Evening star., 1923-05-26
) NATIONS PROTEST
T. DRY SHIP ruling;
SEE TRADING CURB
Commerce Menaced If Rec
ognized Practices Disre-
garded, U. S. Told.
COMMENT IS WITHHELD,
BY STATE DEPARTMENT
British and Spanish Send Notes.
French, Italian and Dutch
Opinions Given Verbally.

Five foreign governments already
nave made known to the State De-
partment their position in regard 70
the recent Supreme Court ruling
against the presence of liquor on for
elgn ships inside the three-miIe Iimie.
Besides communication received
yesterday from the British embassy.
the department has received thu
views of the Spanish government.
also IN writing. and the attitude OF
the French, Italian and Dutch gov
ernments have been presented orally
to Secretary Hughes
Protest Inconvenience.
In substance. it was said today at
the department, the five countries
take the same position in calling at
tention to the "inconveniences" re-
sulting from the court decision and
also point out that freedom of inter-
national commercial intercourse is
threatened If heretofore recognized
practices of comfy between nations
IN this regard are abandoned
The State Department would NOT in
dicate what course it would follow re-
garding the British or Spanish notes.
The British communication has not
been subjected to study, nor is it in
dicated whether it calls for a sue
cific reply. The Spanish note was
passed along to the Treasury Depart
ment, where new regulations affect
ing foreign ships are in preparation.
and the same course undoubtedly will
De followed with the British commu-
nication Treasury officials also have
been informed as to the substance OF
the statements made by the French
Italian and Dutch.
Haynes Is Adamant.
Prohibition Commissioner HAYNES
1T was learned today, is not in ac-
cord with the plan reported to be
under consideration at the Treasury
to designate as medicine liquor the
wine rations carried by foreign ves-
sells. Such a method of circun-s
venting the objections of the foreign
powers would not be a real compIi-
ance with the Supreme Court decfs-
ION, in the opinion of Mr.. Haynes and
some of his aides.
1t was learned also that a draft of
the new regulations proposed by
prohibition headquarters would ex-
ciuue even the liquor carried or
dlnarily as ships stores.
Contest Jurisdfctfon.
In formal representa- tions to the
State Department on the ships liquor
question the British government is
understood to have taken the position
that American port authorities have
no jurisdiction in international law
to interfere with the bringing of
liquor into American waters by for
elgn vessels as part of their regu-
lar supplies.
The British position is understood
10 be based on the construction that
the jurisdiction of American ofT1ciaIs
ever foreign ship cargoes Intended
1lor 1or importation into the United
States in no way extends to shins'
stores or rations
Find Way Out.
The British view. with its apparent
connfct In principle with the recent
supreme Court decision, is presented
as Treasury officials are endeayoring
10 formulate regulations to carry out
the decision and at the same time.
II IS understood. satisfy the position
or foreign governments. There were
increasing indications today that
they have found a way to accomplish
inns ms py permitting foreign ships to
list the wine rations of their crews
as part of the medicinal stores al
lowable under the law.
While the British representation
was being made at the State Depart
ment corps of Treasury and pro
hibition lawyers were engaged In fur
ther study of a tentative draft of
the regulations. Assistant Secretary
Moss. who has Jurisdiction over the
prohibition unit of the Treasury, and
j. J. Britt, prohibition bureau coun-
sci, conferred with Secretary Mellon.
but it was said the discussion includ,
ed only minor questions developed
under the court ruling.
No Comment Here,
None of the Treasury officials would
comment on the action of the British.
but 1T was stated that representa-
ttons had been expected Publica-
tion of the proposed regulations.
which are to go into effect June 10,
will be made at the earliest possible
date, it was said, so that foreign gov
ernments may know the problems
with which they are confronted. In
this connection, it was added that
the American government, knowing
the contentious of other nations
would be better able to meet situa-
tions developed by protests.