Of course, there was no logic inthe note. The United governme laws, pei Washington, including the Chinesey import liquors into the country and to use them in the Legation in the American "capital, American diplomatic officials in' China are therefore inthe same position as of any other country in se official's nota created an embarrassing situation for "the American Minister. It true that the United States bition Jaws, and it might not bbe a diplomatic move to argue with Chinese officialdom about the righ' of American officials to bring tmxcfree liquors.
So the word went round members of the American Loy tion that hereafter no orders. would be signed for liquor importa, Great was the dismay among diplomats in the Legation, who would have to pay fully twice much for their wines and liquors ne'. before. customed to getting their own way'
Diplomats, for, are buy one method or another. Some of: the Americans, it is understood, arranged with other Legations tos sport liquors for them, Tia rangement had no official aps but was considered ontirelybecause the Americans had:
opal right to bring liquors tax-free as the others, A Temporary Inconvenience There has been no evidence thab members of the Legation suffered appreciably from the Chinese—offle cial's decision, except for temporary: nese government itself:
now learned, took the initial. 4 tive in removing bar" upon the American Legation." When the local official's decisions came to the attention of higher: authorities, they recognized ita Jack of logic and informed thw:
American Legation that despite the fact that their government had prohibition, they would. not be= expected to observe the Jaws their own country in China.—United Press,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.