Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-02
T Troublesome Problem Involved
In Diplomatic Liquor Supply

that the truck drivers have been using
the password. Diplomatic liquor to run
In private supplies"
1.-THE carefully observed diplomatic
immunity which, pretty much all per-
sons connected with any of the lega-
tons and embassies enjoy" according
to the Norfolk Ledger-Dispatch, "un-
questionably offers tempting opportu-
mites to men who are not always able
to withstand temptation. In such cases,
the ministers and ambassadors and
their secretaries have no part whatever
In the unlawful business carried on by
their underlings More than that; the
liquor which the underlingS dispense is
frequently not legation liquor at all,
but Is ordinary American stuff of the
kind purveyed by bootleggers every
where"
"The first-class powers are very cir
cumspect," in the opinion Of the Kan
sas City Journal-Post, land their rep
resentatives are instructed not to do
anything, even within their clear inter-
national rights, which might be often
Sive to the Government or the people
of the United States. This has not been
the policy of all the persons attached to
the minor embassies, however. what
ever the instructions Of their home
governments. 1t is a common thing in
Washington for bootleggers to boast
that they are selling stuff procured at
various embassies. Bootleggers may lie
about this, of course, but there are COM
petent judges who incline to the belief
that they are occasionally telling the
truth"
eff and when the City of Washington
is dried up-if and when Americans
prominent in governmental. business
and social circles at the Capital set the
example-the members of the diplo-
matte corps may reasonably be expected
to waive their rights" advises the Phil
adelphia Evening Bulletin, referring to
the argument that "as a matter of cour-
tesy, diplomatic representatives coming
to these shores should be willing to
forego the enjoyment of special priv.
lege with regard to intoXicants and
comply with the laws of the country in
which they are guests" But the Bull
letin adds, THE weakness of this argu-
ment is that when the diplomats look
about them they do not notice any par
ticular aridity."
"This is a dry country" says the
Terre Haute Star, "but many Of its sup
posedly great ones apparently are glad
once In while to seek the springs OF
the GASES. They do not have to travel
far in Washington to find them The
Cleveland News thinks that though
loyal Americans should detect nothing
comical In this case, perhaps the diplo-
mats can get compensatory laugh out
Of Government perfectly willing to let
them go on drinking. but decidedly fussy
as to how they get their drinks"
An emphatic opposition view comes
from the Los Angeles Evening Express
in the statement: 1.-The people have
never consented to exceptions to the ap-
plication of the prohibition law. They
have meant it to apply equally to all
parts Of the country and to all persons
within the country. Such 1.-The Ameri-
can ideal and idea of law, It is the
conception that all men are equal under
the law, that there may be no excep-
lions and nnmunities. Diplomats who
get that point of view and act upon it
viii be the best representatives Of their
own countries"