Evening star., 1923-06-13
WAy Around Law,

Tho exact procedure would be TINS:
n, TSslef me @sR uprema n Court has said
the law of Congress permits OF no
executions to the carriage OF Ilauor
cargoes by any vessels entering
American ports, even If in transit 10
rrother country Congress. however
has the absolute right to relax the
restrictions and write into the la"
specific exceptions. This Is because
the eighteenth amendment seeks 10
prohibit simply the lntroducetioit e VI
liquor into the United States Tor peF-
eraee purposes. Liquor held under
seal would not be introduced into
America but carried out TO sea I'M
n,cdiately upon the departure OF the
ship.
But Congress would not be per-
shaded 10 make such an exception
and meet the convenience OF foreign
governments SO long as there exists
what is described as an intoleraoie
situation just outside the three-ni'ie
limit.
The Secretary of State with the ap-
proval of the President has under
taken to use the treaty power
TO modify the existing law OF Con
gress. Any treaty which receives the
assent of two-thirds or the SenalS
becomes the law of the land. Instead
of having Congress make the excep-
tious. the administration has decided
IL would be simpler for the Depart
ment of State to negotiate areciproc-
ity treaty with foreign powers Where,
by something is given to the Uniteo
States in exchange for something
given by the United States to outside
powers This kind of a trade Is not
Unusual in diplomacy
Attitude OF Drys.
AS for the "drys" in Congress. they
would be more than glad to approve
a treaty giving the American govern
nrent the right to search and seize
up to twelve miles in return FOR the
innocuous privilege to foreign gov
erulncnts of carrying liquor stores
under seal in American ports which
does not affect the peace Of America
and does not add to the liquor sup
ply.
serious a matter and means SO plain
" q conspiracy to violate American
laws that any drastic steps such as
the twelve mile search limit would be
welcomed by the drys as d po"erIul
method of keeping bootlegGers from
getting their principal source or sup
ply. III, ,;x.,,. +o
prevent smuggling, and there is am
1t was announced, incidentally, that
the power sought would not IN any
way mean an extension or the terri,
torial boundaries as now construed
no circumstances could there pe d.
twelve-mile protecting limit Tor pei
Iserent ships within neutral waters
in war time The treaties would spe-
officially define and limit the purpose
of the twelve-mile limit.
Few Powers ApproachNd.
As vet only a few of the principal
power1 have been approached. but
II their assent is secured there is
little doubt that all other govern
ments would fall into line. AS
practical matter it probably would
be necessary to have a treaty with
every foreign government or else
the rum fleet would merely protect
it's operations under the flag OF the
country which had not assented. 1t
means a long and difficult negotia-
ton, but the American government
sees In 1t the only way out of the
rum smuggling problem which now
has been officially and effectively
tied up with the permission sought
by foreign ships to carry liquor for
their crews into American ports
under seal.
While no objections can be fore
seen from this side of the Atlantic
the attitude Of foreign governments
probably will depend on how much
influence foreign producers of liquor
engaged in rum running now have
with their own governments.