SIR ESINE HOWARD'S OFFER.
The publication of a private letter, in which one of Sir Esme Howard's secretaries courteously intimated that, if the U.S. Government requested it, the British Embassy would gladly accept the withdrawal of its liquor privileges, gave the " dry " extremists a much coveted opportunity. They have never concealed their hostility to an immunity which permits foreign diplomats to import liquor for their own use. On several occasions Prohibition enforcement officials have held up consignments of liquor addressed to Embassies, and in doing so have caused considerable embar- rassment to the State Department which has been forced to intervene. It is well known that Sir Esme Howard, whose courtesy and good will make him by general consent one of the most popular Ambassadors, was distressed by these incidents and had sought means to avoid them. In the desire to save the U.S. Government embarrassment he has several times expressed privately_ his willingness to give up all liquor privileges should the Government so desire. The private letter, written by his secretary, simply repeated this coUrtesy. It is clearly not in any way an Official state- ment on behalf of the diplomatic corps. A clear majority
of fifty-four Embassies, Legations, and foreign missions have no desire to surrender their privileges, and are indeed doubtful if they have a legal right to do so, since the rights of foreign diplomats are not only governed by international usage, but are also confirmed in American law. -Nevertheless, the " dry " extremists, ignoring Secretary of State Stimson's pointed remark that "as long as we are a member of the family of nations we must conform to their customs," are obviously determined to exploit the incident to the utmost. They. have very little public sympathy, and certainly their zeal is not welcomed by the Administration.
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