SEARCHING SHIPS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 247, 18 October 1922, Page 5

SEARCHING SHIPS.

RIGHTS ON THE HIGH SEAS. BRITAIN DECLINES EXTENSION. PROHIBITION'S ENFORCEMENT. (By Cable, —free* Association.— Copjrlffct.) WASHINGTON, Oel<A>er 17. in a communication delivered to the State Department, Britain, it is understood, declines to agree to Mr. (.'. K. Hughes' suggestion for a rociprot-al extension t>l the right of search and seizure at sea so as to give the United States prohibition authorities jurisdiction over ships outside the three-mile limit. The British Note i« in reply to a Note dispatched by tlie United State* on June 2<i, in which Mr. <.'. E. Hughes retited serioue difficultios that had been encountered by the United States authorities in their effort to enforce the larr agminrt the illegal shipment of liquors from British posperisiona.

The British Government declare* that its refusal to negotiate the reciprocal treaty suggested by Mr. Hughes i< based <n principle. Britain opposes search in V«aco time of British vessels outside th« three-mile limit. Britain hat always opposed any extension of tile limit, and cannot acquieeve in the abandonment of a principle of such importance to meet a temporary emergency.

The Note assure the United States that Britain is deeirotxe of preventing illegal practices and breaches oi the lavr of which Mie United H-tatee complaint, ».nd declares that every precaution will Ie taken to prevent illicit trade in liquor between British Ime<» of operation and the United State*. The Not* adde (hut «tri<:t instructions have been issued to all officers in British possessions to exercise authority to prevent breache« i>f British or local law.— (A. and S.Z.)