Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-06
Ottawa Conference
To Tackle Smuggling
BY HARDEN COLFAX.

Uncle Sam and his up-and-coming
Northern neighbor are scheduled to sit
at council table Monday to analyZe
a few problems of common interest with
the possibility of a revision of the
treaty between the United States and
Canada being brought forward as re-
suit
Canada has become the largest con-
sumner of United States exports, taking
an amazing variety Of raw materials
and manufactured products, while this
country Is not an inconsequental Gus
toner of the progressive Dominionites
Aside from the highly desirable factor
of amity between such close neighbors
then, the commercial aspect of the re-
lations of the two is important to the
entire population Of both.
limitations Cause Concern.
There are certain irritations, however.
which have grown up between Canada
and the United States which are caus-
ing concern. The United States would
be happy to have closer cooperation
with the Dominion in enforcing the
liquor prohibition laws. Canada is not
content with the radio situation on the
continent and the situation regarding
workers crossing the international line
In daily communication between jobs
and homes is sore spot.
The conference scheduled to begin at
Ottawa Monday is for the purpose of
discussing the general subject of COM
mercial smuggling.
Canada has its own problem Of pro-
tecting its customs against smuggling
from the United States. Liquor run
ners who take whisky from the Do
minion to this country find 1t profitable
To have a return cargo, and so silks,
cigarettes and alcohol all of which bear
high duties under the Canadian tariff,
are being struggled in considerable
quantities from the United States, &C
cording to the reports to Canadian off,
Gals. 1t is no jest that some alcohol
no one knows how much--is being sent
from this country. with its prohibition
laws, into certain sections of Canada.
Being concerned chiefly with the
outstanding iSSue-that Of enforce
ment Of the prohibition laws in regard
to customs regulationS-the efforts of
the American delegates to the Ottawa
conference may be expected to empha-
size this subject.
Treaty Likely to Be Asked.
There are two things the United
States officials would like to have Can
ada agree to do by amending the Spe-
cial treaty of 1925 and other agree
ments. One they most likely will ask
namely, treaty revision by which Can
ada will agree not to issue customs
clearance papers for exports of con-
has such treaty with this country.
Under the present arrangement with
Canada, each country notifies the
other of clearances of contraband.
Canada gets little benefit from this ar
rangement apparently. 1t does not
work satisfactorily for the United
States, either, for by the time notice
has been received of clearance of a
boatload OF liquor by river, for exam
ple, the contraband has been landed,
the name of the boat and its master
usually being fictitious in the clearance
papers.
What some of United States officials
would like to have also is treaty with
Canada whereby the latter would grant
extradition of its nationals to the
United States on charges of conspiracy
to violate the Volstead act. Whether
this will be asked at the Ottawa con-
ference remains to be developed. Diff
ficulties are foreseen in obtaining such
an agreement.
The Federal grand jury at Buffalo
few weeks ago returned indictments
charging conspiracy in liquor cases
against a number of defendants, in
Guiding several Canadian distillers
and brewers Some of these latter may
never have been In the United States;
the offense charged is conspiracy, which
may have been entered into by letter or
by telegram or by personal conference
on Canadian soil. Extradition under
such conditions is matter which Can
ada may be expected to approach with
some hesitation.
Conveyed by Trucks.
Time was when much liquor was
brought South from Canada in con-
voys of motor trucks. Four years ago,
this system was so well organized that
a syndicate of rum runners had fund
of $4,000 to employ men to clear the
roads of snow after storm. That has
been fairly well broken up, however.
Most of the liquor from Canada now
is landed by boats. The commissioner
of prohibition has stated that seven
eighths of the liquor from Canada en-
tiers this country through the Detroit
gateway-the Detroit and st. Claire
Rivers, Lake st. Claire and the nearby
ports of Lakes Erie and Huron.
The Customs Bureau is active. In
connection with smuggling at both Dor
ders and all ports, there were 28,O3Q