The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1923-07-05
U. S. PREP ARES TO.
SEIZE RUM SHIPS 4
Drastic New Rule Drawn After
Long Conference of Hughes
and Enforcement Officials.
SHIPPERS TO BE ARRESTED
Officials Hold Government Has Right
to Take Offending craft-Foreien
Governments to Be Warned, Then
Full Penalty viii BE Enforced.


Full Penalty viii BE Enforced.
Washington. government has
prepared to take the extreme step,
in enforcing the Supreme Court ban
against liquor imports, of selling
ships which bring in intoxicating bev-
erages, whether in cargoes or under
foreign governments custom seals.
Continued if not studied violation
of the courts decision by an increas-
ing number of foreign vessels enter
ing New York with large quantities
OF beverage liquors under seal, 1t
was said, apparently made necessary
the drastic penalty of seizure, not
only of the contraband beverages, but
of the ships themselves. officials de-
clared privately that the present
practice could not be tolerated much
longer, and steps to invoke the ex-
IRENE penalties of the Volstead act
were said to be imminent.
High government officials at a
series of conferences discussed the
situation and the steps necessary to
enforce observance of the nations
prohibition laws as applied to foreign
vessels within American territorial
waters. A new treasury regulation
was reported to have been drafted,
providing for additional directions to
customs officers to seize all vessels
found bringing in beverage liquors,
even under foreign customs seals.
after adequate notice to foreign gov
ernments of the new and more drastic
policy. The instructions also would
provide for the arrest of the captains
Of such ships.
No official announcement of the
governments plans was made, infor-
nation of the consideration Of the
ship seizure policy developing from
the official conferences. 1t was stated,
however, that an official statement
on the question might be expected
in very few days"
Participating In the conferences
were Secretary Hughes and other
state department officials, Acting Sec
rotary Gilbert and Assistant Secretary
Moss. in charge of customs, of the
treasury department; Prohibition
Commissioner Blair, of the Internal
Revenue Bureau; Prohibition Com
missioner Haynes, and Assistant Com
missioner Jones, Chief Counsel Britt
for prohibition headquarters and 9TH
ers. A day full Of conferences on
the situation was concluded with one
between Secretary Hughes and Mr..
Gilbert, on which neither later would
comment.
If the new treasury regulation
should be promulgated it was stated
that ample notice would be given for
eign governments and foreign ship
ping lines.
The Volstead laws ship seizure pro-
vision, it was explained in official
quarters, has not been invoked for
several reasons, among them re-
luctance to act in any way which
might precipitate serious disputes
with foreign governments.
The announced desire of foreign
shipping lines to establish their right
to bring in beverage liquors under
seal, it was said, also has delayed
consideration of the seizure penalties.
No test case has been brought, how
ever, despite the almost daily docking
of vessels carrying liquor in, violation
Of the Supreme Court ruling.
If ships of foreign lines, officials
declare, continue to enter American
ports with liquor stocks under seal,
without resort to the courts to pro-
tect their alleged rights, some effec-
tive step to deal with the situation is
necessary. A ship seizure, 1t is be.
lieved, would supply promptly the test
case declared by foreign ship owners
to be desired.
One official said that the foreign
ship owners bringing in intoxicants
under seal desired to test the nerve"
rather than the law Of the United
States and had found neither i'm
potent.