Within the last few hours there has come with dramatic suddenness the decision of the Attorney-General regarding liquor selling on shipboard. As the readers of the "'North-China Daily News" will have learnt almost as promptly as the people of Washington, that decision declares not only the sale of liquor on American ships, but even the entrance into American ports or territorial waters of foreign ships carrying liquor, even under lock and key, a violation of the prohibition law, to be dealt with summarily and severely. Any feeling of satisfaction that may have been felt over the fact that the decision does not on its face favour foreign ships has been quickly lost in the realization of the equally obvious fact that even should the Supreme Court uphold the Attorney-General's decision, which is by no means certain, foreign steamship companies will] certainly find some way of circumventing the law. blow to American shipping near, That the decision deals a terri
ests is everywhere recognized, The Chairman of the U. 8. Shipping Board seems to regard its effect upon the Far Eastern passenger business as its most serious feature. That a very considerable part of the business now centring at Portland and Seattle will be diverted to Vancouver is taken for granted. But the steamers of the Canadian Pacific Steamship Company will either have to discon: tinue calling at Manila or enter that port without liquor on board, which they will probably be able to do by making Hongkong or Shang: hai a supply depot.
It is thought that the Cunard, White Star and other Atlantic lines will have no difficulty in obtaining an injunction against the application of the order to foreign ships. that will hold good until a decision of the Supreme Court can be obtained. This will give foreign ships an important temporary advantage. If finally defeated, they will probably transfer their summer sailings to Montreal, as suggested in my letter of July 7.
The Attorney-General's—_construction of the law, if sustained by, the Supreme Court, can hardly fail to prove hurtful to the cause of prohibition in general. The utter ineffectiveness of the enforcement law, despite its very rigorous application, 1s having an unmistakeable effect upon public opinion. Visitors to America who go away with the idea that prohibition 13 really effective are greatly deceived, In August there were 591 arrests for drunkenness in this city, and yet Washington is neither one of the most populous of our cities, nor is it one containing a large
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.