Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-18
Investigation of SiameSe Le-
cation Incident Is Begun
by U. S. Officials.
SUGGESTION IS OFFERED
TO CLARITY SITUATION
Seizure of Shipment Will Not Be
Protested-Whole Question
Will Be Studied.

With the diplomatic liquor situation
still apparently as confused as ever, the
State Department today started an in
yestigation of the Siamese legation case.
Meantime it was said at the legation
that no representations would be made
to the State Department protesting
against seizure by police of the legation
liquor and arrest of the American driver
and his helper
Edward H. LOTUS, the counselor. re-
ceived from Luang Debavadi and Luang
Chara, secretaries of the legation, a
complete report of the incident, includ-
ing the fact that Chara, who was riding
in the truck with his diplomatic creden-
tials, went with the truck, liquor and
policeman to the police precinct, and
stayed there for more than two hours,
later accompanying the liquor TO the
embassy, where it was delivered.
Step May Clarity Situation.
Treasury officials were known to be
considering step to give added protec-
ton to shipments of diplomatic liquor
ON suggestion of DR.. James M. Doran.
prohibition commissioner. 1t would pro-
vide that the diplomatic representative
in charge of the liquor shipment receive
from the collector of customs giving the
shipment diplomatic immunity, copy
of the letter from the Assistant Secre-
tary of the Treasury describing the
shipment, and authorizing it to enter
this country duty free, and with diplo-
matte status.
Some officials feel that this might
be a step in the direction of clearing
up the matter.
Meantime, it is believed full consid-
Grafton will be given to the whole ques-
ton of the entry of diplomatic liquor
by officials of all departments concern
ed, the State, Treasury and Justice De-
partments. United States Attorney
Rover is expecting to go into the mat
ter thoroughly before the cases of the
driver and helper of the truck come
up in Police Court in two weeks for
arraignment on charges of Transports
ton of liquor.
Status Is Explained.
The peculiar status of diplomatic
liquor and its shipment into the coun-
try, causing a series of incidents OF
more or less embarrassment to both
the foreign representatives and the
American Government, has been q ques-
ton of difficulty for years. and was
taken up in comprehensive decision
by Attorney General Palmer to Sec
retary of State Lansing.
Laws prohibiting importation are en-
forced by criminal prosecution and by
seizure and forfeiture of goods. the At
torney General ruled. but, he added
they cannot be enforced against a
diplomatic representative. who is i'm
mune from arrest and whose goods and
chattels are not subject to seizure"
1T follows" the Attorney General
concluded. that shipment of liquors
from abroad. addressed to a diplomatic
representative in the District of Colum-
bia, cannot be seized or moleSted, and
hence its entry must be permitted Hav-
ing thus entered the country, it's trans
portation from the seaport to its
destination is an incident of foreign
and not interstate commerce, and hence
not prohibited
The Attorney General, however. went
further into the matter of transporta-
ton of the liquor. a.
While the importing into this coun-
try or the bringing into the District of
Columbia in interstate commerce of in
toxicating liquors is an offense against
the laws referred to. no diplomatic rep
resentative of any foreign country, re-
ceived by the President and residing In
the District of Columbia, nor any do
mestic servant of such representative
whose name has been duly registered,
is subject to arrest for such an offense
Intoxicating liquors belonging to such
diplomatic representative are a part
of his goods and chattelS, and as such
are not subject to seizure and detention.
Applies Only to Proper Persons.
This immunity" the Attorney Gen.
eral warned, docs not extend, how
ever. to persons other than the repre-
sentative himself and his registered do
mestic servant, who may be found
transporting liquors from any point
within the United States into the Dis
trict of Columbia, although such liquors
may be the property of foreign dip
lomatic representative and are being
transported for delivery to him.
1T is unlawful to cause intoxicating
liquors to be transported from Baltil
more, for instance, to Washington. AMI
I apprehend that one could not SUGGEST
fully defend against an indictment fol
such transportation by showing that
the liquors transported were the goods
and chattels of foreign diplomatic
representative"