Evening star., 1923-01-24
CUbANLEGATlON
PROMISES PROBE
OF RUM CHARGES
Charge d'Affaires Calls at
State Department Over
Published Reports.

thorough investigation OF print
ed reports that liquor for sale was
being obtained through the Cuban
legation was promised today by DR..
Arturo Padro y Almeida, charge daft
faires of Cuba
DR.. Almeida called at the State De-
partment today and conferred with
Cndersecretary OF State Phillips, fol-
lowing which he issued this formal
statement:
The charge went this morning to the
State Department and had an inter-
view with Cndersecretary Phillips in
reference to the publication in the
papers Of the story of alleged selling of
liquor at the Cuban legation. The
charge expressed surprise at the news.
OF which he has entire ignorance, but he
is proceeding to make thorough in
vestigation of the matter. He does not
suspect any one at the legation"
The first formal protest to the State
Department from the prohibition unit
in connection with alleged liquor
leaks from diplomatic channels into
bootleg circles in Washington may
go forward within a few days.
This action may be taken. it was
indicated today at prohibition head
quarters. as result of evidence in
the form of an affidavit in the hands
of the government. obtained in con-
nection with the arrest by police and
prohibition agents of John ]. Lynch,
about forty-flve years old. at the
Vivian apartments, 1723 G street
northwest.
Further investigation into the mat
ter, which presents an international
problem Of some delicacy, must be
made. j. was said. snd more eviderr~
collected il the case is to be present.
ed in the form of an official commu-
nfcation through the State Depart
ment.
The affidavit of Lynch, which lis ad-
mittedly being held by the prohibition
enforcement officials. duplicates en-
lowing imported liquor to leak into
illicit channels Of Washington.
So important and "tickish" has the
case become, inasmuch as it involves
international procedure, that a Quietus
has been clamped upon both the police
and the prohibition agents. The affi-
davit and papers in the case are locked
up In a safe. Scarcely one of the men
on the Job will admit or deny anything.
Servants Suspected.
If booze is leaking from some le-
CATION in Washington, prohibition Of
ffcials said. It is expected In official
quarters that the persons found to be
involved, will not be any one with
diplomatic status, but rather a minor
attache or servant.
1t was further explained as the atti-
tude of prohibition officials that if
such a charge were established, it
would in all probability be found
that the diplomatic officials were ig-
norant OF the bootlegging from their
official stocks.
In the case of a person being
charged with theft of diplomatic
liquor. 1t was pointed out that pro-
hibition agents of the American gov
ernment have no authority to proceed
into legation or embassy to arrest
an alleged guilty person. Such prop
erty is. under the law. considered
American government exercises no
authority. Protests against any
liquor leaks, IL the proof of such
leaks should be established. would
necessarily. therefore. have to go
through the State Department
At the apartment Of Lynch. accord
ing to the police. there was located
a choice amount of wines and
.whiskies. as well as champagne. The
raid was conducted by Lieut.. Davis,
in charge of the vice squad; sert.
Packard and Fowler.
Tuxedo Raid Recalled.
Some weeks ago. in a raid on the
Tuxedo apartments. it is believed, the
first hint and definite track of embassy
or legation liquor finding It's way into
bootleg channels was uncovered. The
finest Scotch liquor was found then,
and a man who gave his engraved card,
with the legend minister plenipoten-
tiary'' of a South American republic on
it. was arrested in connection with an
other angle of the case. He was found
in the apartment which was raided.
Since that time the prohibition
agents and the police have worked
to find the trickle from embassies or
legations. But it's ticklish work, as
they say. and precedents undoubtedly
will be set by activities In the case,
wherefore they don't want to tell too
much to the public until a cleanup
Is made. And the cleanup in one
case may come late this afternoon.