The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-10-21
ENGLAND
REJECTS
new TREATY
Proposal to Extend
Right Of Search to
Twelve Mile Limit
Turned Down b y
British Government

Washington. Oct. 16.-British
rejection OF the American propos
81 for a treaty TO extend the riehI
Of search Of vessels up to II miles
off shore was contained in a not'
handed to Secretary Hughes toda:
By Ambassador Geddes. The conf
munication was in reply to Mr.
Hughes note of June &c. setting
out difficulties encountered b;
American prohibition enforce,
aent officers in checking the il.
licit fow of intoSicunts into the
United States.
Secretary Hughes made publi'
his correspondence With the acl.
bassadoT without comment. There
was nothing to indicate that an.
further step 70 extend the right o.
search fer American prohihitio:
officers beyond the three mile linz
was il, prospect. kction OF ti,t
cabinet recently III approving tia<
of such search pre-.
sunlaaly because OF possible inter
national difficulties. coupled witt
tho British reply OF today. appear.
cd to Indicate that operation:
would continue TO be confined
within recognized territorial wa.
ters.
The American note dealt par
f:cularlyS With smuggling opera
tions from British possessions il
waters adjacent to the Americ.,.,
coast and suggested methods bs
whic:, the existing extremely u:!-
fortunate conditions might be
renedied."
Among these was propose
for careful supervision of egistr.
and clearance papers granted t:
suspected vessels and .tan inter
national arrangement between the
United States and Great Britain
under which the authorities OF
zach nation would be authori.cd
10 exercise beyord the three mile
limit OF territosia! waters u meas
urc Of control over vessels be
longing to the other"
.Thers. was appeuded an inGuir.
as to whether the British govern
menf was disposed te. agree to the
reciprocal right of search up te
Is miles from sila,s which. it VA
pointed o,i:. mould imply no in-
to tic legitimate trads
between Nassau and Hal;faS. pass
ing at no point within -four league:
Of American shores.
In reply Ambassador Cedde<
pointed out that. his sovernmcn,
had already taken steps before Mr
hughes note WIS recorded to pre-
vent the practices rs 10 res;s,. y
issuance and clearance papers II
which attention had been drawn
These steps had been supplemented
since then he added. and the Brit.
lsb government. he *aid. that
measure taken VIII prove success
fui in preventing any breaches IL
the local law Vita relation te
the proposed treaty, however. ae
said:
His najestys government hay,
consistently opposed any extensio,
of the limit of territorial water:
such as that now suggested They
feel that the outbreaks, Of Snug,
Cling which has led to the propos
Al can not be regarded as per.
manent condition, but as one whic.
viii no doubt DC suppressed by Tx
United States authorities with,
the not distant future.
While. therefore. the: are dc.
sirous OF assisting the United
States government to the best o
their ability in The suppression o
the traffic and in the prevention
OF the abuse of the British flag .,
those engaged in it. they do no
feel that they can properl,
acGu;esce. in order TO meet a ten
Dorary emergency. in the abandon
nent OF Il principle to which, the,
attach great importance.
The American note Was quit.
long and pointed out that British
territories apparently = gre mad,
bases of operations in fragrant vto
latiop OF the constitutionally ant
statutory provisions OF the Cnit
ed States. In suggesting meas.
ures Of prevention. j, said:
1t is believed that efcctiy,
measures for this parpese might b'
taken By 4 eprefnI Supervision o
IL. issuance of reSiStItes to vessel
suspected Of being engaged III il
Legal traffic and Of the issuar...
Of clearance papers FOR such yes
se,s. and by an int.rn,tional or
r;.nsemcnt 10y the cnited States ri,
british which the authorities u
each nation would be auttluriZc.
TO exercise beyond the three Init
Emit ct ,err.i,orial waters Il raeas
TIRE of control OYER vessels he!on.
ing 20 tie other.
II has been foui,d that nAny "
the ships eosased IN the ili"sa
smuggling OF t.quor into The Jnit
cd States are registered Gi;der III.
British Nag and that large guam
titles o: liqnur are Carried by sue:
vessels from the Bahama island
and from Bermuda. II appears a;.:
in order To e,'ade the customs u,
iiccrs and prohibition agents oi th'
United States. The persons cns..e
cd in this Illicit traffic OF snug
Slug liquor into the United State:
from the E.,ilama islands have
adopted the practice OF pstc!Sin2