“DIPLOMATIC LIQUOR.”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20786, 3 August 1929, Page 17

“DIPLOMATIC LIQUOR.”

THE WASHINGTON- INCIDENT. BRITISH EMBASSY DRY. PRIVILEGE RENOU-GED.

The decision of Sir Esme Howard, British Ambassador at Washington,. to forego his diplomatic privilege of importing liquor for consumption within the embassy has caused l much comment, favourable and otherwise, throughout the United States, For the most part,' Sir Esme is commended, but “wet” partisans seem to regard his action as an intervention in American domestic politics.

The conditions under which “ diplomatic liquor " is obtained in Washington are as follows; An order is put in’ by the embassy or legation for whatever, stock it wants, the order going to foreign agents. This liquor is consigned to the embassy ,or legation which gave the order. The ambassador or minister th a informs the States Department that such a consignment has been ordered, and is expected to arrive* at a certain port. The State Department informs the Treasury Department, which then issues orders to customs authorities to permit a representative of the embassy or legation to receive it on the presentation of proper, credentials. The liquor is then, loaded on a truck, and, accompanfed by a re-\ presentative of the embassy or proceeds to Washington. GIFTS AND SALES. Whether the example of Sir Esme Howard wil be followed is uncertain. If diplomats should voluntarily surrender their privileges a large amount of the liquor supply of Washington would be cut off. Embassy liquor ” ,is spoken of more frequently than bootleg liquor. There has been a tendency to consider it perfectly proper to partake of the hospitality of the embassies and legations in the form of liquor by persons who seldom drink elsewhere. In some cases there has been trouble about minor employees selling liquor. There are more instances where liquor is a gift from someone within the embassy or legation to outsiders.

Sir Esme declared that he was willing to surrender the privilege of diplomatic liquor “if the United States intimates a desire to cancel the • privilege,” He pointed out that the United States Government voluntarily granted to foreign diplomats the privilege of transporting and using alcoholic beverages.. He said that he had no doubt that if the American Government would suggest that the privilege he withdrawn, it would ,ho cheerfully complied with and meticulously observed by the diplomatic corps.