New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-07-22
Chief Dry Agent Appleby
Files Brief Against Brit.
ish Liquor Runners Out
side the l2-Mile Limit
U. S. Is Expected
To File a Protest
England Said To Be
Obligated by Treaty to
End Liquor Smuggling

John D. Appleby, general chief agent
of the New York prohibition Offices,
admitted yesterday that the matter of
fifteen British ships alleged to have
been doing wholesale whisky business
with American smuggling craft just
outside the twelve-miie iimi: mad been
made the subject of an international
brief. The brief, Chief Appleby said
is now in the hands of Secretary of
State Hughes.
If the Secretary of State regards the
matter of sufficient Importance, it Is
said, he will take it up with repre-
sentatives of the British government
Both Director Ralph A. Day, unde,
whose authority the general agents op.
crate IN this zone, and Mr.. Appleby are
or the opinion that the brief eventually
will reach the British government.
Data on which the brief was based
wera furnished to Prohibition Commits
sioner Haynes by New York general
agents and the matter of preparing the
brief was decided upon at a conference
recently in Washington.
Treaty Held to Cover Case
1t is reported that the idea of the
prohibition department is to call upon
the British government to punish the
masters and officers of the vessels
running rum from the Bahamas to an
au%lllary American feet in New York
and New Jersey waters. 1t is argued
that British ships are British TERRITORY
regardless Of where they might be an.
chored. Treaties are said to exist
which make the department of the
British ships an unfriendly act iowa rd
q friendly power, according to interna.
tlonal law, as it has been interpreted
by attorneys for the prohibition dc.
partment.
Early in the days of the operation o,
the Volstead law the matter Of British
shlps running rum or assisting in any
conspiracy to violate the laws of the
united States is said to have come UT
TOR discussion by William D. Hayward
Chlted States District Attorney, and
S,oster n. armstrong, British Consul
1eneral, IN New York. At that time
IA AN interview, Consul General Arm.
strong said that the British govern.
ment n would do all possible to prevent
i,,.s lush suoJects from disregarding any
1t was said at that time in the Die.
trlct Attorneys office that an under.
standing had been reached wherehy
agents of the United States government an
would be. given every possible assist.
ance by the British government agents
IN preventing any possible violation OF
any Old or new laws of the United
States.
Agents Now Powerless
\ ho There is a special treaty existing
ing smuggling, and it is under this
treaty that the brief now in the hands
OF Secretary of State Hughes has seen
prepared. The treaty is reciprocal. il
was said yesterday, both governme nts
agreeing to cooperate in suppressinp
smuggling from either country into
the other country.
1t is admitted by prohibition depart.
ment, attorneys that, as the matte,
stands, the United States government
agents are without power to board
seize or interfere with the British
vessels so long as they remain outside
the twelve-mile, or customs, limit. Fol
this reason the officers of the prohibi
tion navy have contented themselves
with running down and seizing small
craft suspected of trading with the
British mother "hootch" ships outside
the harbor.