The Monmouth inquirer., 1923-06-21
HARDING WILL NOT
CALL CONGRESS
President Has No Intention of Re-
Iieving voIstead Situation by
Means of Extra Session.
IS DOUBTFUL OF TREATY
limitations Of Foreign Powers All
Point to Flat ReIection-6ritIsh
Think Acceptance Of IL Mile
Limit Would Mean Chaos.

Washington.--That the Administra-
ton is not sanguine of the ultimate
success of the American proposal for
settlement Of the smuggling and ship
liquor problem is indicated
1t was announced at the White
House that the President has no
thought of calling special session of
Congress to deal with modification of
the Volstead act in the interest of
relieving foreign ships of embarrass-
ments growing out Of the Supreme
Court decision.
The White House announcement
was made without reference to pend
ing negotiations with foreign powers
for reciprocal treaties by which the
three mile limit would be extended
to twelve miles in return for giving
foreign ships permission to bring in
sealed sea stores" to American
waters.
However, it was noted that the an
nouncement on behalf of the Presi-
dent was definite and in no way con-
tingent on the success or failure of
the negotiations with the major mari
time nations.
1t was generally inferred that such
intimations as have reached official
sources here as to the attitude of the
powers toward what they characterize
on all sides as the American trade"
left little hope of any agreement that
would make it advisable to call the
Senate in extra session to ratify such
reciprocal treaties as are proposed.
Notice is being served in the pend
ing discussions that the dry sentiment
in Congress is still SO overwhelming
that it is hopeless to ask that body to
modify the Volstead act to permit the
entry of "sea stores" or of liquor in
transport" so long as the smuggling
feet is aided by foreign flags outside
the three mile limit.
The Administration is presenting its
plan for a solution this way: "Con-
gress will not grant relief to your ship
ping unless you aid US in eliminating
smuggling conducted under the abuse
of your flags and this you can do by
extending the three mile limit to
twelve miles for specific, purposes"
However, it is already quite clear
that the foreign governments do not
see the problem in just this simple
fashion. A canvass of diplomatic SEN
timent would indicate very definitely
that the consesus of foreign views is
that the United States is offering to
give much less than it is demanding
in return.
One strong point has been made and
that pertains to the danger of extend
ing the twelve mile limit for any pur-
pose whatever In time Of peace. Great
Britain's stand is that the moment the
dictum of international law is extend
ed for one purpose, the way is opened
for extension for another purpose
which may happen to bein accordance
with the domestic needs of this or that
Power.
Again Great Britain points that by
breaking the present hard and fast
rule which limits domestic jurisdic
ton to three miles, chaos results, mas
much as the limit could be extended
to fifty miles as well as to twelve
miles. 1t is suggested that in this
case further need of extension for the
of American prohibit
ton would depend on the efficien-
cy of the fleet operating between
the feeder liquor vessels and the
shore. Whether extension of the
search limit to, twelve miles would
eliminate the abuse of foreign flags is
regarded as doubtful.
Thus the maritime Powers take the
position that the smuggling evil and
the abuse of the foreign flags is large
ly an incident of prohibition which
cannot be avoided, over which they
themselves have no control and the
for which is not in the chang
ing of an important principle CT inter
national law.