The Washington correspondent of the Times says that the validity
of the old territorial limit of three miles is recognized as fully by the United States as by the British Government. Congress, of course, tried to set up a twelve-mile limit for the better prevention of rum- running, though this proposed new limit never gained a legal status. In the Treaty of 1928 Great Britain and Canada pledged themselves to raise no objection to search and seizure of a suspected vessel which was not at a greater distance from the American coast than it could traverse in one hour. No doubt seizure implies force (if seizure be resisted), but not what is technically called " hot pursuit," where there is no resistance. This appears to be against both law and Treaty. Captain Randell explicitly states that he offered no resistance, and, if he has. told the truth; the act of sinking .him far out at sea 'in rather bad weather will require • much justification to square it with humanity. The impassivity oy. Captain Randell, who remained quietly on his deck saying " no " to every suggestion of surrender, had an heroic quality which was worthy of • a better cause.
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