Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-16
ENJOYS ANGERED
BY BLEASE SPEECH
Attack on Diplomatic Immu.
nifty Following Liquor Raid
Causes Sensation.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.


Members Of the diplomatic corps
were plainly amazed today when they
read the speech Of Senator Cole Blease
of South Carolina, who attacked the
idea of diplomatic immunity.
In officl"I quarters it was stated to-
day that the idea of formal apology
by the United States Government to
the foreign diplomats was under con
sideration. Whether it finally will be
sent depends to some extent on
whether the American Government
would care to give the incident ON
ciai recognition by writing n apology.
There is. on the other hand. be
lief, particularly among South Ameri-
can diplomats, that i'll feeling will be
stirred up in their part of the world
AZ result of the Senator's remarks
Remarks at Issue.
What Mr. Blease said to which oh
lection Is taken by the diplomats are
the following sentences:
If the authorities keep on right
here in this great city of Washington
allowing people to live most disgrace
full lives, to debauch If they possibly
can the women of this country. to
feed liquor to the women OF this
country, and claim protection OF for
eign emba ssies, j tell you, Senators,
that YOU who max" the laws OF this
country are goins to he responsible
when the common people OF the coun-
try rise and take the law into their
own hands. Why has not the cotton
mill boy the sa me right ito carry
liquor around in his pocket as some
little half negro from a foreign coun-
try coming over here should haveo
The cotton mill and other working
BOYS sent me tn the United States
Senate from South Carolina, and they
ought 10 have. whether they have or
not. and without interference. the
same rights and the same privileges
that any man has in this country. |
do not care whether he is in the city
of Washington or where he is OF un-
der what flag he sleeps"
The Senator's remarks were prompt
ed by n recent incident in local
restaurant which the police raided
finding liquor on the tables in the
possession Of certain attaches of South
American emha ssies. The diplomatic
attaches We're permitted to go free.
while some American girls were ar
rested
As a general rule the executive
branch OF the Government ignores all
speeches attacking foreign countries
which may be made in the Senate.
Practically al OF these uttera noes.
however. are in the ma ture Of attacks
on policy. Old-timers here cannot re-
call when any member Of the Senate
attacked the personal character or
moral heha vior of members OF the
diplomatic corps.
If the Department of state did
apologize it proba bly, would he in the
form OF n Communica ton to the dea n
pf the diplomatic corps with copies 10
other emba ssies. pointing out that the
executive branch of the Government
was not responsible for the opinions
expressed by individual members Of
the Senate.
Nevertheless the incident will have
it's effect on the whole question of
diplomatic immunity. 1t is true that
American diplomats abroad enjoy
aven greater privileges in many cases
than are enjoyed here by foreign dip
lomats. The principle OF reciprocity
lis at the bottom of the immunity prob
lem II America did not wish her own
diplomats a nd attaches freed from the
Irritating restrictions which are forced
upon travellers. particularly In Aslatlc
and Oriental countries. then there
would be no difficulty. but not single
administration here has ever leaned
Some ENJOYS Recalled.
Since the eighteenth amendment 10
the American Constitution, however.
the conflict between the privileged
status OF the diplomat and the Amer
ica citizen has been conspicuous.
Many diplomats have recognized this,
and out of Difference to the spirit OF
the American law have confined the
use of their privileges to their own
homes and have even abolished the
practice of few wears ago of giving
gifts of liquor to their American
friends. Also the Depart ment of State
has secured informally the recall of
those attaches who have violated
American laws in fragrant Way.
This ia an even greater punishment
to most Of them than the sentences
that would be melted out to the aver
age American offender.
The Department of State has kept
it's eyes on the immunity problem and
has on more than one occasion solicit
ed the cooperation of The embassies
and obtained II. The speech of Sena
tor Blease will unQuestionably raise
the issue in some form once more.