Evening star., 1924-03-16
nv G. LINCOLN GOULD.


Y coast in the vicinity of
New York, is about to be
dislodged and to be forced consider
ably further out to sea- if not en-
tirely eliminated. The Senate last
week ratified overwhelmingly-61 to
THE treaty negotiated by the ad-
ministration with Great Britain
which will permit visit and search
of vessels flying the British flag and
suspected of violating our prohibition
laws within such distance of the
United States coast as may be ira
versed by the suspected vessel in
one hour. 1t remains only for the
British to ratify-as they are expect
ed to do promptly-and for ratifica-
tions to be exchanged at Washington
to put the treaty into full force and
effect.
Rum running to the dry shores of
the United States, therefore, will be-
come more of a deep sea pastime
than it has been, with further dan
gers for the smugglers taking part.
Originally it was proposed to allow
visit and search to be made within
twelve miles Of the coast. But un-
der the terms of the treaty, the ra-
dius will depend upon the speed of
the vessel which may be searched.
For example, a ship that can make
only ten knots an hour may be search
ed only within distance of ten
knots of the coast. On the other
hand, a vessel that can make twenty
knots, may be searched within twen-
ty knots of the coast.
Controversies Promised.
These variations in the distance un-
der which visit and search may be
made, and the difficulty of declaring
just how far a vessel may be at a given
time from the American coast, appear
to promise not a few controversies
when the visiting gets under way by
the coast guard vessels. Much will
depend upon the attitude taken by the
British government if there is to be har-
monious administration under the terms
Of the treaty. But the fact that Great
Britain is willing to enter into such an
agreement is regarded here as an evil
dence of her good faith in seeking to
aid the United States in preventing
violations of American laws by vessels
flying the British flag. The foremost
maritime nation in the world having
entered into such pact, it is to be ex-
pected that similar treaties will be
made without much delay with other
nations. Under the treaty just ratified.
the vessels of France, of Germany, Of
the Netherlands and other maritime
powers. are not affected. They are still
at liberty to come close to the three
mile limit at which the jurisdiction of
the United States ceases over the
waters that wash it's shores, without
being subject to visit and search. But
Secretary Hughes of the State Depart
ment has said. referring to the treaty
with Great Britain:
There are other powers which I be-
lieve are quite ready to act in a similar
way"
Situation May Change.
Stories of the vast amounts of alco-
hello beverages which are smuggled
into this country from rum row. have
been told many times. 1t has been es-
timated that only small percentage
of the liquor shipped Tor smuggling
INTO this country is captured by the
coast guard and the prohibition agents.
The rum runners. flying foreign flags,
have f1aunted their defiance of the law
in the faces of the American authori-
ties just outside the three-mile limit
The negotiation of the treaty with
Great Britain, and the prospect Of SIM
liar treaties with the other nations, to-
gether with the appropriations now be-
ing made to equip the coast guard with
much Speedier vessels, is likely to
change the situation materially, it is
said.
The British, to be sure, are obtain
ing concessions from the United
States in return for their agreement
to the visit and search plan described.
At present their vessels, like those of
all the other nations, may not bring
liquor capable of being used for bev-
erage purposes within the three-miIe
li.nit of the United States, except in
such quantities as may be needed for
medicinal purposes for the passen-
gers and the crews. Under the terms
VI. tiic AeW treaty no peHaltleS Will
be imposed upon British vessels
which bring such liquors within the
territorial waters of the United
States, provided they are under seal
and remain under seal until the ves-
sells have left these waters. This
means in plain English that the Brit
ish liners may bring all the wine,
whisky. ETC., they may require for
the use of passengers sailing fror,