"UNFORTUNATE ACT."

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 133, 7 June 1929, Page 7

"UNFORTUNATE ACT."

Symbol In Fight Between "Wets" And "Drys."

" IMPAIRED HIS USEFULNESS."

(Australian and N.Z. Press Association.)

(Received 9.30 a.m.)

NEW YORK, June 6. The "Evening Post," in a leader entitled "Sir Esme Impairs His Usefulness," comments: "We do not know the motives which stirred Sir Esme Howard to decree rhat the British Embassy at Washington shall no longer import

liquors. He may have done so out of a desire to make a courteous gesture to the United States, but unfortunately the change has a different public aspect. Willy nilly it makes the Ambassador takn sides on the most pressing questions of domestic American politics. He will not only em-

harrass his fellow diplomats but will plunge anew the question of 'diplomatic liquor' into the cauldron of the prohibition fight. "He will become a symbol in the fight between the 'wets' and 'drys.' To one faction in the country to which he is accredited he will be a hero; in another part of the population his act will arouse deep resentment.

"An Ambassador should hold no such political position. Sir Esme Howard has definitely impaired his usefulness as British Ambassador to the United States."