Evening star., 1929-07-01
| Dry Embassies Sought.
Dawes Decision Prompts Desire
20 Extend Movement.
by DREW PEARSON.

Ambassador Dawes decision not to
fll the beautiful gold-rimmed glasses
recently sent him by the State Depart
ment with anything more stimulating
than cider has started move here to
dry up all American embassies. lega-
tions and consulstes abroad.
Hitherto American diplomatic posts
abroad have not entirely followed the
precedent set for them by the eigh-
teenth amendment Of the country
they represent. Their position was the
result Of o ruling by Charles Evans
Hughes, former Secretary Of State.
Mr. Hughes held that the laws Of
the United States did not make the con-
sumption Of alcoholic beverages illegal,
but only its manufacture and transpor-
tation. Therefore, since 1t was legal
for an American citizen to consume
pre-war liquor In the United States. 1t
diplomat abroad to consume liquor In q
way which did not violate the laws Of
the country to which he was attached.
But the State Department went even
further than this. It supplied to all
embassies, legations and consulates
which are the property Of the United
States, certain furnishings which in
cluded tableware and glassware. This
glassware Is suited not merely for the
COIlSuulptkOu OL WhtGE, UuL ~ ID VI u
varied and assorted nature, such as
might very well grace the table of the
most punctillious wine consuming fam
lily in Europe.
The glassware which is sent TO
American-owned diplomatic missions Is,
of course, labeled as sherbet glasses,
parfait glasses and ice tea tumblerS.
However, any witness inspecting the
samples in the State Department
would consider them better adapted to
champagne, cocktails and highballs.
Especial attention was recently given
to selecting the assortment of glass
London and q total Of 100000 was
spent for furnishings, including the
gold-rimmed plates and glassware
bearing the seal Of the Department of
State. /.
Now that the glassware has arrived
In London, however, Ambassador Dawes
has announced that while he is Am
bassador to the Court of st. James the
American embassy is to be dry.
This has aroused dry leaders in the
United States, who feel that other Amer
ican diplomats and consuls should fol-
low his example. Clarence True Wilson,
general secretary of the Methodist
Board Of Temperance, Prohibition and
Public Morals, has stated that as soon
as he finishes spongfng up the foreign
embassies in the Nations Capital he
will tackle the job Of drying up Amer
ican embassies abroad.
Legally the State Department will
find 1t impossible to compel its diplo-
mats TO remain dry, except In the build
tngs which are owned by the United
States Government. There are only 10
of these, and they are located at Con-
stantinople, Santiago, Chile; Rio de
Janeiro, Havana, Mexico City, Paris,
San Jose, Panama, Salvador. Prague,
Peiping, Bangkok, Oslo, Teheran,
Tangier. Tahiti. Seoul. Shanghai and
Tirana.
In the other 25 American diplomatic
posts and $50 consulates it will be Just
as impossible under existing law to
legally compel American representa-
tives to refrain from aaeoholic beverages
as 1t Il to compel any American from
consuming liquor In any foreign coun-
try.
But there is one weapon which the
State Department may use should 1t
| care to do 50. It may hold up mans
appointment or promotion unless he
refrains from serving liquor at oficial
dinners.
There has been no indication yet that
this will be done. Most Of the officers
In the State Department are opposed
to any such pressure. They say 1t
would merely mean more private din
ner parties: However, thsre Is o grow
ing disposition on the part Of the
temperance leaders In washington TO
maintain that representative OF an ad-
ministration elected by IN overwhelm-
ing dry vote should conform to the
view Of their chief In the White House.
{CopyYight, 1897