PROHIBITION: Calking

Liquor being a not illegal commodity in parts of Canada, Canadian government officials cannot directly prohibit exporters from shipping their wares to the U. S. When 30 liquor docks were closed last week at Windsor, Ont., the reason given was not the well known fact that many a shipment consigned to “Cuba,” “Mexico.” “Nassau,” etc. etc., was going straight across the water to Detroit. But National Revenue Minister Euler represented that Canada’s export tax on liquor was being consistently evaded. Chairman Sir Henry Drayton of the Ontario (provincial) Liquor Control Board, also complained that export liquor was being smuggled back into Canada, often “cut” in the dreadful U. S. bootleg way, and distributed through unlicensed channels.

Not without its share in causing such official announcements, is diplomatic pressure by the U. S. in Canada. Last week the State Department announced that revision of the U. S.-Canadian anti-smuggling treaty of 1924 was under negotiation—an announcement meaning that U. S. Minister William Phillips had finished negotiating; that a conference to calk the U. S.-Canadian border more tightly against liquor will probably be held next month.

Simultaneously with the closing of the 30 docks at Windsor, eleven U. S. border-patrol inspectors were arrested in Detroit by their superiors and charged with bribe-taking, conspiracy.