New Britain herald., 1923-06-25
RRE AKING SEALS


 T, JohR smilh, Master of the tRlisd States steamship America of New feFk, PFstssi against the bTsakr lhg of the Iniisd States customs seals and the seizure hF lhe British Customs authorities ef lhs ships siaFes 2 held under seal en hoard this ship tor consumption exclusively outside of lsFrileElal waters of Great Britain"
 This, werd for weFd except for using the words "Inited States" in place Of Britain" and the latter for the United states" is the nFeles, pre- ssRted to the Surveyor Of the port Of New York by The Master Of q British steamship al the ,ime the British seals were broken and British iiauaF seized,
 What would he the feeling in this country upon reading such a pretesls Men along the street there would be who cry out that The Master of the vessel should have fought 10 protect our ships stores. The demagngues would rise up and denounee the Mas. ter. John smith, for calmly submitting 10 such interference with the ships stores of the United States. And many would noek to whatever standards such demagogues bore. denouncing England's action. They would he wrong. Of course. The United States authorities. under th. decision of our courts. had no other course left open 10 them-as long as the yolstead law exists and as long as there stands n decision interpreting it as such deci- sion has done.
 But even the calm. wise men Of this country shake their heads and feel the danger Of the situation. Deep in their hearts-the hearts Of the truly thoughtful-there Is the conviction that. while there was nothing for tho authorities to do but 10 obey the law. and that while there will probably
  come no attempt at retaliation by England at this moment. nevertheless it is inevitable that a dislike would spring up between official England and this country if this country did not. at the first opportunity. so alter the Volstead law that 1t would not compel the breaking of the Customs seals of another nation.
 Former Premier of England, Lloyd George, has commented on the event of the breaking of the British seals and, speaking as one who sympathizes with the experiment this country is making with prohibition. advises calmness in the land across the water. He pleads that the United States. in its predicament, be given chance. That the people of England should not get excited over the act.
 We again emphasize the fact that the United States authorities were justified by our law, the Volstead act, in doing as they did It was their duty. But all over this country people will say, reading the protest filed by the British shipmaster, T don't blame him for protesting" The more i'm petuous will shout: "1'd like to see them try doing anything like that to America"
 The feeling in this country, whether for the World Court plan or not whether for the League of Nations plan or not--is that the United States should do everything it can, without endangering our own independence. to aid in establishing peace, good will in the world. Breaking the seals of foreign governments inspires any thing but peace good will. The act, under our. law was justifled-there was no alternative. Is the law which requires such an act justified?