Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-26
DIPLOMATIC CORPS
TO RETAIN LIQUOR
Members See Principle In
: volved Affecting Interna-
tionaI Basis.
Continued From First Page.)

must have been misinterpreted by the
Virginia prohibitionist.
Expressed Views Limited.
Ambassador Howard could not be
reached yesterday, but at the British
embassy 1t was intimated that he had
done little more than state the orthodox
diplomatic position on immunity, with
the additional statement that any prac-
tice which host country, through the
properly constituted authorities, desig-
mated as obnoxious. would be matter
Of special consideration.
The first information which the
President had OF the Carter letter with
the Enclosure from Sir ESme Howard
was obtained from the morning papers
yesterday. The correspondent was To-
Gated in the State Department where 1t
had arrived through regular channels
and President Hoover expressed de-
sire to see the letters. He will make no
statement until he has scrutinized the
contents Secretary Stimson also has
made no study of the letters and de-
clared yesterday that they would not
be given out at least until he has had
time to examine their contents
The oficial contacts Of an embassy
with the American people must be
through the State Department. It
never can be officially aware Of any
objection to its conduct unless this is
conveyed to it by the State Depart
ment Not only has the State Depart
ment never made the slightest intima-
ton that diplomatic immunity with re-
spect to liquor was displeasing, but, on
the contrary. has rendered every serv-
ice possible to facilitate obtaining sup
plies without unnecessary red tape or
annoyance. Consequently the diplomats
have no reason to believe that the ex-
ercise of this immunity is not entirely
satisfactory to the Nation which Is their
host.
Obviously. it was pointed out, II the
State Department did express an OBJ
lection to any phase Of the exercise of
this immunity a special situation would
be created which would have to be dealt
with when 1t arose. The standard OF
diplomatic conduct, 1t was pointed out.
Is essentially the established standard
Of conduct between gentlemen. The
American Government is the host Of
the diplomats. No gentleman is in
clined to unduly stress his rights to the
. discontinue Of his host.
Possibility Of Agreement.
Thus a gentlemen's agreement might
be reached, II the State Department
expressed a desire for such an agree
ment, but 1t would be so framed that it
could not possibly be considered q
precedent for waving diplomatic i'm
munity. On the other hand. some mem
bers OF the corps intimated that such
an expression on the part of the State
Department would be well nigh incon-
ceivable in the light Of established
usage.
Unless there is some clearly under
iaI LfnlA
lives In the country to which he Is &C.
credited In conformity with the laws
OF the country he represents. He must
be judged rs law-abiding citizen &C.
cording to the laws of his own country
II this were not the case, It was
pointed out. q lamentable confusion
would result which sooner or later
would lead 10 serious consequences
somewhere. Laws and customs vary
enormously throughout the world. 1t
would be practically impossible for
tive 10 some oriental countries and ex-
pect him to be governed strictly by the
Gods Of those countries. Some country
might pass law requiring q man to
have 10 wives. Ifrthe United States
required the envoy from that country
to abide strictly by Its own liquor regu-
lations 1t could hardly expect that
country to accord the American repre-
sentative the privilege Of only one wife.
Yet, the ENJOYS feel. such would be
the implication of q precedent giving
UP the rights of diplomatic immunity
in any particular unless under
very exceptional circumstances din1cult
to imagine.
II any diplomat grossly abuses his
diplomatic immunity In respect TO
liquor, to the extent Of making himself
Objectionable and obnoxious, 1t was
pointed out, the probable procedure of
the State Department would be to
signify q desire for his recall. In ac-
cordance with the gentlemanly standard
obtaining between nations 1t IS hardly
conceivable that this would be denied.
However unlikely 1t might be for the
representative Of one nation to forego
his own diplomatic immunity, 1t would
be out of the question for him to make
the same concession for representatives
of other governments. A dean Of the
corps. such as Sir Esrne Howard, how
ever, might engineer . gentlemen's
agreement among all the diplomats sta
toned In Washington not to take adj
vantage Of diplomatic immunity under
some particular circumstances, but 1t
ever be entered into as formal agree
nent actually committing the diplomats
to anything.
Favor Retaining Privilege.
Both the Spanish Ambassador. Alejan-
dro Padilla, and the Minister of the
Irish Free State, Michael MacWhite,
indicated their unwillingness TO accept
voluntarily the withdrawal of the
privilege Of importing diplomatic liquor.
The Spanish Ambassador declared
that Sir Esme Howard was expressing
his own private views and nothing that
ness to forego the privilege could be
accredited as any expression on be-
half of the diplomatic corps.
80 far as the Spanish embassy Is
concerned" he told representative OF
The Star. the situation Is the same
as it always has been and will con-
tinue TO be until the President of the
United States or Congress takes such
action as to withdraw the privilege"
The Spanish Ambassador explained
that the question is not before the
diplomatic corps and although the
British envoy Is dean Of the corps
by virtue of his seniority, he cannot
commit the corps on this question.
The Spanish embassy, he explained
intended to take no steps unless the
matter was placed officially before the
diplomatic corps either by Sir ESme
Howard or by the President.
The Minister of the Irish Free State
was more emphatic In stating that Sir
Esms had no right to speak for the
diplomatic corps as a whole. Certainly
he Is not speaking for the Irish Free
State legation" he said.
The Minister made it plain that the
British ENJOYS letter is open to mis-
Interpretation as it merely expressed
Sir Esme's personal views on the matter.
The question of diplomatic liquor"
he said, lis solely one between the Irish
Free State government and the Govern