The New York herald., 1922-10-04
Embassy Contends Liquor Was
Seized Illegally Outside
Three Mile Limit.
SHIPS CREW SET FREE
Two Other Vessels Said to Be
Involved in Protest to
Washington.

The British Embassy has made rep
asking the return of a $21, 900 cargo
of liquor seized on September IA from
the British steamship Buema.
The liquor, according to John D.
Appleby, commander of the prohibition
navy, was confiscated by customs Off
cials and is held by them. The crew
of the Buema was released by United
States Commissioner Stanton at Ho-
boken following arraignment on COM
plants of violating the Volstead law.
Commissioner Stanton declared that
no evidence had been submitted by
customs officials to prove that the
British vessel was seized within the
Twelve mile limit Thomas b. Fielder,
attorney of the defense, submitted evil
dence to prove that the Buema was
twenty miles at sea at the time it was
seized.
The representations also are Under
stood to involve. the seizure of the Brit
Gardner, both of which, it is claimed,
were seized outside of the three mile
limit. The Marion Mosher carried a
cargo of about 1900 cases of liquor
and $4,000 in currency, while the
liquor cargo of the NJ. NJ. Gardner was
somewhat less. Captains of both ves-
sells have been indicted by the Federal
Grand Jury at Trenton.
The British Embassy's communlca-
tion to the State Department was based
on information furnished Ambassador
Sir Auckland Geddes by Mr.. Fielder
His law firm represents the owners of
the seized vessels.
While he declined to state the pur-
pose of his visit to Washington. Ralph
A. Day. Prohibition Enforcement Direc-
tor, is believed to have departed for the
capital last night for a conference with
State and Treasury Department officials
regarding the note of the British EN-
bassy.
The British Government has expressed
semi-officially a desire to cooperate
with American prohibition officials in a
crusade against the Illegal Importation
of liquor to this country. but a tension
Is known 10 exist over the commercial
aspect of vessels carrying liquor. The
British Admiralty, according to prohibit
ton officials, feels reticent in the mat
ter of issuing orders that British ships
cannot legally carry liquor cargoes to
waters contiguous 10 ports from which
such liquors are barred.
While the Admiralty never has given
official sanction to the carrying of liquor
cargoes by British vessels bound fo-
Atlantic waters off the coasts of New
York and New Jersey it is felt in Off
cial circles here that British officials
believe that American customs officers
have no legal right TO molest British
ships that unload liquor TO American
rum runners. provided the British craft
remain outside of the three mile limit
and do not violate American laws by
communicating with shoremen.
That many British vessels are ged
in bringing vast supplies of liquor from
the Bahamas to Atlantic waters off the
New York and New Jersey coasts is
freely conceded by John ID. Appleby.
commander Of the dry navy. The liquor
is being brought into New York and
New Jersey ports. he points out, by
American vessels that 20 out and meet
the British rum runners.
The recent decision OF President
Harding's Cabinet causing suspension
Of liquor ship seizures outside OF the
three mile limit admittedly has retarded
the progress OF the prohibition navy
That ruling. II Is believed. was made
following secret representations TO the
Administration OF the British Embassy.
The question of Americas right 10
seize British vessels outside OF the three
mile limit became conspicuous several
weeks ago, when the captain OF the
British motor yacht Onward denied
customs officials tho right to board his
vessel and inspect the cargo.