Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-16
HELP FROM CANADA IN RUM
WAR MAY BE HOOVER VICTORY
Premier Kings Move for Law
Barring Export to U. S.
Is Cited.
Step Is Held Most important
External Factor of
Enforcement.
BY WILLIAM RUFUS SCOTT.

BY WILLIAM RUFUS SCOTT.
President Hoover has the prospect Of
scoring for his administration a success
in prohibition enforcement, which Pres
idents Harding and Coolidge were un-
able to achieve, namely, full co-opera-
ton by the Dominion of Canada.
Premier Mackenzie Kings bold stand
for a law making the expectation of
liquors to the United States illegal signi-
f1eS in high official and dry circles in
Washington the most important exter-
nal support law enforcement has re-
celVeo-more important. perhaps, than
England'S readiness to negotiate a H.
mile limit IN place of the traditional
3-mile limit, for stopping rum-runners.
The Hoover Law Enforcement Com
mission already has given consideration
to the issue raised by Premier King In
the Canadian House of Commons. 1t
mas been brought out that the practical
effect OF such law as the premier pro-
poses will not prevent Canadian LIQUOR
from reaching the United States. but it
Will force the bootleggers in this coun-
try, who buy from Canadian liquor deal
ers, TO go to much greater trouble and
expense in getting liquors.
Risk Would Increase.
If the law is adopted in Canada max
ing the expectation of liquors to the
United States illegal, it will mean that
Canadian dealers must ship their goods
to some West Indian possession of Eng
land, or to Cuba, or other foreign soil,
and the same procedure would be neceS-
sary on the Pacific side. Then the
liquor would have to be run into the
United States Surreptitiously as at pres
ent. Canadians now may obtain ship
clearances for liquors to United States
ports. and they also may sell direct to
American bootleggers who take their
own risk In getting the liquors over the
border
Premier Kings measure would make
such clearance illegal. The law, as he
stated Friday in the House of Commons.
Will make 1t impossible for any Ca
madam ofncialS, customs officers and the
ike, to have any legal connection with
sale OF liquor to American citizens
within the United States. Such sales
involve crossing the border and thereby
become international business
Diplomatically, Premier King rests his
case on what is considered unanswerable
logic. He used blunt language in speak
ing 70 the House, when he said:
Matter Of Grave Concern"
"AS minister of external affairs. it is
dangerous international situation which
exists. The situation with respect to
rum running Is perilous one. The mat
Ter Is one OF grave concern"
IN tnat one passage he describes thu
canadian relations with the United
states with three words always used
Dy diplomats with the greatest caution.
ne says the situation is dangerous,
perllous" and grave"
What fhic Ir
Quallf1ed quarters in Washington is that
Premier King sees the rising feeling in
the United States over prohibition max
ing Tor situation wherein animosity
might develop toward Canada over
rum-runn1ng. which has not been noted
In q hundred years and more of peace
along the border between the two
countries,
The proposal several months ago for
instance, that a barbed-wire fence be
erected along the border to control
smuggling OF liquors alarmed statesmen
IN England as well as in Canada, even
though 1t was not put forward with
administration backing. It was taken
as an unofhcial symptom which was
worth noting. There is, however.
another factor probably more significant
In Canadian eyes.
President Hoover's attitude toward law
enforcement ranges the Government of
the United States vigorously. for the
time being, behind the enforcement of
pronlDlClon. 1t was a much more de-
clded stand than either President Hard
ing or President Coolidge had taken,
Canadian and English statesmen did not
fail to take notice of this.
In international law it is basic that
one nation cannot allow its territory to
be used as base of operations by its
citizens, or any one else, to attack the
peace rights or security Of q friendly
power. What Premier King is doing,
therefore, Is to say to the Parliament
Of Canada in so many words:
We cannot allow American bootleg
gers, in cooperation with Canadian off,
Gals or citizens, to use the soil of Can
ada as base OF operations from which
they can defy and override the laws
OF the United States, a friendly power. "
The law he Is advocating, neverthe-
less, does not mention the United States
1t merely states that the expectation
OF liquors from Canada is forbidden to
any country the laws of which forbid
the importation of liquors. That would
cover any other country having laws for
plooing liquor imports. Premier King
explained to the House of Commons
that the law would be universal in its
apncation, and was not a temperance
OF the prohibition law affecting Cana
dian citizens themselves.
he is taking broad long distance
view OF situation which might de-
Velop into friction between the two
countries, which majority in each
country wishes to see avoided. The
financial profit Canada is making from
the sale Of liquors to American bootleg
gers, ne said. is inconsequential beside
TINS larger issue. Moreover. he mani
1estly does not think the bad conditions
along the border reflects the views of
the whole American people.