Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1922-10-11

AAAANA AtA AAAt AHN Va Hn6eNAt o. o.
The arrival Of the Homerfo in
side the American three-mile linn
. probably will furnish the first tes
OF the United States Government
power to seize foreign vessels en-
terlng its territorial waters wit
liquor aboard.
WASHINGTON. Oct. IL (Unite
Press) .-Secretary of the Treasur.
Mellon will issue a ruling this sfter
noon that American ships found Fl
possession OF liquor FOR beverag
purposes" will be subject to for
fixture to the American Government
Il was authorltatlvely learned her,
today. Foreign vessels which entei
the three-mile limit after October
IA. with liquor aboard will also bt
subject TO seizure and forfeiture.
American ships now In foreign
ports which sail for America before
! October Il will be exempt from for
fixture but those sailing after that
date will be liable to confiscation II
liquor is aboard. the Mellon ruling
will hold.
The Mellon ruling. Il is under
stood. Will be broadcasted 10 ship
ping throughout the world from the
Arlington wireless station. Diplo-
matte and consular representatives.
OF the United States will be i'm
mediately instructed to convey It to
foreign governments and shipping
interests. Customs officials of the
United States will be instructed that
they may take into custody vessels on
which they find Illegal liquor.
The intention OF the Treasury De-
partment and the prohibition bu-
reau Is 10 formally notify every in
terested shipper throughout the
world but II is not the intention nor
the obligation of the American gov
eminent, Il Is said, TO serve the
formal notification as a subpoena
would be served.
II is understood that the text of
the Mellon ruling will designate as
a prohibited liquor, liquor for bev-
erage purposes" This, It Is said. Is
to provide exemption for medicinal
liquors which are recognized as es-
sential. This language will also
definitely bar from American waters
French and Italian ships which
serve their crews with wine rations.
II had been hoped that the Ameri-
can government might make a con-
cession on this point. but wine rs-
tons Will be construed as "bever-
ages" and consequently outlawed.
The Mellon ruling will put a stop
10 the alleged practice of certain
private American steamship lines in
gnoring the Daugherty ruling on
he grounds that they have not been
informed OF its existence.
Reports have reached here IN the
past that a number OF American !
liners have put to sea with their |
,ars we'll stocked and open for |
business. These ships will be inter /
'epted on the high seas by wireless |
notification OF MELONS ruling and |
Z they do not close their bars and
dispose OF their liquor they viii be
ubJect 10 seizure.
WASHINGTON, Dot. IL Omitted
'ress) An effort by foreign
hip owners TO set apart that part
Z the Daugherty ruling which bars
ntry into the American three mile
init 10 foreign vessels with liquor
board IS momentarily expected by
he Treasury and Justice Depart
lents here.
Confidence that the ruling will be
ED valid by the Supreme Court
.ttorney General Daugheriy has ex-
ressed his intention to cooperate
D the fullest extent with any per-
ons who will bring the matter be-
ore the courts. .
Representatives OF foreign ship
perators. stationed IN New York
re preparing in behalf OF all sin
lie test case which may be present
a to the Federal Court for the
outhern district of New York be-
IRE the end of the week, according
, advices reaching here.
No doubt Is felt by Attorney-Gen-
al Daugherty that the ruling is air
ght in every respect So far as
merican vessels are concerned the
tatus OF LIQUOR aboard them seemed
, be definitely settled and the rul-
lg TO have been completely accepted
y American ship owners.
Reports OF Intentions by foreign /
TO protest TO the Amer
an government continued TO reach '
Washington but no official repre- 7
have yet been made. 1t
as learned today that official noti- G
cation OF the ruling had been given '
} every embassy and legation here !
Ionday. /
The reactions Of the foreign gov !
to the ruling are watched v
'lth interest by officials here, but s
Nv believe that protests will be y
vailable. International law, the {
OF the ruling. seems So a
1re. 1t has been pointed out that !
'anel Webster when Secretary Of r
rate in 1912 wrote Lord Ashburton {
len British ambassador here on the t
lbject Of the jurisdiction Of gov 7
rnments over foreign vessels.
1T is natural TO consider the YES r
ELS Of a nation as part Of its ter !
tory though at sea-" Webster !
-rote, "as the State retains It's !
over them, and accord s
lg to the commonly received GUS
I'm, this jurisdiction is preserved
yer the vessels even in parts of the
ca subject TO foreign dominion" :
This statement of Webster has ,
cen quoted in arguments against a
he present Daugherty ruling as in s
icating that the sovereignty of /
ritlsh law and custom. for example
ould prevail on a British ship in /
q American port and thus render !
immune to the American dry ]
W. \
A further examination of Web n