Evening star., 1923-06-19
Wine Rations for Foreign
Crews Available If Physi-
clans Prescribe Use.
NEW ATTITUDE ON LAW
ORDERED BY MELLON
Construction Allows for, Fulfilling
of Other Nations Requirements
for Stores on Vessels.

part of the mystery which has
surrounded the latest Treasury move
in the ship liquor controversy was
dispelled today by a declaration In
official circles that hereafter the
ships doctor on a foreign ship will
be given custody in American waters
Of such liquor as he is willing to GER
tify is for medicinal" purposes.
Although no one at the Treasury
would discuss the development in de-
TAIL it was assumed that unde- :his
policy it will be possible for foreign
ships to bring in wine rations for
their crews, under seal. provided the
doctor in charge chooses to regard
the intoXicants so carried as "medici-
nal"
Up TO Ship Doctors.
A letter sent yesterday by Secretary
Mellon to the public health service
constitutes a construction OF medici
nal provisions of the law. and makes
sure that all foreign laws requiring
ships to carry medicinal liquors will
be complied with. By those instruc-
tions. ship doctor may make
sworn statement as to the liquors
they deem necessary for medicinal
purposes, and public health officers
will not dispute their opinion.
The letter is not regarded at the
Treasury as changing any section
of the regulations recently promul-
gated to carry out the findings of the
Supreme Court 1t Is conceded. how
ever, that 1t will work for elasticity
in the regulatory provisions.
All officials connected with enforce
ment of the Treasury regulations are
reluctant to discuss the move in the
absence of Secretary Mellon, who left
Washington last night to receive a
university degree at Princeton. His
departure followed closely his sigma
ture Of the letter to the public health
service. and first announcement o.
the ruling came from officials of the
French line in New York, who con-
strued it 5 meaning that their ships
will be permitted to bring wine
rations into American ports under
seal.
Embassy In siIent.
The French ambassador. j. ]. Jus
serand also Is away from Washing
ton, and officials remaining at the
French embassy declared today they
knew nothing of any new develop
ment in the liquor situation. They
declined to express any opinion as to
the construction placed on tho
Treasury action by the French line.
Secretary MELONS letter is describ-
ed as very general. but 1t is said
there is nothing in 1t to permit un-
sealed liquors to come into the terri
torial waters of the United States.
None can be issued in American wa
ters, IT is said, except upon physi-
clans regular prescriptions.
The arrangement is believed by Of
flcials to have accomplished the end
to which the Treasury worked when
it was drawing up the regulations.
There were suggestions then that the
right to bring in wine rations be
clearly provided for under the me
dicinal" clause. but that proposal
discretionary powers now given
ships doctors. however, is expected
to accomplish the same purpose.
Relaxation Is Seen.
Differences of opinion continue to
prevail among Treasury officials, and
in the absence of the Secretary no
definite Interpretation of his instruc-
tions is available. There is agree
ment however, that the Secretary
materially relaxed the literal require
ments of the regulations.
Half dozen informal discussions
of the questions involved have taken
place within the last fortnight be
tween Treasury and State Depart
nent officials and foreign diplomats.
Several of them were merely .tele-
phonic conversations. The one upon
which the Treasury head based his
letter was held in New York last
Thursday, and was attended by rep
resentatives of the Treasury and
public health service and counsel for
(ConIinued on Page 2, Column 81