Middletown transcript., 1922-10-21
BLOCK SEIZURE
OF WET SHIPS
British Decline to Agree to Ex-
tend Right of Search
WILL HELP ENFORCE LAW
Tricks OF Smugoler - Secretary
Hughes Explains Methods EN-.
pioyed To Evade Clutches
"a OF Law.

Washington. rejection Of
the American proposal for treaty to
extend the right of search of vessels
up to IL miles off shore was contained
in a note handed to Secretary Hughes
by Ambassador Geddes. The commu-
nication was in reply to Mr.. Hughes
note of June 26 setting out difficulties
encountered by American prohibition
enforcement officers in checking the
Illicit flow of intoxicants into the
United States.
Secretary Hughes made public his
correspondence with the ambassador
without comment. There was moth
ing to indicate that any further step
to extend the right Of search for
American prohibition officers beyond
the three-mile limit was in prospect.
Action of the Cabinet recently in ap-
proving the abandonment Of such
search presumably because of pos
sibie international difficulties. coupled
with the British reply, appeared to
Indicate that operations would con
tiaue to be confined within recognized
territorial waters.
The American note dealt particu-
larly with smuggling operations from
British possessions in water adjacent
to the American coast and suggested
methods by which the existing ex-
iremely unfortunate conditions might
be remedied."
Among these was a proposal for
careful supervision of registries and
clearance papers granted to suspected
vessels and IAN international ar
rangement between the United States
and Great Britain under which the
authorities of each nation would be au-
thorized to exercise beyond the three
mile limit of territorial waters
measure of control over vessels be-
longing to the other"
There was appended an inquiry as
to whether the British Government
was disposed to agree to the reci-
procal right of search up to ~ miles
from shore, which. it was pointed out
would imply no Inconvenience to the
legitimate trade between Nassau and
Halifax, passing at no point within
four leagues of American shores.
In reply Ambassador Geddes pointed
out that his Government had already
taken steps before Mr.. Hughes note
was received to prevent the practices
as to registry issuance and clearance
papers to which attention had been
drawn. These steps had been supple
mented since then, he added, and the
British Government hoped that meas
ures taken will prove successful in
preventing any breaches in the local
law"
With relation to the proposed treaty
however, he said;
His majesty's government have
consistently opposed any extension of
the limit of territorial waters such as
that now suggested. They feel that
the outbreak of smuggling which has
led to the proposal cannot be regarded
as permanent condition. but as one
which will no doubt be suppressed by
the United States authorities within
the not distant future.
while, therefore, they are desirous
of assisting the United States Gov
ernment to the best of their ability ir
the suppression of the traffic and In
the prevention of the abuse of the
British flag by those engaged in it
they do not feel that they can proper
ly acquiesce. in order to meet TEN
porary emergency, in the abandon
ment of a principle to which they at
tach great Importance"
The American note was quite Ions
and pointed out that British terri
tories apparently ARE made bases o
operation in fragrant violation of con
stitutional and statutory provisions o
the United States"