Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-28
INCIDENT IRKsOME TO CANADA.
Adds Fresh Grievance to Long List
Already Experienced.
RY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Canada is to be allowed by Great
Britain to bear the brunt of any diplo-
matte controversy with the United States
over the I'm Alone affair After the
full facts regarding the Coast Guards
sinking of the Montreal rum-runner
have been ascertained, it will be for
Ottawa, rather than London, to nego-
tiate with Washington whatever settle
ment is made.
Canada since February, 1927, has en-
joyed full and unrestricted diplomatic
status in this country, with an accred-
tied Minister of her own, the Hon. Vim
cent Massey, in our Capital. 1t goes
without saying that the Canadian Min
ister viii lact in close cooperation with
and rely strongly upon the experience
and counsel of his British ambassadorial
colleague. Sir Esme Howard. But there
Is no restraint upon Mr.. MaSSey's au-
thority to deal with the State Depart
ment, and he is now doing so in con-
nection with the I'm Alone case.
United States Is Held Ruthless.
The rum-runner incident off the
Louisiana coast happens to be the latest
of so-called American pin-pricks Of
which Canada has been the victim dur
ing the past couple Of years 1t Is not
say on the authority of we'll informed
Canadian residents of Washington, that
American stock in their country is lower
than 1t has been in long time. The
United States nowadays is subjected to
bitter criticism, and even violent attack,
as a regular thing in either the Cana
dian Parliament or the Canadian press,
or both.
Ruthless" is an adjective commonly
applied to us. "Inconsiderate" is an
other. "Ungrateful" Is still a third
epithet hurled at us. Finally, the
American Government and people are
pilloried as "hypocritical," that taunt
being reference to our official and
our great neighbor to the north" and
to the inconsistent way the Canadians
think we have of exhibiting brotherly
love.
The I'm Alone affair episode adds
fresh fuel to the fire of dissatisfaction
which long has existed in Canada re-
garding the American prohibition laws.
There are already two Canadian
American liquor treaties in effect, one
providing for the control of bootlegging
in Canadian American waters and the
other covering smuggling operations
along our far-f1ung border. Many Can
adams feel that the American Govern
ment expects Canada to do most of the
policing provided for by these two con-
ventions. especially along the frontier
line. Recently the Ottawa government
appointed an official commission to
make an exhaustive survey of ways and
means to tighten up liquor control at
possible smuggling points on the border.
The survey cost much money and time.
Ottawa is not aware that the United
States has taken the trouble to do any
thing of that sort in its own behalf.
apparently being disposed to ''let George
do it,
Asks Canada to Do Work.
At present the American prohibition
authorities are seeking to have Canada
do still more prohibition work for the
United States, by refusing clearance to
Great Lakes vessels suspected of carry
ing booze to American ports. There Is
great reluctance to take such steps
They could only be ordered by action of
the Dominion Parliament, in which
Quebec predominates, and Quebec Is
wet. Moreover, many Canadians, both
wet and dry, look aSkance at the idea
of Canada deliberately, for the sake of
"obliging" a friendly Nation. moving
against an industry which is entirely
legal under Canadian laws. viz, the
manufacture and export of liquor. In
cidentally, Canada rather resents being
asked to do these things by the Ameri-
can prohibition authorities, instead OF
by the United States diplomatic on
cials.
Indignation over prohibition matters
in Canada Is equaled only by the bit
terness aroused over .Qur proposed In
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