, however, has seen evidence of irritation among them here. Since the opinion of the attorney general failed to sustain the departments contention that exarnina- ton exemption be continued, 1t sought recourse through the public state ment. the text of which follows:
 ''The department presumes that the practice which has D revailed will not be discontinued at this time; that is, there will be no interference with the property in the possession of a diplo-
 matic officer or a member of his household The department, of course, assumes no official of the government would attempt to pry into the baggage of a foreign diplomatic officer"
 Differences have arisen between the state and treasury officials. Treasury officials let 1t be known that the dis cussion of the status of diplomats bag gage began last spring. The treasury was said to have formulated a policy then and asked the state department for it's views.
 State Department Embarrassed
 Foreseeing the possibility of embar-
 rassment, the state department ob-
 tained a delay in issuance of new re-
 strictions. Late in August. however
 Assistant Secretary Shouse, whose resignation was announced only this week, applied to Attorney General Palmer for an opinion. Interpreting the Volsted act. That opinion was said ? to hold all importation of liquor was barred by the act. The state depart ment, however, is said to have made
 representations against the rigidity oi 3 the finding on the ground that inter
 national comity and law worked to tn, l contrary. A second legal review by 1 the department of justice resulted ana f the state department again was de e feated in its contentious. it was said. s -O
 y On receipt of the attorney generaFi s opinion, said to have been written ant
 signed by Solicitor General FriersoI - as acting attorney general, Mir. Shouse - amended the customs regulations t |. require examination of baggage an' t effects permitted free entry into tn d United States. The change amounte = merely to deleting the words "withou - examination" from customs regula
 tions, but Mir. Shouse directed attcn d tion of customs officials to the "dis :. tinct departure" from prevailing prac e tices. Tn the order, Mir. Shouse said
 Tn order to prevent the importatio l. of intoxicating beverages in viOlatiO < of the national prohibition act a
 construed by the attorney general, 4 has become necessary to require tn !. examination of all baggage and effect I for which free entry is granted pun N suant to the provisions of article 37 = of the customs regulations of 1915." AHt lo koNtInS " privilege of free entry extended to tn baggage and personal effects of foreig
 representatives accredited to the Amer
 ican government.
 The decision also included this ir N structions to the collectors of custom. al You will hereafter make an imm, eo diate report to the secretary of q pm treasury (division of customs) of a g. violations of the prohibition law whiC g. come to your attention IS the result b. such examinations.
 As this practice will be a distin as departure from the custom that h. or prevailed of waiving examination wh, he admitting effects to free entry, Y, e. should take immediate steps to in e. press upon your force the necessitr I mt careful compliance with the regul er tions as amended by this decision"
 Mir. Shouse also sent confidential i
 structions to the customs authoriti M to remove all liquor stocks found in { personal effects of visiting diploma ,E. and hold it for personal delivery to
 member of the diplomats househo
 This caused articular concern amo on state department officials. who fe nd diplomats will construe it as u