The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-05-26
Great Britain Contends Amer. ican Government Has No Ju- risdiction Over Wet Goods Brought Into Ports As Part Of Regular Supplies Of Ship
TREASURY IS SEEKING SOLUTION OF QUESTION
Prohibited Products May Be Allowed To Come Into Coun- try When Listed As Medical
 Supplies And Placed Under Care Of Physician Of Boat

WASHINGTON, May B. Great Britain's position on the ships liquor question, as communicated to the state department today by the Brit ish embassy, is understood to be on contention that American port au- thorities have no jurisdiction in in- ternational law over liquor brought into American waters as a part of the regular supplies of foreign ves- sels.
 The authority of American off, cials. under this construction, extends only to portions of the cargo of foreign ships which are intended for importation into the United States. and in no way permits of interfer- ence with either the physical, me ehanism, rations, or stores of such vessels when they put into American ports.
 While this principle apparently conflicts with that recently laid down by the supreme court, indica- tions are increasing that the treas- ury department has found way to reconcile the two by permitting ships under foreign registry to list the wine rations of their crews as a part of the medicinal stores allowable un- der the law.
 In the new regulations now being drafted treasury officials are said to have taken due cognzance of tho fact that the opinion of the supreme court made no mention of the medc- inal liquor clause. Some officials are known to hold this clause to be broad enough to protect liquor stocks from confiscatton if they are placed under the charge of the ships doc tor when a vessel comes inside the three mile limit.
 Fundamental Objection
 It WAS the original intention of the British government to await iS- suance of the new regulations be- fore making representations on the subject. That also has been the position of the other maritime pow CTS. The action taken today. how ever apparently was for the pur- pose of making known that thero is a fundamental objection to appli- cation of the prohibition law to for eign shipping.
 The immediate effect is 10 ini- tiate formal negotiations for tho first time since the county handed down it's decisions,
 Suggestions have come from some quartes that a special treaties might be made eXemptins foreign ships from the operation of the Nolstead law while in American waters. Something of that kind was hinted at by the Dutch foreign minister. Van Karnbeek in a statement in his palament yesterday. But, it is be- lieved to be improbable that the British government would be willing to adopt such a course, since It might be regarded as an admission of the legality of the American claim of Jurisdiction.
 The British communication sub mitted to Secretary Hughes bears the signature of Sir Auckland Geddes the British ambassador. It is charac- terized q in no sense q protest but rather as an appeal to the sense of justice of the American government making the points that application of the Volstead law to foreign ship ping constitutes a radical departure from all well established principles of maritime intercourse and so in wolves the making of new interna- tional law.
 Expect Other Representations
 It is understood that the British communication is probably the fore runner of similar representations from the chancellories of other for eigu powers. It is believed here that there has been general exchange of views between the various Euro- pean foreign offices and while there is no prospect of anything like an identtc note it is believed that the attack will he upon paralel lines, the underlying purpose being to in- duce the United States government to confer with others before inau-
  a new principle of international law.
 Although no advices have been received by the Spanish embassy concerning the decision of the Royal spanish Steamship Line to eliminate it's direct service from Spain to New York, it is fully expected that the embassy will he among these who in due course submit representations to the State department. Spain is one of the countries whose munlcl-
 l1sa served as part of the rations to ship crews.
 Abandonment of Royal spanish Steamship service to New York Is not expected here to effect material ly the services between the two countries as ships to other countries in the Atlantic service touch at Spanish companys steamers are only Spanish company's teamers are only on a monthly basis.