Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-10-09
CAPITAL STILL
SUFFERS SHOCK
Information Complications Sure to
Arise Over Department OF JUS
tice Ruling on Liquor
Question
(By Isaac Gregg

Washington, Oct. 9.-Official and
diplomatic Washington have not yet
recovered from the shock occasioned
by the ruling of Attorney General
Daugherty barring all Intoxicating IL
cuors off vessels of the United States
and foreign ships entering American
ports.
That there will be international
complications arising out of the de-
cision of the Department OF Justice
is certain and even Secretary OF State
Hughes admitted to The Gazette cor
respondent today that he expected
such protests to be filed.
While the diplomatic corps has not
suffered in the past from lack OF wet
goods" thanks to the ruling made
by former Secretary Of State Colby
in the Wilson administration that dip
lomatic immunity extended even TO
the Volstead law, fears were express
ed today that even diplomatic sancity
might not be sufficient to avert the
penalties accruing under the rullng
of the Attorney General.
Under international law, which has
been confirmed by United States
statutes. the diplomatic representa-
tives of foreign countries enjoying
friendly relations with the Unltea
States are not subject to the opero-
tions of local laws. The American
statutes go even further and provide
penalties for any officer who attempts
TO enforce American laws against for
eign diplomats. The sites OF en-
bassies and legations too are regard
ed as the soil of the native country
of the ambassador or minister.
By reason of this legislation, the
Washington members of the diplomas
tic corps have been able TO enjoy their
cocktails or high balls without danger
of interference from prohibition en-
forcement officers. Not only have
they been privileged to drink on the
embassy or legation premises, but
their persons and baggage have been
regarded as immune from operation
of local laws and they have thus been
free to receive shipments OF liquor,
provided q servant or attache of the
embassy or legation attended to the
shipment. And they always attended
to same.
In some instances the embassies ana
legations did not even take the trou-
bic TO send an attache to escort the
liquor shipments. such was the respect
of the local officials for the repre-
sentatives OF foreign countries.
Gore recently, however, there have
been rumors of bootlegging carried on
bv subordinates Of the various en-
bassies and legations and the noise
of this alleged traffic led to the IN
auguration Of system Of permits
under which it became necessary for
the diplomat to get authorization
from the State or Treasury Depart
ment for every shipment Of liquor re-
eeived. This system has had some
what Encouraging effect upon the Dip
lomatie liquor traffic, much to the
disappointment Of many Washing
toniRpE
Although the Daugherty ruling does
not affect the immunity accorded by
the law to diplomats, it hits out di-
rectly At the carriers Of liquor. II
foreign diplomats in Washington are
20 receive liquor from their native
countries, that liquor must be trans
ported bv some means or other TO the
United States. II it is so transported,
then the ship carving it would be
liable under the DauGherty ruling.
After some hRsty figuring, the
sharps on international law have come
to the conclusion that an embassy
might send a courier from Washing
ton to New York, have him 60 out
side tho thrse-mile limit and meet a
liouor-carrying ship, obtain a supply
Of wet goods and return to washing
ton with it, without fear Of interfer-
ence. Or. diplomat returning 10 the
United States might bring e trunk
full Of Scotch or Baceardi and get
safely past the prohibition officer.
on the ground that q diplomats bag
gage is inViolRble.
The outlook for shipments by COM
moh carriers, unsecompanied by es-
corts, however, is extremely gloomy,
according to international experts,
since the law is perfectly free to
operate against transportation COM
panies. and II is not believed either
steamship, line Of railway company
would be willing 10 take the risk for