The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-06-14
MODIFICATION
 OF MET SHIPS REGULATIONS
State Department Makes Pro-
 position To Powers As SoIu-
 ton To Present Handicaps
 Now Facing Foreign Ships HUGHES WORKING AFTER 12-MlLE SEARCH LIMIT
Proposal 0utgrowth Of Long Study Rum Smuggling 0p-
 erations And Supreme Court Decision Recently Rendered

WASHINGTON, Jupne 13.-Modlfi- cation of the effect of American pro- hibition enfor cement regulations as they apply to sealed liquors in trans it through American territory or in ships stores. has been offered to various maritime powers by state de- partment as solution for present in- conveniences occasioned foreign ship ping The project, 1t was learned to- day on high authority, contemplates exercises of the treaty making power to amend existing statutes. which means that Senate ratification would have to be obtained to make the modification effective.
 The offer also is contingent upon a reciprocal agreement in treaty form by the powers involved which would give the United States the right of search up to 12 miles off shore in carrying on the war against rum smugglers operating under foreign flags.
 Proposal Carefully Planned.
 The American proposal is the out growth of prolonged study of che involved legal and international sit uation that has arisen both from the rum smuggling operations and from the recent decision of the su preme court upon which the present rigid treasury regulations excluding all beverage liquors from American territorial jurisdiction are based. It was presented in answer to numerous complaints made by the maritime governments against inconvenience to their shipping, resulting from the regulations. It also follows the re- fusal of Great Britain last year to agree to a treaty permitting the same extension of the right of search against smugglers which is now pro- posed. coupled with the offered modi- fication of ship liquor and liquor in transit rules.
 comment Withheld.
 Comment upon the new American proposal was withheld in diplomatic | circles. There was no indication available there or at the state de- partment as to the probable attitude of the nine governments which have made the new ship liquor regula tion the subject of diplomatic con ventions Since the project does not contemplate joint treaty, but wholly separate pacts the possibility pre- sents itself that some of the mari time powers might enter into such relationships as proposed where oth- CTS found it inadvisable to do SO In that event, providing Senate ratifica- tion was obtained for the treaties ne- gotlated, solution for these two vexing international aspects of American prohibition enforcement would have been found so far as the treaty party nations were concerned at least.
 The question of ratification by the Senate will not come up until there is at least some assurance of ac- ceptance of the proposal by some of the powers involved.
 NEW YORK, June 13.-The first direct effect of the treasury depart ment's strict interpretation of the dry ship ruling cutting off spirit rations of soldiers, was the sailing today from this port of the Argen- tina with AZ men missing from her original crew of 159. and of the France with nearly half the crew declaring they would not make an other trip to America.
 Captain Diminak of the Argentina which cleared for Mediterranean points. declared that the 42 seamen had deserted because they could not nave wine with their meals since Sunday morning.
 A strike in the crew of the France was avoided, it was pointed out, by the realization of the men that such action would leave them stranded in dry land.