SINKING OF SCHOONER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 103, 1 April 1929, Page 7

SINKING OF SCHOONER.

THE PM ALONE AFFAIR. PROVISIONS OF LIQUOR CON VENTION. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 28. The case of the auxiliary engined schooner I’m Alone, which was sunk last Friday by a United States Customs cutter, is receiving the attention of the authorities in Washington, Ottawa, and London. It still remains in a stage when the full facts are being ascertained, verified and correlated. As the vessel was of Canadian registry and the captain and most, if not all, of the crew are Canadian subjects, the Canadian Minister at Washington and the Ottawa Government are primarily and directly interested, while the British Government are devoting attention to reports by Sir Esme Howard, the Ambassador to the United States.

The case has naturally directed attention to the Convention “respecting the regulation of liquor traffic’’ between the British and United States Governments which was concluded at Washington in 1924. In Article One of this document the principle that three marine miles constitute the proper limit of territorial waters is affirmed. In Article Two the British Government agree to raise ho objection to the boarding of British vessels outside territorial waters in order that inquiries may be addressed to those on board and that an examination may be made of the ship’9 papers for the purpose of ascertaining whether there are alcoholic beverages on board for importation into the United States. The vessel may be seized and taken into a port of the United States. The rights conferred by this Article shall not be exercised at a greater distance from the coast of the United States than can be traversed in one hour by the suspected vessel. Article Three authorises the carriage of alcoholic liquor in liners voyaging to and from the United States. Article Four states that any claim by a British vessel for compensation on account of an improper or unreasonable exercise of the rights conferred by Article Two shall be referred for the joint consideration of two persons, one of whom shall be nominated by each of the high contracting parties. If no joint report can be agreed upon, the claim shall be referred to the Pecuniary Claims Commission established at Washington in 1910.