The Washington herald., 1922-10-10
Lasker Says International
Farley May Be Needed
To End Tangle.
PREDICTS HEAVY
AMERICAN LOSSES
Republic of Panama May
Fail to Get Liquors
Under New Edict.

An lnternatOnal COHieTeiSe ue-
signed to make the seas safe for
"teetotalers" may prove to be the
only possible solution for the legal
and diplomatic tangle threatened by
Attorney General Daugherty's rul-
inG that foreign ships cannot carry
intoxicants inside the American
three-miIe limit.
This is the opinion of Chairman
Lasker. Of the United States Ship
ping Board. and different members
of Congress. The latter fear the
whole liquor issue may arise again
in forthcoming discussion of the
American merchant marine.
British May Enter Suit.
Decision of British ship owners to
Iefy the Daugherty mandate by
bringing liquor into American ports
under seal. as they do now, is ex-
pected to be followed by suit for
injunction against application of the
american ruling. As LASER sees
the outlook. such suit promises
prolonged legal fight mingled With
diplomatic procedure. and in the
interim continued sale Of liquor
aboard foreign vessels.
Iaasker paints a dismal picture
Of uninhabited American ships
.oursIng the oceans with only such
passengers as may put patriotism
above thirst. And. in view Of what
lie regards as certain and great ac-
GiriUnal losses in American ship op-
cation. Lasker says the need is
:.rrentuated for quick action on
-ubs'dy measure so that these
los ses may be made up OUT of the
public treasury.
Follow Dissenting justices.
The British officials said. take
the same position as Justices Nc
Ecrna. Day and Clarke did when
they dissentcd last spring from the
Supreme Court decision prohibiting
shiDmcnt of liquor within Amer
lran territory. The justices held
that the United States could not
ir7pcsa it's liquor views upon other
ratinns which might wish to use
american territory for transporta-
tiua Of wet goods.
I.asker contends that since a Fed
eraI prohibition amendment was
necessary to effect enforce ment OF
prohibition within states which had
pre- viously voted dry. so ruling
applied to liquor on the sea can
not be made effective until there
has been an international agree-
ment binding all nations
NAV Make Panama Dry.
Secretary OF War Weeks yes
terday expressed concern as to the
manner in which the ruling would
affect the Republic of Panama. The
VoIstead law itself specifically eN-
empts the Panama Canal and YES
sells passing through that water
way from the provisions of the
law. II so happens. however. that
the greater part of all CommOdl-
ties destined to the Republic OF
Panama are UnlOaded at the army
docks
On this account there may b
some legal obstacle to continuance
of the practice Of unloading liquor
at army docks for use in Panama.
and it is expected that Secretary
weeks Will refer this matter to
Attorney General DauEherty for de
CisiOn.
If the Attorney General decides
that no liquor can he transported
through army docks. it doubtless
will lead to the smuggling of liquor
into Panama by tugs and launches
If the Attorney General decides
against Panama getting her liquor
simply through the same channeI
which she has been using ever since
the opening Of the canal. il be
lieved that the United States will
receive a protest from the Pana-
man government.
Liners Keep Liquor stocks.
LONDON. Oct. 9-British sh p
pers are preparing to fight AttOr-
nev, General Daugherty's liquor
ruling ITO the last bottle"
Seven of the bis white Star liners
will sail for the Tn ted States dur
ing the week. fully stocked with
Iduor, in order TO test the ruling.
shippers deny the ght of the
American government to forbid
them bringing liquor inside the
three-mile limit under seal. They
are mastering all forces for a thor
ouCh showdown on the principle
that the United States government
cannot dictate to Brit sh liners"
officials of the Cunard. White
Star and Royal Mail lines met in
formally today and decided 10 fight
the liquor ruling. The announce
ment of the Cunard Offic ais that
they will stock up the AqUitania
for her return trip is taken here
to indicate that the sh ppers mean
business.
VIII Await "Incidents."
It's purely an American domest c
affair" one foreign office official
said. If the United States wants
to prohibit toilet water or wire
nails entering her three-mile juris-
diction, t is her own business"
The foreign office has taken no
cocnizance of any sort and doesn't
intend to unless unfortunate in
cidents" occur when American Of
ficials begin to enforce the ruling
on British liners reaching the
three-mile limit with liquor stocks
aboard.
II such Incidents occur, formal
British protests may follow. An
opportunity for such incidents
probably will develop within a