The Pensacola journal., 1922-11-05

Ships other than those Belonging tc the
United States government skill are paying
no attention to Attorney General Daugh-
erty's decision that vessels are breaking
the law If they visit American ports or
come inside three miles Of the coast with
liquor on board, even though they kept it
locked up.
The owners of foreign ships which
come to this country and of American
ships that the government does not own
wanted Judge Hand of New York tc say
he thought the attorney general was mis-
taken and TO forbid prohibition officers
from interfering with their vessels. How
ever, Judge Hand, refused. saying he be-
lieved the attorney general was right
Then the shipowners asked the federal
supreme court which is the highest court
in the United States, to say that Judge
Hand was mistaken toe.
Ships Stay Wet.
The supreme court is taking vacation
and probably will not hear the case until
late in November.
But In the meantime Secretary Of the
Treasury Mellon, whose department en-
forces the Law, says the ships may stay
wet. Before he does anything he wants
10 know what the supreme court thinks.
The fact is, the law Is hard to enforce
n sea.
fight it. Some have laws requiring liquor
on their vessels.
Already the English government has
refused to let the dry American ship
President Adams sail from Plymouth
without taking a supply Of brandy. This
never happened before; seemingly the
English authorities decided to show they
can make trouble too.
Must Obey Law.
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 possessions do. Porto Rico, for in
stance. sends her coffee to Europe en-
Spanish vessels which also carry cargoes
Of rum. They will give up the coffee
rather than the rum, so Porto Rico fears
her coffee markets ruin.
To get as much protection from other
as they can. it is likely
many American ships will be transferred
to foreign flags.
But ships the United States government
owns cannot do this. The Shipping Board,
which manages them, says they will lose
most OF their passengers if they must be
dry. while others stay wet. Having tried
It, the board knows.
However, 1t is certain the supreme court
will disregard all this and be guided sole
ly by the law.
America. among ether countries, is
asked TO join in the conference to settle
matters in the Near East, where Greece
was beaten by the Turks.
She win accept only unoffcially. but on
that basis it is expected she will have a
present, to make sugges-
tons and to tell what Americans, as on
think ought to be done.
Aside from hoping in a general way
that the agreement may insure perman-
ent peace. the United States has two par
.icular interests in the Near East. 80
Near East Problem Waits. sf
For one thing. Turkey has natural re-
especially oil. awaiting develop +
nent by foreign capital Americans want
4 fair chance in this field.
Also as a Christian country the United
states Is concerned for the welfare Of
Christians, such as Armenians and Creeks
Tho live under Turkeys AIohammedan
'ule. /
These Christian subjects Of Turkey un- 7
luestionably have suffered terribly. True, I
I is said on good authority that they c
reat the Turks as cruelty, whenever they
lave a chance, as the Turks, given an +
opportunity, treat them However. this L
s no reason for giving the Turks a free
land, now that the advantage is theirs
lnless they are restrained.
England, where Premier Lloyd George l