Opinion · Supreme Court of the United States

Cook v. United States

53 S. Ct. 305

Type
Opinion
Court
Supreme Court of the United States
Jurisdiction
Federal
Date
1933-01-23
Topic
general

recognizing this principle, but finding it inapplicable where beyond the territorial limits placed upon the government’s authority by treaty | stating that a treaty or a statute will not override the other “unless such purpose * * * has been clearly expressed” | stating that “[a] treaty will not be deemed to have been abrogated or modified by a later statute, unless such a purpose on the part of Congress has been clearly expressed” | where a seizure violates a treaty that is self-executing, government has no power to subject vessel or defendants on board to its laws | where a seizure violates a treaty that is self-executing, government has no power to subject vessel or defendants on board to its laws | “For in a strict sense the [tjreaty was self-executing, in that no legislation was necessary to authorize executive action pursuant to its provisions.” | later-in-time self-executing treaty supersedes a federal statute if there is a conflict | later-in-time self-executing treaty supersedes a federal statute if there is a conflict | held that “libels” were properly dismissed because the seizure of the vessel in question violated the treaty of May 22, 1924 between the United States and Great Britain | violation of a treaty with Great Britain preventing seizure of British vessel was a defense against action for civil penalty against ship attempting to smuggle liquor into the United States | “A treaty will not be deemed to have been abrogated or modified by a later statute unless such purpose on the part of Congress has been clearly expressed.” | “A treaty will not be deemed to have been abrogated or modified by a later statute, unless such purpose on the part of Congress has been clearly expressed.” | “A treaty will not be deemed to have been abrogated or modified by a later statute, unless such purpose on the part of Congress has been clearly expressed.” | treaty supersedes earlier enacted statute to the extent they are inconsistent | violation of a United States-Great Britain treaty that permitted the United States to seize any British Ship reasonably believed to be smuggling liquor, but only if the ship was within an hour’s sailing distance of the coast | Ker doctrine inapplicable where basis for relief is treaty violation | subsequent treaty given effect over prior, inconsistent federal statute | “In construing the Treaty its history should be consulted.“ | "In construing the Treaty its history should be consulted." | “In construing the Treaty its history should be consulted.” | statute interpreted to conform with prior treaty | common law yields to treaty

Citator

Cited by
88 opinions
COOKv. UNITED STATES,288 U.S. 102(1933)
53 S.Ct. 305
COOKv. UNITED STATES.
CERTIORARI TO THE CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIRST CIRCUIT.
No. 82.
Argued December 7, 1932.
Decided January 23, 1933.
1. The Treaty of May 22, 1924, with Great Britain, as both its language and its history show, was intended to deal completely with the search and seizure beyond our territorial limits of British vessels suspected of smuggling intoxicating liquors into this country. P. 112. 2. Article II of the treaty declares that His Britannic Majesty "will raise no objection" to the boarding of private vessels under the British flag outside of the three mile limit of territorial waters in order that inquiries may be made of those on board and an examination be made of the ship's papers, for the purpose of ascertaining whether the vessel or those on board are endeavoring to import, or have imported, alcoholic beverages into the United States, in violation of the laws there in force. When this shows reasonablePage 103ground for suspicion, a search is permitted; and if there is reasonable cause for belief that the vessel has committed, or is committing or attempting to commit, an offense against the laws of the United States prohibiting importation of alcoholic beverages, she may be seized and taken into a port for adjudication. But it expressly provides that the rights conferred by this Article shall not be exercised at a greater distance from the coast of the United States than can be traversed in one hour by the vessel suspected, etc.Heldthat the treaty not only permits boarding, etc., beyond the three mile limit, if the vessel is within one-hour's sailing distance, but also forbids it beyond the three mile limit as to vessels not within such sailing distance. Pp. 111, 118. 3. The treaty is self-executing, in that no legislation was necessary to authorize executive action in pursuance of its provisions; and it had the effect, (and was so interpreted in practice,) of superseding, so far as inconsistent with it, the authority conferred by § 581 of the Tariff Act of 1922 upon officers of the Coast Guard to board, search and seize within four leagues of the coast. P. 118. 4. The treaty was not abrogated by reenacting § 581 in the Tariff Act of 1930 in the identical terms of the Act of 1922. P. 119. 5. A treaty will not be deemed to have been abrogated or modified by a later statute unless such purpose on the part of Congress has been clearly expressed; and here the contrary appears, in that the committee reports and the debates upon the Act of 1930, like the reenacted section itself, make no reference to the treaty. P. 120. 6. Any doubt as to the construction of § 581 in this regard is resolved by the consistent departmental practice existing before the reenactment. P. 120. 7. Section 581 continued in force, except as modified by treaties. P. 120. 8. A British ship with unmanifested intoxicating liquors for illegal importation was seized beyond the three-mile limit, and not within one hour's sailing distance of the coast, and was brought into port, where ship and cargo were libeled.Held:(1) That the libels should be dismissed because, by reason of the treaty, this Government lacked the power to seize the ship and the power to subject her to our laws. P. 121. (2) The doctrine that permits the United States to enforce forfeitures for violation of its laws against property of which it has gained possession through the wrongful act of an individual, applies where the act was such as it might have authorized beforehand,Page 104but not where the United States itself would have had no jurisdiction to make the seizure.Id. 9.The Ship Richmond, 9 Cranch 102, andThe Merino, 9 Wheat. 391, also are distinguished. P. 122.56 F.2d 921, reversed.
CERTIORARI1to review the reversal of a decree,51 F.2d 292,
dismissing two libels, against a vessel and its cargo.
Messrs. Joseph E. FitzpatrickandEdmund M. Toland, with whomMr. Mortimer W. Newtonwas on the brief, for petitioner.Solicitor General Thacher, with whomAssistant AttorneyGeneral YoungquistandMessrs. Whitney North Seymour, A.W.Henderson, andW. Marvin Smithwere on the brief, for the United States.

A libel for forfeiture must allege a seizure which has not been abandoned but the seizure need not be valid to sustain the jurisdiction. SeeThe Richmond, 9 Cranch 102;The Ann, 9 Cranch 289, 291;Gelstonv.Hoyt, 3 Wheat. 246, 310;TheMerino, 9 Wheat. 391, 402-403;Woodv.United States, 16 Pet. 342, 359;Taylorv.United States, 3 How. 197, 205, 206;Dodgev.United States,272 U.S. 530. See alsoStrongv.United States,46 F.2d 257,260-261, dismissed pursuant to stipulation,284 U.S. 691;The Conejo,16 F.2d 264,265;The Underwriter,13 F.2d 433,434, affirmed on other groundssub nom. Maulv.United States,274 U.S. 501;The RosalieM.,12 F.2d 970,971;United Statesv.Story, 294 F. 517, 519.

The question concerns the venue; and the United States by filing its libel for forfeiture may ratify what would otherwise have been an illegal seizure. The treaty did not change any law of the United States prescribing penalties and forfeitures. It related merely to the arrest ofPage 105persons and the seizure of property suspected of offending against the laws designed to prevent the smuggling into this country of intoxicating liquor.Fordv.United States,273 U.S. 593. The seizure, if contrary to the treaty, could not relieve the District Court of the duty to determine whether thereshad offended against a law of the United States and to condemn theresas forfeited.

Instead of questioning the power of the court to consider the causes alleged in the libels the claimant filed answers which made defense upon the merits of the case. By so doing, it would seem that he waived the right, if any was afforded to him under the treaty, to object that the court was without jurisdiction.

If the question of the legality of the seizure is material and was properly raised, it becomes necessary to consider the effect of the treaty upon the provisions of the tariff acts. The court below held that the treaty did not repeal the clause fixing a four-league zone in the federal customs and revenue laws, and, therefore, that the validity of the seizure beyond the treaty limits but within four leagues of the coast was not affected. The opinion does not discuss the decision of this Court inFordv.United States,273 U.S. 593,618-619.

The Department of Justice, since 1926, has entertained a contrary view of the treaty in its relation to the tariff acts.

The Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard was advised in 1927 that all seizures of British vessels captured in the rum-smuggling trade should be within the terms of the treaty and that seizing officers should be instructed to produce evidence, not that the vessel was found within the four-league limit, but that she was apprehended within one hour's sailing distance from the coast. This construction of the treaty finds support in the following cases:The Frances Louise,1 F.2d 1004, appeal dismissedPage 106on motion of the Solicitor General,270 U.S. 666;The MarjorieE. Bachman,4 F.2d 405, appeal dismissed on motion of the Solicitor General,270 U.S. 666;The Sagatind,4 F.2d 928, aff'd11 F.2d 673;The Over the Top,5 F.2d 838;Fordv.United States,10 F.2d 339, aff'd273 U.S. 593;Henningsv.United States, 13 F.2d 74;United Statesv.Ferris, 19 F.2d 925;United Statesv.Schouweiler,19 F.2d 387;United Statesv.Cargo ex British Schooner Patara,40 F.2d 74. After the passage of the Tariff Act of 1930 the Department continued to follow this construction. The view of the treaty taken by the Department of Justice is in accord with that of the District Court in this case. If that view is correct and if the question of the legality of the seizure is material and was properly raised in the District Court, the judgment of the court below should be reversed.

Lawyers for the Government other than those employed in the Department of Justice take a different view of the treaty in its relation to the tariff acts. In their view the result reached by the court below was correct. The contention is that the treaty was not a limitation upon the right to search and seize British vessels within the twelve-mile limit, but was an extension of the right always conceded to search and seize within the three-mile limit so as to permit seizures beyond territorial waters, provided the vessel was within one hour's sailing distance; that there was no intention on the part of the United States or Great Britain to surrender claims of sovereign right, except that Great Britain waived its right to protest seizures beyond the three-mile limit in a very limited number of cases defined in the treaty, in return for which her ships were permitted to transport intoxicating liquors within the territorial waters of the United States as part of their stores.Page 107
MR. JUSTICE BRANDEIS delivered the opinion of the Court.
The main question for decision is whether § 581 of the Tariff Act of 1930, c. 497,46 Stat. 590, 747, is modified, as applied to British vessels suspected of being engaged in smuggling liquors into the United States, by the Treaty between this country and Great Britain proclaimed May 22, 1924. (43 Stat. 1761.) That section — which is a re-enactment in identical language of § 581 of the Tariff Act of 1922, c. 356,42 Stat. 858, 979 — declares that officers of the Coast Guard are authorized to stop and board any vessel at any place within four leagues (12 miles) of the coast of the United States "to examine the manifest and to inspect, search and examine" the vessel and any merchandise therein; and if it shall appear that any violation of any law of the United States has been committed by reason of which the vessel or merchandise is liable to forfeiture, it shall be the duty of such officers to seize the same.

On the evening of November 1, 1930, the British motor screw Mazel Tov — a vessel of speed not exceeding 10 miles an hour — was discovered by officers of the Coast Guard within four leagues of the coast of Massachusetts and was boarded by them at a point 11 1/2 miles from the nearest land. The manifest was demanded and exhibited. Search followed, which disclosed that the only cargo on board, other than ship stores, was unmanifested intoxicating liquor which had been cleared from St. Pierre, a French possession. The vessel ostensibly bound for Nassau, a British possession, had, when boarded, been cruising off our coast with the intent that ultimately the liquor should be taken to the United States by other boats. But the evidence indicated that she did not intend to approach nearer than four leagues to our coast; and, so far as appeared,Page 108she had not been in communication with our shores and had not unladen any part of her cargo. The boarding officers seized the Mazel Tov at a point more than 10 miles from our coast; took her to the Port of Providence; and there delivered the vessel and cargo to the customs officials.

The Collector of Customs, acting pursuant to § 584 of the Tariff Act of 1930, assessed against Frank Cook, as master of the Mazel Tov, a penalty of $14,286.18 for failure to include the liquor in the manifest. By § 584, if merchandise not described in the manifest is found on board a vessel "bound to the United States," the master is subject to a penalty equal to its value, and the merchandise belonging or consigned to him is subject to forfeiture. By § 594, whenever a master becomes subject to a penalty, the vessel may be seized and proceeded against summarily by libel to recover the penalty. The Government proceeded, in the federal court for Rhode Island, to collect the assessed penalty by means of libels against both the cargo and the vessel. The cases were consolidated.

Cook, claiming as master and bailee of the vessel and as consignee and claimant of the cargo, alleged that the Mazel Tov was of British registry and owned by a Nova Scotia corporation. He answered to the merits; and excepted to the jurisdiction on the ground that the "vessel was not seized within the territorial limits of any jurisdiction of the United States, but, on the contrary, was captured and boarded at a point more than four (4) leagues from the coast," and that "it was not the intention at any time to enter any of the territorial limits of the United States."

The District Court, having found the facts above stated, dismissed the libels.51 F.2d 292. The Government appealed to the Circuit Court of Appeals, which held that the Treaty did not "effect a change in the customs-revenue laws of the United States wherein Congress hadPage 109fixed a four league protective zone"; reversed the judgments; and remanded the cases to the District Court for further proceedings.56 F.2d 921. This Court granted certiorari.1

Cook contends, among other things, that by reason of the Treaty between the United States and Great Britain proclaimed May 22, 1924 (43 Stat. 1761), the seizure was unlawful under the laws of the United States; that the authority conferred by § 581 of the Tariff Act of 1922 to board, search and seize within the four league limit, was, as respects British vessels,2modified by the Treaty so asPage 110to substitute for four leagues from our coast, the distance which "can be traversed in one hour by the vessel suspected of endeavoring to commit the offense"; that Congress by re-enacting § 581 in the Tariff Act of 1930 intended to continue in force the modification effected by the Treaty; and, hence, that the Mazel Tov, being a British vessel of a speed not exceeding 10 miles an hour, could not be lawfully boarded, searched and seized at a distance of 11 1/2 miles from the coast because suspected of "endeavoring to import or have imported alcoholic beverages into the United States in violation of the laws there in force."

The Government insists that the Treaty did not have the effect of so modifying § 581 of the Act of 1922; and that, if it did, the re-enactment of § 581 without change, by the Act of 1930, removed the alleged modification. It contends further that the validity of the seizure was not material; and if ever material had been waived.

The Treaty provides, among other things, as follows:

"Article I. The High Contracting Parties declare that it is their firm intention to uphold the principle that 3 marine miles extending from the coast line outwards and measured from low-water mark constitute the proper limits of territorial waters.

"Article II. (1) His Britannic Majesty agrees that he will raise no objection to the boarding of private vessels under the British flag outside the limits of territorialPage 111waters by the authorities of the United States, its territories or possessions in order that enquiries may be addressed to those on board and an examination be made of the ship's papers for the purpose of ascertaining whether the vessel or those on board are endeavoring to import or have imported alcoholic beverages into the United States, its territories or possessions in violation of the laws there in force. When such enquiries and examination show a reasonable ground for suspicion, a search of the vessel may be instituted.

"(2) If there is reasonable cause for belief that the vessel has committed or is committing or attempting to commit an offense against the laws of the United States, its territories or possessions prohibiting the importation of alcoholic beverages, the vessel may be seized and taken into a port of the United States, its territories or possessions for adjudication in accordance with such laws.

"(3) The rights conferred by this article shall not be exercised at a greater distance from the coast of the United States, its territories or possessions than can be traversed in one hour by the vessel suspected of endeavoring to commit the offense. In cases, however, in which the liquor is intended to be conveyed to the United States, its territories or possessions by a vessel other than the one boarded and searched, it shall be the speed of such other vessel and not the speed of the vessel boarded, which shall determine the distance from the coast at which the right under this article can be exercised."

We are of opinion that the decrees entered by the District Court should have been affirmed.First. It is suggested on behalf of the Government that the power to search and seize within the twelve-mile zone conferred upon officers of the Coast Guard by § 581 of the Tariff Act of 1922, was unaffected by the Treaty, save that the British Government agreed not to protest where the seizure was within an hour's sailing distance of thePage 112coast. The argument is that the Treaty settled the validity of the seizure only for those cases where it was made within the limits described in the Treaty; and that since this seizure was made beyond one hour's sailing distance from the coast the Treaty did not apply.3In construing the Treaty its history should be consulted. CompareUnited Statesv.Texas,162 U.S. 1;Oklahomav.Texas,260 U.S. 606;Nielsenv.Johnson,279 U.S. 47,52. Both its language and its history show that the high contracting parties did not intend so to limit its operation. The preamble states that they entered into the Treaty "being desirous of avoiding any difficulties which might arise between them in connection with the laws in force in the United States on the subject of alcoholic beverages." The history reveals that serious differences had arisen between the two Governments in that connection; and that, for the purpose of resolving them, the parties determined to deal completely with the subject of search and seizure, beyond our territorial limits, of British vessels suspected of smuggling liquors.

Prior to the Eighteenth Amendment the United States had never attempted, in connection with the enforcement of our customs laws, to board foreign vessels beyond the three-mile limit except where consent was implied from the fact that the vessel, being hailed, answered that she was bound for the United States, or where a vessel had been discovered violating our laws within the three-mile limit and, while endeavoring to escape, was hotly pursued. Although Hovering Acts conferring authority to board and search vessels, foreign and domestic, "within four leagues of the coast," had existed since the foundation of our Government, see Act of August 4, 1790, c. 35, § 31,Page 1131 Stat. 145, 164,4the authority therein conferred had, prior to the Tariff Act of 1922, been in terms limited to inbound vessels; and no statute had purported to confer authority to seize foreign vessels beyond our territorial waters for violation of any of our laws, except in those few instances in which Congress acted pursuant to specific treaties.5But soon after the Eighteenth Amendment took effect (January 16, 1920), vessels of British registry were found to be engaged in smuggling intoxicating liquors into the United States in violation of our laws.6In the effort to prevent such violations British vessels were being boarded, searched and seized beyond the three-mile limit;7and by § 581 of the Tariff Act of 1922 CongressPage 114undertook to sanction such action through enlarging the authority to board, search and seize beyond the three-mile limit so as to include foreign vessels although not inbound.8

Both before and after the passage of the Tariff Act of 1922 it was the consistent policy of our Government to release, upon protest, all British vessels seized beyond the three-mile limit and not bound to the United States, unless it appeared that the hovering vessel had, by means of her own small boats and crew, assisted in landing there contraband goods.9Our Government deemed that exceptionPage 115an essential to the enforcement of our laws and consistent with the principles of international law.10But the British Government declined to acquiesce in the propriety of the exception; declared that our practice of seizing vessels under those circumstances was not in harmony with the law of nations;11protested against the seizure of any British vessel outside of the three-mile limit;12and stated that insistence upon the practice would be regarded as creating "a very serious situation."13

With a view to removing the British objections, the Secretary of State proposed, on June 26, 1922, that a treaty be entered into "under which the authorities of each nation would be authorized to exercise beyond thePage 116three-mile limit of territorial waters a measure of control over vessels belonging to the other" and which would include specifically" reciprocal provisions authorizing the authorities of each Government to exercise a right of search of vessels of the other beyond the three-mile limit of territorial waters to the extent of twelve miles from the shore."14The British Government declined definitely to entertain any such proposal.15

The decision rendered by this Court on April 30, 1923, inCunard Steamship Co. v.Mellon,262 U.S. 100, led to the resumption of negotiations. It was there decided that the National Prohibition Act applied to all merchant vessels, foreign or domestic, within the territorial waters of the United States, and that the carrying of intoxicating liquors, either as cargo or as sea stores, through the territorial waters or into the ports and harbors of the United States is forbidden by that Act and the Eighteenth Amendment. The embarrassment to British vessels and trade threatened by this decision was serious.16Recognizing the urgent need of some arrangement between thePage 117two Governments which would permit the conduct by the British of legitimate trade and remove this obstacle to the operation of their vessels in the accustomed manner, the Secretary of State submitted to Great Britain, on June 11, 1923, the draft of a treaty designed to remove the friction between the two Governments. The draft did not refer specifically to intoxicating liquors. Article I provided, in general terms, that the authorities of each country should "within the distance of twelve geographical miles from its coasts" be permitted to board and search private vessels of the other to ascertain whether such vessels were engaged in an attempt to violate its laws "prohibiting or regulating the unloading near, or importation into its territories of any article;" and "if there is reasonable cause for belief" that the vessel is so engaged to seize it. Article II, likewise, in general terms, provided that articles on private vessels of either nation listed as sea stores, or as cargo destined to a foreign port, the importation of which is prohibited, might be brought within the territorial waters of the other on condition that they be sealed" upon arrival of the vessel so destined within twelve geographical miles of the coasts" and be kept sealed continuously thereafter while within the territorial waters.

This proposal of the Secretary of State also failed to meet with the approval of the British Government because it was regarded as involving an extension of the limits of the territorial waters.17The negotiations were, however, continued; and ultimately the British Government submitted a counter-proposal, which sought to achieve the same results by different means. The British draft provided that the high contracting parties shouldPage 118declare "their firm intention to uphold the principle that three marine miles measured from low water mark constitute the proper limits of territorial waters"; and avoiding all language which could possibly indicate a contrary purpose, it made no reference to the twelve-mile limit. Moreover, the arrangement, instead of applying generally to merchandise subject to prohibitory or regulatory laws, was to be limited specifically to intoxicating liquors; and no reciprocal rights were to be conferred. Each country was to secure the immunity required to satisfy its peculiar need. The need of the United States was to be met by providing that His Britannic Majesty "will raise no objection to the boarding," etc., outside the territorial waters at no "greater distance from the coast of the United States than can be traversed in one hour by the vessel suspected of" smuggling. The need of Great Britain was to be met by our allowing "British vessels voyaging to or from the ports or passing through the waters of the United States to have on board alcoholic liquors listed as sea stores or as cargo destined for a foreign port, provided that such liquor is kept under seal while within the jurisdiction of the United States."18

The draft of treaty submitted by the British Government was accepted with a few purely verbal changes. Thereby, as stated inFordv.United States,273 U.S. 593,609-610, this country secured "a definite fixing of the zone of legitimate seizure of hovering British vessels seeking to defeat the laws against the importation of liquor into this country from the sea."Second. The Treaty, being later in date than the Act of 1922, superseded, so far as inconsistent with the terms of the Act, the authority which had been conferred by § 581 upon officers of the Coast Guard to board, searchPage 119and seize beyond our territorial waters.Whitneyv.Robertson,124 U.S. 190,194. For in a strict sense the Treaty was self-executing, in that no legislation was necessary to authorize executive action pursuant to its provisions.19

The purpose of the provisions for seizure in § 581, and their practical operation, as an aid in the enforcement of the laws prohibiting alcoholic liquors, leave no doubt that the territorial limitations there established were modified by the Treaty. This conclusion is supported by the course of administrative practice. Shortly after the Treaty took effect, the Treasury Department issued amended instructions for the Coast Guard which pointed out, after reciting the provisions of § 581, that "in cases of special treaties, the provisions of those treaties shall be complied with"; and called attention particularly to the recent treaties dealing with the smuggling of intoxicating liquors.20The Commandant of the Coast Guard, moreover, was informed in 1927, as the Solicitor General states, that all seizures of British vessels captured in the rum-smuggling trade should be within the terms of the Treaty and that seizing officers should be instructed to produce evidence, not that the vessel was found within the four-league limit, but that she was apprehended within one hour's sailing distance from the coast.Third. The Treaty was not abrogated by re-enacting § 581 in the Tariff Act of 1930 in the identical terms of thePage 120Act of 1922. A treaty will not be deemed to have been abrogated or modified by a later statute unless such purpose on the part of Congress has been clearly expressed.Chew Heongv.UnitedStates,112 U.S. 536;United Statesv.Payne,264 U.S. 446,448. Here, the contrary appears. The committee reports and the debates upon the Act of 1930, like the re-enacted section itself, make no reference to the Treaty of 1924. Any doubt as to the construction of the section should be deemed resolved by the consistent departmental practice existing before its re-enactment. CompareUnited Statesv.G. Falk Brother,204 U.S. 143;Naglev.Loi Hoa,275 U.S. 475,481;Brewsterv.Gage,280 U.S. 327,337;McCaughnv.Hershey Chocolate Co.,283 U.S. 488,492;United Statesv.Ryan, 284, U.S. 167, 175. No change, in this respect, was made either by the Department of the Treasury or the Department of Justice after the Tariff Act of 1930.

Searches and seizures in the enforcement of the laws prohibiting alcoholic liquors are governed, since the 1930 Act, as they were before, by the provisions of the Treaty. Section 581, with its scope narrowed by the Treaty, remained in force after its re-enactment in the Act of 1930. The section continued to apply to the boarding, search and seizure of all vessels of all countries with which we had no relevant treaties. It continued also, in the enforcement of our customs laws not related to the prohibition of alcoholic liquors, to govern the boarding of vessels of those countries with which we had entered into treaties like that with Great Britain.Fourth. As the Mazel Tov was seized without warrant of law, the libels were properly dismissed. The Government contends that the alleged illegality of the seizure is immaterial. It argues that the facts proved show a violation of our law for which the penalty of forfeiture is prescribed; that the United States may, by filing a libelPage 121for forfeiture, ratify what otherwise would have been an illegal seizure; that the seized vessel having been brought into the Port of Providence, the federal court for Rhode Island acquired jurisdiction; and that, moreover, the claimant by answering to the merits waived any right to object to enforcement of the penalties. The argument rests upon misconceptions.

It is true that where the United States, having possession of property, files a libel to enforce a forfeiture resulting from a violation of its laws, the fact that the possession was acquired by a wrongful act is immaterial.Dodgev.United States,272 U.S. 530,532. CompareKerv.Illinois,119 U.S. 436,444. The doctrine rests primarily upon the common-law rules that any person may, at his peril, seize property which has become forfeited to, or forfeitable by, the Government; and that proceedings by the Government to enforce a forfeiture ratify a seizure made by one without authority, since ratification is equivalent to antecedent delegation of authority to seize.Gelstonv.Hoyt, 3 Wheat. 246, 310;Taylorv.UnitedStates, 3 How. 197, 205-206. The doctrine is not applicable here. The objection to the seizure is not that it was wrongful merely because made by one upon whom the Government had not conferred authority to seize at the place where the seizure was made. The objection is that the Government itself lacked power to seize, since by the Treaty it had imposed a territorial limitation upon its own authority. The Treaty fixes the conditions under which a "vessel may be seized and taken into a port of the United States, its territories or possessions for adjudication in accordance with" the applicable laws. Thereby, Great Britain agreed that adjudication may follow a rightful seizure. Our Government, lacking power to seize, lacked power, because of the Treaty, to subject the vessel to our laws. To hold that adjudication may follow a wrongful seizure would go far to nullify the purposePage 122and effect of the Treaty. CompareUnited Statesv.Rauscher,119 U.S. 407.

The case differs fromThe Richmond, 9, Cranch 102, andTheMerino, 9 Wheat. 391, where forfeitures of vessels wrongfully seized by our Navy were upheld.21There, the vessels seized were of American registry; and the seizures did not violate any treaty, but were merely violations of the law of nations because made within the territory of another sovereign. In those cases it was held that the illegality of the seizures did not affect the venue of the action or the process of the court. Here, the objection is more fundamental. It is to the jurisdiction of the United States. The objection is not met by distinguishing between the custody of the Coast Guard and the subsequent custody of the marshal. Nor is it lost by the entry of an answer to the merits. The ordinary incidents of possession of the vessel and the cargo yield to the international agreement.

The decree of the Circuit Court of Appeals isReversed.

MR. JUSTICE SUTHERLAND and MR. JUSTICE BUTLER are of opinion that in respect of British vessels engaged in smuggling intoxicating liquor into the United States the treaty of 1924 was not intended to cut down the rights claimed by the United States under the hovering statutes in force since the organization of our government, but that it was the purpose of both countries to extend and enlarge such rights to enable the United States more effectively to enforce its liquor laws and that therefore the decree of the Circuit Court of Appeals should be affirmed.

MR. JUSTICE VAN DEVANTER took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.Page 123
  1. Page 104287 U.S. 581. ↩
  2. Page 109 The view that the Treaty modified the limits within which British vessels might be seized for violation of the laws prohibiting alcoholic liquors is supported by the following cases:TheFrances Louise,1 F.2d 1004;The Marjorie E. Bachman,4 F.2d 405;The Sagatind,11 F.2d 673,675;The Over theTop,5 F.2d 838,844;Fordv.United States,10 F.2d 339,347, affirmed,273 U.S. 593;Henningsv.United States, 13 F.2d 74, 75;United Statesv.Ferris, 19 F.2d 925, 926;United Statesv.Schouweiler,19 F.2d 387; compareUnited Statesv.Cargo ex British Schooner Patara,40 F.2d 74. In other cases the view has been expressed that the treaties did not restrict, at all events, the right of seizure.TheVinces,20 F.2d 164,174, affirmed sub nom.Gillamv.United States,27 F.2d 296(compareid., p. 301);ThePanama,6 F.2d 326,327;The Resolution,30 F.2d 534,537-538;The Pescawha,45 F.2d 221,222. Compare, also, the following cases in which seizure was made within twelve miles but in which it does not appear whether it was made within an hour's sailing distance or whether the question of the effect of the treaties was raised.The Mistinguette,27 F.2d 738;UnitedStatesv.63 Kegs of Malt,27 F.2d 741;The Newton Bay,30 F.2d 444, affirmed,36 F.2d 729;The Amaranth,35 F.2d 872;The Marion Phillis,36 F.2d 688;The Deauville,49 F.2d 372;The Throndyke,53 F.2d 239;The Miss C.B.,59 F.2d 744. ↩
  3. Page 109 Similar treaties have been entered into with fifteen other countries. Norway, July 2, 1924 (43 Stat. 1772); Denmark, July 25, 1924 (43 Stat. 1809); Germany, August 11, 1924 (43 Stat. 1815); Sweden, August 18, 1924 (43 Stat. 1830); Italy, October 22, 1924 (43 Stat. 1844); Panama, January 19, 1925 (43 Stat. 1875); Netherlands, April 8, 1925 (44 Stat. 2013); Cuba, June 19, 1926 (44 Stat. 2395); Spain, Page 110 November 17, 1926 (44 Stat. 2465); France, March 12, 1927 (45 Stat. 2403); Belgium, January 11, 1928 (45 Stat. 2456); Greece, February 18, 1929 (45 Stat. 2736); Japan, January 16, 1930 (46 Stat. 2446); Poland, August 8, 1930 (46 Stat. 2773); Chile, November 26, 1930 (46 Stat. 2852). The only substantial difference in these treaties is in Article One, dealing with the general principle of a three-mile limit; in the treaties with Great Britain, the Netherlands, Germany, Cuba, Panama and Japan, the principle is declared to be accepted, while in the others rights and claims in that regard are declared to be reserved. ↩
  4. Page 112 The argument was advanced by the Solicitor General as representing the view not of the Department of Justice but of other lawyers for the Government. ↩
  5. Page 113 Re-enacted by Act of March 2, 1799, c. 22, § 71,1 Stat. 627, 668; and see Rev. Stat. § 3067.

    The model for the American statutes was the British Hovering Act of 1736, 9 Geo. II, c. 35, § 23, which provided for the forfeiture of vessels under 100 tons into which foreign goods were taken within four leagues of the coast. Compare the earlier British Hovering Acts of 1709 and 1718: 8 Anne, c. 7, § 17; 5 Geo. I, c. 11. In 1876 all existing hovering acts were repealed by the Customs Consolidation Act, 39 40 Vict., c. 36, which provides in § 159 for the forfeiture of vessels belonging in whole or in part to British subjects or having half the persons on board British subjects, where the vessel is found, or discovered to have been, within three leagues of the coast; and for the forfeiture of other vessels found, or discovered to have been, within one league of the coast. For the development of the British law, see William E. Masterson, Jurisdiction in Marginal Seas, pp. 1-173. ↩
  6. Page 113 For those acts, seeMaulv.United States,274 U.S. 501,517, note 18. ↩
  7. Page 113 The note of the Secretary of State of June 26, 1922, to the British Ambassador, recites "that many of the ships engaged in the illegal smuggling of liquor into the United States are registered under the British flag and that large quantities of liquor are carried by such vessels" from British possessions. Dept. of State Press Release, February 16, 1927. ↩
  8. Page 113 The Henry L. Marshall (286 F. 260, 262) was seized August 12, 1921; the Grace and Ruby (283 F. 475) on February 23, 1922; the Marion L. Mosher on July 27, 1923 (United Statesv.UnitedStatesPage 114Fidelity Surety Co., unreported, decided August 13, 1923, in the District Court for the Eastern District of New York); the Louise F. (293 F. 933), on November 5, 1923; the Island Home (13 F.2d 382), on November 24, 1923; the Muriel E. Winters (6 F.2d 466), on January 6, 1924. For notices of other seizures of this kind, not resulting in adjudication, see Philip C. Jessup, The Law of Territorial Waters and Maritime Jurisdiction, pp. 254-256.

    In reply to a question in the House of Commons on June 6, 1923, concerning the number of British vessels seized, the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs replied: "Broadly speaking, some 20 or 25 cases are known to His Majesty's Government where vessels, mostly of Canadian registry, have been seized. The seizures have occurred at varying distances from the shore, some within and some without the three-mile limit. The crews have nearly always been detained for varying periods. His Majesty's Embassy at Washington have acted repeatedly, and in the strongest possible manner, to secure the release of vessels seized outside the three-mile limit, or inside it when a genuine case of distress seemed to be made out." 164 Parliamentary Debates (Commons), 5th series, col. 2212. ↩
  9. Page 114 See Congressional Record, Vol. 62, Part 11, 67th Cong., 2d Sess., p. 11,593. An amendment to § 581, as reported, was proposed and withdrawn; the amendment would have made the section applicable specifically to searches and seizures for violation of the laws prohibiting alcoholic liquors. As enacted, however, the section did not fall short of the powers which the amendment would have granted in more particular terms. See Philip C. Jessup, The Law of Territorial Waters and Maritime Jurisdiction, p. 214. ↩
  10. Page 114 See Report of the Attorney General, 1923, pp. 89-90. The practice was adopted of requiring a bond, on release, conditioned on the Page 115 delivery of the cargo to the ports named in the clearance papers.Ibid. The class of vessels not released was extended, in the case of the Henry L. Marshall, to include a vessel beyond the three-mile limit, where, although the small boats were not the vessel's own, there was unity of control over the vessel and boats. 286 F. 260, affirmed, 292 F. 486. ↩
  11. Page 115 A statement of the American position is contained in a communication from the Secretary of State to the American Charge d'Affaires ad interim in London, dated August 25, 1923. MS. Records, Dept. of State. And see the communication of the Secretary of State to the British Ambassador, January 18, 1923, in which the American position is declared to be supported by the view of the British Government concerning the seizure by the Russian authorities in 1888 of the British schooner Araunah (82 British and Foreign State Papers, p. 1058). Dept. of State Press Release, February 16, 1927. See, also, the address of the Secretary of State before the Council of Foreign Relations, on January 23, 1924, printed in 18 American Journal of International Law, p. 229. ↩
  12. Page 115 The British Government stated that by the Customs Consolidation Act of 1876 "British municipal legislation is made to conform with international law." Note of July 14, 1923, MS. Records, Dept. of State. For the Act, see note 4,supra. ↩
  13. Page 115 The British Ambassador to the Secretary of State, December 30, 1922, Dept. of State Press Release, February 16, 1927. ↩
  14. Page 115 The British Charge d'Affaires ad interim to the Secretary of State, July 10, 1923, Dept. of State Press Release, February 16, 1927. ↩
  15. Page 116 Letter to the British Ambassador, June 26, 1922, Dept. of State Press Release, February 16, 1927. ↩
  16. Page 116 The British Ambassador to the Secretary of State, October 13, 1922, Dept. of State Press Release, February 16, 1927. ↩
  17. Page 116 On May 25, 1923, the British Ambassador addressed a note to the Secretary of State protesting against the application of the principle announced in this decision. A reply to this note was sent to the British Ambassador on June 6, 1923. MS. Records, Dept. of State. The British position was stated at length by Lord Curzon in the House of Lords on June 28, 1923. 54 Parl. Deb. (Lords), 5th series, cols. 721-729.

    Protests were likewise sent by the Italian Government, on May 29, 1923; by the Belgian Government, on May 28, 1923; by the Netherlands Government, on June 1, 1923; by the Norwegian Government, on June 7, 1923; by the Portuguese Government, on July 25, 1923; by the Swedish Government, on May 31, 1923; and by the Danish Government, on June 1, 1923. Dept. of State Press Release, February 16, 1927. ↩
  18. Page 117 The British Charge d'Affaires ad interim to the Acting Secretary of State, September 17, 1923, Dept. of State Press Release, February 16, 1927. ↩
  19. Page 118 Draft Treaty, left with the Secretary of State by the British Charge d'Affaires, December 3, 1923. ↩
  20. Page 119Fordv.United States,273 U.S. 593. Such was the view of the Secretary of State, expressed in a letter of March 3, 1924, to the Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. See Hearings Before the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, on H. Res. 174, 68th Cong., 1st Sess., p. 7. Compare, as to the meaning of "self-executing," Edwin D. Dickinson, Are the Liquor Treaties Self-Executing? 20 American Journal of International Law, p. 444. ↩
  21. Page 119 Amendments to Instructions, Customs, Navigation, and Motor-Boat Laws and Duties of Boarding Officers, 1923, No. 3, issued December 11, 1924. ↩
  22. Page 122 See, also,The Homestead,7 F.2d 413,415. CompareUnitedStatesv.Bowman,260 U.S. 94. ↩