LIQUOR ON SHIPS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 21, 25 January 1924, Page 5

LIQUOR ON SHIPS.

AGREEMENT WITH AMERICA. AMICABLE ARRANGEMENT. i NEW YORK, January 21. Sir Auckland Geddes (British Ambassador) and Mr. C. E. Hughes (United Stales Secretary of State) to-day signed the Anglo-American Treaty to regulate the enforcement of prohibition at sea. The treaty provides for the right of search of ships suspected of carrying cargoes of liquor to the United States within one hour's steaming from American shores, and permits British ships to carry liquor into American ports under seal. An official summary of the treaty indicates that the treaty must be ratified in tho usual manner, meaning liy the approval of the Senate. The treaty remains in force one year, but three months before the expiration of the year either party may suggest modifications. If no agreement ie mudu thereon the treaty will lapse, but otherwise it will continue from year (o ynar. The tresty will also lapse if either party is prevented by judicial decision or legislative, action from giving full effect tc> its provisions. Mr. ('. K. Hughes, addressing the Foreign Relations Council in New Yorklast night, expressed great satisfaction of the conclusions of the treaty, and confirmed earlier intimations that the United States had lwgun negotiations with other Powers on similar lines. Mr. Hughes added that it had been shown clearly by the action of Congrcsa in exempting vessels carrying liquor through the Panama Canal from the jurisdiction of the Volstead Law. and of the Supreme Court in giving its approval in reeont decisions, that any treaty into which the United States entered to exempt foreign liners calling at American ports would also be perfectly legal, since what Congress had done could be equally

accomplished through its treaty-making povrer. — (A. ".nd N.Z. Cable.)