Evening star., 1923-07-01

MODIFIED DRY LAW
ISOFF|C|ALS' HOPE
TOAVO|D TANGLES
British and French Peoples
Aroused at U. S. Seizure
of Ship Liquors.
GRAVE SITUATION SEEN
IF POLICY CONTINUES
Governments Desire to Prevent
Trouble Seen in alf-Hearted
Enforcement.
BY ROBERT T. SMALL.

BY ROBERT t. SMALL.
The attempt to enforce, the Supreme
Courts Interpretation of the Volstead
act against foreign ships in New York
harbor presents todays the unprec-
edented spectacle of the government
being forced to bring about what Is
admittedly grave international sit
uation" over an application Of the
prohibition law which the govern
ment officials themselves believe that
Congress never, intended.
President Harding himself. has in
dicated a purpose to ask the next
Congress to modify the Volstead act
so as to permit foreign ships to bring
with them under seal wines and liQ-
ours for their return voyage-the in
toxicants to be used wholly without
the territorial waters of the United
States.
Predicts Amendment.
Albert d. Lasker, retiring head of
the Shipping Board and one of Pres
ident Harding's intimates. has just
issued q statement saying that he be-
lieves the next Congress will amend
the volstead law as indicated by the
President. Mr.. Lasker says further
that it is all wrong to suppose that
a fanatical Interpretation Of the dry
law will serve as an aid to American
shipping.
In other words, Mr.. Lasker believes
that if the American prohibition law
is applied so stringently as to bar
foreign ships from American harbors
means would be found to bar Amer
lean ships from foreign harpors and
an unthinkable International situa-
ton created. In such circumstances
America would be as effectuallys shut
of from the rest Of the world beyond
the dreams OF the most ardent isola-
zionist. - a
Drastic Action vital.
The governnfent is being compelled
to go forward today with drastic
steps in the enforcement Of q phase
Of the volstead law which the gov
ernment itself will seek to have mod
Grated as soon as Congress meets. At
best 1t is rather an anomalous situa-
tion. If the Volstead act were an
ordinary domestic law there would be
tole rance on the part of the govern
ment. There has been tolerance in the
past, following unexpected court de-
cisions which have given an unusual
and extraordinary twist to q law.
But in the enforcement Of the prohi-
bition laws there can be no tolerance
on the part OF the public servants in
Washington.
They realize that the sentiment OF
the dry element in the United States
is not a sentiment of tolerance. but
instead a militant vigilance, which
permits no official with a political
future at stake to remain idle for q
moment.
One Of the inconsistencies of the
perplexing situation, which has had
Washington all topsy-turvy for the
entire past week, is the fact that
foreign vessels may sail through the
American waters Of the Panama canal
heart whole and fancy free with all
the liquor on board that they care to
carry. OF course. this liquor is not
t9 ce used on the trip through. The
Panama canal Is excepted from the
operations Of the volstead act, yet
the waters of that cross-isthmus
route are as much the waters. OF the
United States as those of New York
udfS ~ 1st,t g-,,5s.s :