The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-05
12-MILE LIMIT ID SEIZE RUNNERS IS NOT MUCH FAVORED ]
British Are Afraid Dangerous Precedent Would Be Set
 If Request Granted
By CHARLES M'CANN Leased Wire To The AGe-HeraidD

Hy OH AHIES M'GANN
 Geased Wire To The AGe-Heraid)
 LONDON, oct. As the British imperial conference settles down to study its problems, the American re- quest for a Emile limit in which to search and seize rum-running causes increased discussion here.
 While the American project Is on the agenda of the meeting, and will receive fullest examination and com sideration, the correspondent learns authoritatively that granting of the request is highly improbable.
 The British authorities arc eager to assist in preventing isolation of the United States prohibition laws, but they desire to find some means of solution other than wiping out the traditional three mile limit
 They believe that the solution of liquor smuggling lies in domestic legislation in Great Britain and the British dominions.
 The recent note on the liquor question delivered to the state de- parement by the British embassy in Washington is understood here to have been merely memorandum re- porting the fact that note had been drawn up by the foreign office and submitted to various government departments for suggestions.
 This note, the real one, will be
  has discussed 1t thoroughly.
 Afraid Or Precedent.
 Arguments that concession of Emile limit along the Atlantic coast of the United States might be made without setting a precedent make no impression on officials at the foreign office. It is pointed out that no matter what reservations were attached. the precedent would be there. The next nation that wanted a Emile mile limit could say that it did not want to set precedent either-that it merely wanted the control.
 British people see themselves per haps vitally affected by any estab- lishment of Emile limit. Some of the worlds waterways could be sealed mp by a 12-mile limit, Rotable the Baltic and Black seas.
 The imperial conference will try to find some way to prevent Brit ish ships from helping violators cf American liquor laws. It is almost certain to decide in favor of internal legislation, if possible rationing the Bahamas and refusing clearance papers to liquor ships after the quota for the West Indies had been filled.
 This cannot be done without legis- lation. And though the government operates 6 juggernaut- like steam roller in Parliament, the steaInroller would find rough sledding in this case.
 First, the ordinary citizen over here would not go very far out of his way to assist prohibition. He gets thirsty when he tal5s about it. He does not approve of the viola tion of American laws by rutn-run- ners, but he argues that it is not British merchant ships, but Ameri f1 lot ing. The ships, he points out, usually stay more than 12 miles off the coast.
 Then there Is the whisky interest called, in the House of Lords, the beerage. A lot of money would be lost to distillers, and what with trade depression, high taxation. and is coming in on debts owed to Great Britain-there is not too much money here.
 Third. aside from the important political aspect of the Emile limit there is the sentimental opposition Britain, an island nation, made her self by her ships. Her merchant shippers roam all the seas. and a lot of people who have no interest in prohibition don't like to see any part of the sea closed.
 Rightly or wrongly, there is growing tenuen&WAln OHlclal circles to believe that Ned States author ities are losing 88eir enthusiasm for the Emile limit, principally because it would be four times as hard to patrol as is the present one--itself full of holes. It is argued that At torney General Daugherty's opinion that warships cannot be used to help the prohibition authorities makes the situation worse.
 dam 105 feet high, proposer imme- diate installed generator, capacity 10000 horse power, ultimate capacity 105,000 horse power.
 water power developments which vice commission follows:
 Lock 2--Coosa river, petition for certificate of convenience and neces- sity for the construction of dam filed with Public Service commission September 20. 1928. Informal request for preliminary permit filed with federal water power commission August 3, 1920.
 Lock 17-Warrior river, action on petition of certificate of convenience and necessity postponed by the Pub- lie Service commission.
 Upper Tallassee--Tallapoo river, certificate of convenience and neces- sity issued by Public Service commis- sion June 26, 1923. This is for the rebuilding and enlarging of the dam of the Montgomery Light and Water Power company which was destroyed by flood