Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-19
Canadians Aid Urged
In u. S. War on Liquor

from the Toronto, CanAnny daily oteEs
The intimation appearing In . To-
ronto morning paper that Ottawa has
reached an agreement with Washing
ton that will enable the United States
to deal death blow to run-running
would be gratifying, II true. Unfortu-
nately, 1t is far from the truth, and un-
less the government OF this country
takes more seriously it's responsibility
for coping with the scandalous condi-
lions existing along the border. the
neighborly relations between Canada
and the United states may become Inn
paired.
Some years ago Canada entered into
treaty by which she agreed to supply
the United States with information re-
garding the clearances of liquor for the
ports Of that country and to refuse
clearances to vessels that obviously were
not At to make trips to the destinations
named. Much was hoped from that
agreement, but 1t has proved, for sew
eral reasons, to be of little value--large-
ly because Canada allowed fictitious
names of boats and captains to be used
and gave new clearances to vessels
which had not had time to return from
the ports named In former clearance
papers.
A subsequent proposal made by the
United States was that her officials
should be allowed on Canadian export
wharves to see for themselves what
cargoes were being cleared and the
| - r4v1A{nIa NMcca1@ 1nHt aVHH rAfflYY7-
ed. The evidence thus obtained would
be of value in convicting rtlrn-runners
and In making seizures. The answer re-
Gently made by the Ottawa government
appears to be that United States OH
Gals may be stationed on the export
wharves only to receive reports similar
to those which, when supplied promptly
by Canadian officials to officials located
in the United States, proved OF little
avail.
Rum-running circles had knowledge
that such an offer was being made by
Canada to the United States before the
announcement appeared In the press.
They profess to believe that the offer
has been accepted and say they are
much perturbed thereby, although 1t is
probable they are laughing UP their
sleeves at the very possibility that such
a harmless arrangement may be made.
But rather than accept the proposed
modification OF Its suggestion, WASH
ington Is likely to renew the request 1t
made In January that Canada put the
ban Of illegality upon rum-running.
The new President Of the United
States Is a straightforward, determined
man. He is applying himself to the
task of stopping the illegal importation
Of liquor into the United States and
thinks 1t Is only reasonable and In keep
ing with the comfy OF nations that
Canada should refuse to countenance
the operations of the rum.runnerS and
all the dark deeds associated with
them. II, however, Canada prefers to
take the rum runners under her wing
Mr.. Hoover will arm more vessels to
cope with the smugglers and take more
drastic steps In searching trains and
motor cars crossing the border. These
measures will lead to a succession OF
regrettable border incidents which will
irritate the peoples of both countries
and react on trade. travel and social
intercourse.
It is time the Canadian people awake
to the dangers of the situation. Their
two principal provinces. In which liquor
is supposed to be controlled by govern
ment commissions. are supplying most
Of the liquor imported by United States
bootleggers In the entire area between
the Atlantic Ocean and the Mississippi
River The smugglers depend for their
supplies upon the Government liquor
commissions and the Canadian brewers
and distillers. Much Of the liquor. Is
| carried by Canada's great publicly
owned steam railway system and by
municipality owned radials. The Gus
toms officials of the Dominion are IA
cilitating the rum-running. Yet the
whole wretched business could be re-
duced to inconsiderable dimensions II
| the people and government Of Canada
wanted to stop 1t.
Today 1t should be manifest to every
one that II for reasons Of greed or for
any other reasons the Canadian people
continue to tolerate rum-running, the
character as well as the reputation Of
| the country will suffer and penalties be
incurred Of a more tangible. II not more
regrettable nature.