The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-01
SHIPS C'NN0T BRING
LIQUOR TaU S. PORTS
SAYS SJPPE NE COURT


vessels asas a On the same
basis Nt0 ee-mile limit
Inc Xpected to come
up Tor tomorrow's cab
! net ltorney General
Daugh ~, viii, ~ icipate in discus
sions ffr the frs, ime in more than
| two 1rths rnI ii is likely that ne
Will 49, suggestions to make as to
policy. He declined to discuss the
/ decision today, but began an expaus-
NV i've study OF the various points made
In its decision the court asserted
tn, complete supremacy of AMERICAN
laws within the three mile limit and
inferentially conceded that Other ma
lions hal any jurisdiction within
their own territorial limits. under-
the decision. American }essels.
should Congress prohibit theb from
having aboard intoxicating liquors
on the high seas, would be lsubject
to the laws of the nation WHOSE ports
they might visit. and while within
its jurisdiction should those laws re-
quire, would have to place istoxicat-
ing liquors aboard. The jurisdiction
of the nations extending, Under the
courts construction, only one marine
league or three geographic niles to
sea American vessels required to
taA aboard liquor by the. laws of
the country visited would be under
the necessity if the laws of Congress
required. it was stated. of throwing
three-mile line
Although the questicn was not d-
rectly presented in any of the cases
the court completely interpreted the
much discussed question Of the terri
torial jurisdiction of he United
States. 1t distinctly confined such
jurisdiction to three miles off shore
holding that the prohibitldn amend
ment and the enforcement act could
be enforced to that extent and to that
alone, except that congress could as
stated. make Ameri an 81 ps dry. a,
all times. The court pointed out that
Congress had made one exception to
the dry rule, and that was the
Panama canal, through which ships
of all nations with Intoxicating liquor
aboard, could sail
The court announced mat foreign
ships are not part of the territory
of the country whose flag they fly
but are subject to the avs of the
nation whose port they visit The
prohibition amendment and the en-
forcement act were directe ed. the court
declared, to make unlawful the
transportation OF liquor such ma
tional policy could be effectively en-
forced within the territorial juris-
diction of the country without re-
spect to the laws OF otner nations.
AMERICAN OWNERS
CLAIM RIG VICTORY
NEW YORK. April 50.-American
ships will be placed on an equal basis
with those Of foreign lines as the re-
suit Of the supreme courts ruling
today permitting United States YES
sells to sell liquor beyand the three
mile liimt, provided none is brought
INTO port. it was declared tonight by
Ira Il. Campbell, counsel to the Amer
lean amship Owners association.
Mr.. Ca mpbell based his assertion on
that portion of the ruling which
prohibits foreign vessels from bring
irg their stocks of wet goods within
the three mile zone, thus making all
ships actually dry when they touch
American ports. Foreign owners
were silent, although the ruling was
discussed at a meeting of the Inter-
national Mercantile Marine today.
Although he said he had not read
the decision. MIR. Campbell said from
press reports he considered che decis-
ion distinct victory for American
owners.
1T places American ships on
parity with foreign-owned and ope
rated vessels he said. land removes
a once serious disadvantage to the
operation of American ships. The
decision should be especially advan-
tageous TO American ships in the
South American and lOriental trade,
where light wines an& beer are con-
sidered part OF the food diet ] be-
lieve the decision will result in many
Americans taking American boats for
passage to Europe, where because Of
the adverse ruling they( chose to take
ships flying foreign flags"