It is more satisfactory to record that friendly discuss ion
has been going on here between British and American officials in regard to the smuggling of liquor into the United States. The Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs gave an account of the matter in the House on Tuesday. It has been well known that the British flag has been used for the purpose by those who had no right to use it. (The " ram-running " business is said to be directed mainly by cosmopolitan Jews.) We know that the Canadian frontier presents complications equal to those that arise on the Atlantic. We are also quite aware of the compelling duty of our Government to protect British subjects who are not breaking our laws and even avoid breaking themselves the letter of American law. But we have absolutely'no sympathy with anyone who tries for the sake of profit to take any part in circumventing the laws which a friendly nation has in its wisdom imposed upon itself. Contempt for law is a serious thing,' a risk of which the Americans have, we fear, brought on themselves. No British subject should increase that risk for any nation. For his own petty and sordid gain he makes troubles for Govern- ments and he may spread an evil germ not within the United States alone. We hope that General Andrews will return to the States with the feeling that Great Britain wants to act with decency and courtesy towards his country.
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