Evening journal., 1922-11-01

Ships other than those belonging
to the United States Government
-still are paying no attention TO At
torney General Daugherty's deci-
sion that vessels are breaking the
law If they visit American ports
or come inside three miles of the
| coast with liquor on board, even
1 though they kept II locked up.
Ships Stay Wet.
II The owners OF foreign ships which
come to this country and Of Ameri-
can ships that the Government does
not own wanted Judge Hand of New
York to say he thought the attorney
general was mistaken and to forbid
prohibition officers from interfering
with their vessels. However. Judge
/, Hand, refused, saying he believed
!, the attorney general was right. Then
the shipowners asked the federal SUI
preme court, which is the highest
court in the United States. TO say
that Judge Hand wss mistaken too.
The supreme court is taking a vaf
cation and probably will not hear
|, the case until late in November.
But in the meantime Secretary Of
the Treasury Mellon. whose depart
ment enforces the law, says the
ships may stay wet. Before he does
anything he wants to know what the
supreme court thinks.
Must Obey Law.
The fact is, the law is hard 10 en-
force AT sea.
Foreign governments evidently
mean 10 fight II. Some have laws
requiring liquor on their vessels.
Already the English Government
has refused to let the dry American
ship President Adams sail from Ply
mouth without taking a supply OF
brandy This never happened be
fore: seemingly the English authori-
ties decided TO show they can make
trouble too.
II prohibition Is made ironclad
much shipping certainly will stay
away from American ports. Maybe
the continental United States won't
care, but some of her island posses
sions do. Porto Rico. for instance,
sends her coffee TO Europe on Span
ish vessels which also carry cargoes
Of rum. They will give up the coffee
rather than the rum, so Porto Rico
fears her coffee markets ruined.
To get as much protection from
other governments as they can. II Is
likely many American ships will be
transferred TO foreign flags.
But ships the United states Gov
eminent owns cannot do this. The
Shipping Board. which manages
them. saws they will lose most OF
their passengers II they must be dry,
while others stay wet. Having tried |
It the board knows.
However. It ~ cer.ain the supreme |
court will disregard all this and be
guided solely by the law.
Near East Problem Waits.
America. among other countries
is asked 10 join in the conference
20 settle matters in the Near East
where Greece was beaten by the
Turks.
she will accept only unofiieially.
,ut on that basis Il is expected she
rilI have a representative present
@ make suggestions and TO tell what
Americans. as onlookers, think
,ught to be done.
ASIDE from hoping in a general
Nsy that the agreement may insure
permanent peace. the United States
aas two particular interests in the
Near East.
For one thing. Turkey has natur-
al resources. especially oil, awaiting
development by foreign capital.
Americans want a fair chance in
this field
Also, as a Christian country. the
United States is concerned for the
welfare Of Christians, such as Arme-
nbans and Greeks. who live under
Mohammedan rule.
These Christian subjects OF Tur- ;
KEY unquestlonably have suffered
terribly. True. it is said on good au-
thorlty that they treat the Turks as
cruelty. whenever they have a
chance. as the Turks, given an OPP
treat them. However,
This rs no reason for giving the
Turks a free hand. now that the
advantage is theirs unless they are
England's Political tumble.
England. where Premier Lloyd
George was forced from first place
n the government. TO be succeeded
ID I L