Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-10-17
t with tho second clearance

port with the second clearance
papers. - ..
The text Of the British reply in
Fart follows:
Mr.. Chiffon duly forwarded to
His Majesty's government copy OF
your note of June 26th last in which
certain suggestions were made Tor
oooperation between the British and
United States authorities with the
object OF restricting the smuggling OF
alcoholic liquor into the United
States.
II am now directed to inform you
that His Majesty's government have
naturally DESTROYS of preventing, by
every means within their power
any breaches of the law in the Ba-
hamas or elsewhere in the British
West Indies. by peorssn engaged In
illicit trade with the United States.
and the proposals made by the Uni
| ted States government with TINS op-
! ject have received the most SYM
pathetic consideration. With the OBJ
| ject of preventing the development
of illegal practices in connection WIN
this traffic, instructions, in fact. nad
some months before the receipt OF the
representations made by the Lnteo
| States government been sent TO the
governor of the Bahamas. VINO was
at that time requested to see that no
| irregularities of any kind should pc
permitted in connection with vessels
clearing from that colony. and that
the formaHties required in connection
with such clearances should be most
strictly enforced. Instructions nave
also been given to the local regis
trars of shipping. which will, II 10 an
ticipated. have the effect OF prevent
ing any future transfers OF United
states vessels to the British flag un-
til complete investigation of the
circumstances can be made. Inves-
LEGATIONS. which it is hoped, VIII
shortly be concluded are being made
! into the position and proceedings OF
| the vessels, a list of which was en-
closed in Your note of June aSth.
| 'In dealing with the precautions to
be taken to control transfers from
the United States to the British has
/ the suggestion that. in such cases
the local registrar of shipping should
require the production of certificate
| from the United States shipping
board, has been carefully examined.
1t has been found that there would
be great difficulties in the adoption
or British territory of such re-
| quirement, and it would be still more
difficult to give such requirement
the force of law.
with a view, however. TO meet
ing the wish of the United States
government on this point as far ~ is
practicable, instructions have been
given to the registrar of shipping at
Nassau to the effect that, in trans
fer cases in which any possible doubt
exists as to the bona fidcs OF the
parties to the transaction, the non
| production Of the Shipping Board
certificate should be taken as a
ground of suspicion, involving re-
| ference Of the case to the Board Of
Trade in London for further dir
ections"
His Majcsty's government have
consistently opposed any extension
of the limit of territorial waters such
as that now suggested. They feel
that the outbreak of smuggling which
has led to the proposal cannot be
| regarded as a permanent condition
but as one which will no doubt be
| suppressed by the United States
government to the best of their ahil-
ity in the suppression Of the traffic
and in the prevention of the abuse
of British flag by those engaged in
it, they do not feel that they can
properly acquiesce. in order to meet
a temporary emergency, in tho
abandonment Of principle TO which
they attach great Importance.