Evening star., 1923-11-01
Member of the Associated Press.
The Twelve-Mile Agreement.

Agreement between the United
States and Great Britain upon terms
OF treaty which will settle the ques-
ton of the twelve-mile limit for the
enforcement of the prohibition law of
this country is announced in London.
They comprise three points: First,
: the United States will have the right
TO search any British Snip within the
twelve-mile limit suspected of bringing
in liquor for smuggling purposes; sec
ond, the United States will formally
affirm by treaty the principle of the
three-mile limit for territorial waters:
third British ships will have the right
to carry liquor under seal into the
territorial waters of the United States,
presumably for consumption on the
homeward voyages.
Obviously, the second and third fea-
lures of this agreement are in the
nature of compensation for the grant
of the twelve.mile-limit right of search
demanded by the United States. The
Supreme Court has ruled that incom-
ing ships cannot bring liquors within
the territorial limits. 1t is now pro.
posed to make such provision by
treaty, which requires ratification by
two-thirds OF the Senate. 1t may be
accompanied by Legislative provision
to the same end.
Already opposition to the proposed
treaty has been expressed, first from
elhin i,,ta
next from some of the dry interests.
1t is contended by the former that such
a treaty would give British ships an
advantage, in that they could make
their voyages. both to and from the
United States, stocked with liquors,
while American ships could not do 50.
It is urged by some of the defenders
of the dry law that the bringing in
of sealed liquors under the treaty
would be in contravention Of the law
and, Furthermore, that there would be
nothing to prevent smuggling beyond
the twelve-mile limit; that British
ships could transship contraband at
sea to the rum.runners.
If either of these factors can muster
a single vote more than one-third of
the Senate in opposition to the pro-
posed treaty it will fail Of ratification
It Is, however, within the range of
possibility, in. such event, that a
legislative enactment to the same ef
feet could be put through both houses
Settlement of the twelve -mileAlimit
with nsrIo RI 10 IN ha
greeted with qualification. 1t is to be
regarded as evidence that the govern
ment at London is desirous of meeting
the wishes OF this country. However
shrewdly the concession may have
been granted, in terms Of equivalents,
1t has, nevertheless, come as a definite
departure from the traditional British
contention for the fullest possible neu.
trality of the sea. There remains the
question of the good faith of the Brit
ish government in cooperating with
this government to the end Of pre-
venting smuggling Of contraband. 1t
Is notorious that British liquor inter-
ests are active in the promotion Of
this illicit trade. Recently advertise
ments have been published calling for
Investments in such enterprises. If
the British government grants the
right of -twelve-naile search it should
take effective steps to prevent snug
Cling from beyond the twelve-mile
limit by prohibiting the shipment Of
liquors on British ships destined plain
1y for Illicit trade with the United
States. .,r ....-. ...> -