Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-25
Letter Sent to State Department to Be
Returned TO White House.

President Hoover has not seen the let
ter of Sir Esne Howard, the BRUSH
Ambassador. reported to have said the
diplomat was willing to waive the privi-
lege of importing diplomatic liquor,
written to James Carter Of Lynchburg,
Va, and which Carter said had been
transmitted to the White House.
The first information the Chief Ex-
ecutive had that such letter had been
written was obtained by him from the
morning papers. He Immediately caused
an INQUIRY to be made at the executive
Offices, where 1t was found that such q
letter had reached the White House
some time ago and In the usual course
had been transmitted to the state De-
partment.
Oficiais there apparently placed 1t
on file without calling 1t to the atten-
ton Of Secretary Stimson, who like the
PRESIDENT. received his first information
upon reading the newspapers published
this morning. The correspondence will
be taken from the State Department
file and referred to the President, who
desires to make q personal examination
of it.
Until the President personally ac-
uuaints himself with the context OF
both Sir Esme's letter and the covering
letter from Mr. Carter he will have no
statement to make. However, 1t Is con-
sidered as unlikely that he will ask the
of importing liquors for their own use
in their own embassies and legations.
The privilege Of such importations
without customs inspections or duties
has been one Of long standing. With
the enactment Of the prohibition laws
the State Department announced that
the dry statutes would not apply to
foreign embassies and legations and
that importations of liquors by them
under diplomatic immunity would be
continued as In the past.
Some criticism Of the privilege thus
accorded the foreign diplomats has been
heard from time to time In Congress,
but so far as this administration Is
concerned the subject has received little
attention.
ENJOYS Letter Personal.
The correspondence between Sir Esme
and Mr.. Carter. 1t was pointed out at
the British embassy this morning. was
personal and obviously could not be
made public without the consent OF
both parties.
1t was intimated, however. that the
British Ambassador hardly could have
made statements which might be in
terpreted as undermining the whole
structure Of diplomatic usage, without
which the exchange Of diplomatic mis-
sions would be practically impossible.
The intimation was that Sir Esme
Towards letter was little more than a
statement Of the orthodox diplomatic
position, with no offer personally to
forego the privilege Of diplomatic i'm
munity in respect TO the transportation
and possession of intoxicants.
Avaa Il. u
the State Department should intimate
that 1t was opposed to the continuance
OF this customary courtesy the natural
Discrimination Of q diplomatic mission
to dlsplease its host, 1t was pointed out,
probably would place the situation in
somewhat different light Any such
expression from the State Department,
however, would be establishing a far
reaching precendent, with ramification
which would extend far beyond diplo-
matte liquor.
Positive assurance was given today by
secretary OF State Stirnson that II there
Is TO be any REIMBURSEMENT Of diplo-
matte lmmunittes, 1t must be voluntary
on the part of the diplomats themselves,
as this Government has no intention
OF making any such request.
1t was pointed out by the Secretary
OF State that diplomatic immunity is
fixed by international law and not by
any agreement that might be entered
into between this Government and
other nations.
Would Abide by U. S. Wishes.
Sir Esme, who was in New York last
night, told newspaper men there. accord
ing TO an Associated Press Dispatch,
that he was willing to surrender the
privilege of diplomatic liquor IF the
United States intimates desire to can
eel the privilege"
He added, 1t was said, that he would
be only too glad to cooperate with
other members of the diplomatic corps
in carrying out such a desire on the
part Of the American Government
Air mail and passenger service be =
tween Panama and Colombia has been
started