New Britain herald., 1923-11-01

This is matter for the highest courts
TO decide and is quite beside the point
here made.
The inspiration of the desire by the
United States to be allowed to search
British vessels far out from the coast.
is the eagerness to stop rum-running
between English ships and our coast
"a most proper desire as there is
law against it here. In order to do
this the government has asked Eng
land to stretch the precious rule
against search. and allow our author
tiles to examine British cargoes.
England eager to be allowed to con-
tinue its custom of carrying liquor
for passengers and crews, both on the
voyage to this country. and on the
voyage home, was ready TO grant the
wish of the United States in order to
be allowed to maintain this custom,
England deems it quite necessary for
wv NtlLdi1 VI iltl SiApPillS " Nph-
tinuc to serve and carry liquor.
Now England, of course, supposes
that such search as she will allow
will be made with due consideration
of the proprieties. and it is quite
probable that the great minds in this
country planning this new arrange
ment, feel that such search by our
officials will be conducted with scru-
pulous care not to offendNnor to take
any unwarranted liberties with the
result that any antagonism will arise
between England and the United
States. Probably the ina gination pic
lures these searching parties arriving
at the side of the English ship in due
ceremony; the officers giving a cour-
teous salute, and the whole affair of
searching passing off to the accom-
paniment of smiles and good feeling.
Certainly, does our government feel,
no representatives of the United
States would do any discourtcous
thing in the conduct OF such searches
that would give Englishmen cause for
complaint under such conditions. Ger
tainly they will remember that this
right of search beyond the three mile
limit is most unusual thing and that
it should be used with greatest cir
cumspection.
II is TO be hoped sincerely. if such
treaty is made. that this will be the
case, 1t is to be hoped that the
methods of the enforcement agents
will not offend all English under
standing of decency, with resulting
hatred, as the methods OF the en-
forcement agents here have offended
many of our own prcconccived ideas
of freedom Of person and possessions.
II is to be hoped that the enforce
mcnt authorities will not stop and
searcR every English ship approaching
our shores, just on general principles,
as enforcement agents In this state. I
for instance, have stopped and
searched automobiles unfortunately /,
on the highways in this state. II is
10 be hoped that tho searchers. so .
keen TO find contrabaud liquor. will .
not remove caskct holding the d,
dead body OF some person being
brought here for burial and search .
FOR liquor as. In this state recently. +
a hcarsc WAS stopped and the casket
bearing tho body Of baby taken
from II in the hope that liquor would .
be found in the vehicle that was
carrying the coffin to the place where
It would be lowered into the ground, .
And this we say, not because We love
England more, but because We love
war and indecency less.
This may be hoped for--this pro.
pricty Of search But knowing the
dispositions OF many enforcement
and their high-handed
methods. one may not be free from a
fear that their methods, used against
a foreign nation, may bring many in
tcrnational antagonisms.