The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-10-21
ENGLAND
DEFENDS HER
RUM RUNNERS
British Government
Protests Seizure Of
Sh ip Eight Miles
Out

Washington. Oct. Is (Hy the As
sociated Prcss) Seizure by pro-
hibition enforcement officials early
this week Of the Canadian sclloon-
er Emerald off the New Jersey
coast has been made ground for
formal protest by the British goy-
ernmeut. the contention being
that the vessel was outside Amer
;can jurisdiction. Pending detailed
official adyiccs from the officers
who made, the seizure. comment
as to the probable attitude OF the
Washington government was not
available today.
The only report received az
prohibition enforcement head
quarters. said the Emerald had
been taken for alleged liquor
smuggling while in communication
With shore from, a point beyond
the three mile limit. The mes
.sasc did not say specifically. 1t is
understood. that the Enierald's own
boats were plying between ships
and shore 1t was assumed at the
prohibition enforcement bureau
t;1at such was the case. however.
and that the ship therefore fell
witilin the recent governWent rul-
.ng as to operations beyond -Aoer-
can territorial waters.
The British protest, which was
presented to the state department..
s understood 10 assert that the
f:me1ald.s boats We're not in touch
with shore and that there was.
therefore,. no warrant under. the
announced poiic" OF the American
government itself for interference
With the Canadian aft. There
was nothing TO indicate that the
statement that the Emerald was
seed eight miles off the coast
would be disputed and the dip;o-
matte correspondence apparently
uras upon the question as to
whether the schooner was in
touch With shore through her
,wn boats.
The case is the first OF It's kind
o arise under the administration
policy. recently announced Of con-
fniies prohjuiticn enforcement op-
eraticn$ stric.l. to the three mile
limit of territorial waters except in
he orc circumstance of vessel
beyond that limit but sending con-
r:thand shipments ashore in her
own boats. The american posi-
ton in that regard is held to rest
IN international precedent.
That the British authorities are
convinced the Emerald case does
not fall within the rule was made
,slain b.- the promptness with which
a protest was lodged with the state
department.
Framing OF the American reply
necessarily awaits an official report
from the treasury setting out the
facts of the seizure. should that
;ustain the belief here that the
hip was using her OWL boats TO
shore when seized. presumably the
diplomatic phase OF the incident
would then be closed and the case
oe allowed by the british to go
20 legal determination.
In vinw of the British refusal TO
outsider the working out. OF a
.rea:y to pern'i: search ef suspects
Of licuor smuggling craft UP to II
miles Off shore. it appeared I'M
likely that the Washington sc"-
>rnment would at.emp. to defend
diplomat;caiiy the more drastic
action Of seizure beyond the
hree mile limit excepr where the
conditions met the rule laid down.
The attempt to reach an agree
lnent for search such as that pro-
posed by Secretary hughes has
ueen officially described at the
state department as a closed Incl
dent. The Emerald case appar-
: entity rests wholly. therefore. on