The New York herald., 1922-10-10
FRENCH MARINE HEAD
INTIMATES REPRISALS
ARE NOT IMPROBABLE
M. Rio Mentions That Wine
Portion for Sailors and
Stokers Is Compulsory.

Special Cable to THE NEW YoRK HERALD.
Copyright, 1929, by THE New York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Paris, Oct. D.
The French Government will pro-
test Immediately and vigorously to the
American State Department against
Attorney General Daugherty's ruling
against carrying liquor into American
| ports. Considering the problem as a
diplomatic one beyond the scope OF
the navigation companies, M. Rio
Minister of the Merchant Marine, will
confer with Premier Poincare at once
with view to dispatching Frances
formal objections.
| The basis of the protest will be that
| while the American right to maintain
sovereignty within the three mile limit
is inviolate, the decision itself is un-
fair in that it interferes with the rights
of French and other liners on the high
seas by forcing them to adapt them
selves to the American law instead OF
the provisions of their respective ma
tions.
| Discussing the situation with THE
| New York HERALD correspondent to-
night, NJ Rio, who was director of
transport in washington during the war.
declared:
II consider the decision manifestly
unfair to the French flag. ! shall take
1 the matter up with the Premier immedl-
ately. as 1t is clearly natter for the
\ Government to handle through diplo-
matte channels and far too important
for the shipping companies themselves
to try to settle.
1T is most unfortunate that only a
week is given before 1t becomes ap-
plicable, but protest to the American
Government may extend this period to
allow for proper negotiations. The
American Government certainly has the
right to prevent the sale of liquor inside
+, the three mile limit il 1t wants to. but
the decision as 1t stands interferes un-
high seas, which are extraterritorial.
! Conflict with French Law.
ALSO. it cannot be accepted by the
French Government, as our laws pro-
vide that every French sailor must be
given half a liter of wine a day, with
full liter for stokers. OF course II
must be realized that there are several
ways OF enabling passengers to obtain q
liquor supply. The easiest would be to
| reduce the stocks going to America
and then visit Halifax or St John on
the eastward voyage and take on the
necessary supplies"
M. Rio expressed confidence that the
State Department would listen to rea
son when approached by the other
Powers. and he pointed out that undue
interference with the liberty of the
seas might result in customs reprisaIs.
While it would be abominable to hav,
to resort to such measures, they do evils,
and they are the logical outcome wber
uhIair measures are taken against ships
| entering foreign ports"
Thus for the ComparnIe Genar.,e
Transatlantique has taken no decision
President Dalpiaz still waiting for the
official text of Mr.. Daugherty's ruling
and reports from his agents in New
York.
Ihe problem is very grave and one
that needs careful ssudy," ne said 70.
day. 1T is evident that IL is a serious
blow at the liberty of our flag on the
high seas. and as such a matter for the
Government to take UT with Washington
at once. Personally 1 consider tbe
American Government is going too far
In Its application of prohibition laws
and an immediate solution must be
found"
Restocking mt Sea Not Favored.
French line officials do not favor the
Idea OF restocking outside the three mile
limit, insisting that in nine cases out OF
ten weather conditiors would not per-
NIT that operation tc be carried out
successfully. while the idea of calling nj
Haiifax. when 1t was suggested. aroused
the objection that II would not only in
crease the cost of The voyage but in
winter would be impractical. as Il would
increase the danger of icebergs.
we do not consider the voyage 10
New York a difficult problem, as we can
estimate within few bottles the actual
consumption for each trip: but how 10
restock the bar and provide the wines
that have always been n feature of the
French line dining room--that is n task
that we never expected we should have
to face" THE NEW York HERALD corre-
spondent was told.
Tourist agencies here predict there
certainly will be a tremendous falling
off of passengers on nil lines not carry
Ing beverages, and that ships calling at
Halifax and Montreal will be certain to
benefit. AS matter of fact many pas
sengers already have inquired whether
II is possible to change their bookings
to Canadian liners. as they are not
anxious to spend week aboard a dry
vessel. with nothing to pass the time
save deck games or the reading room.