Speech #860077751

Attorney General McReynolds considered the applicability to the Canal Zone of the Narcotic Drugs ImportExport Act of 1914. and said: "I am clearly of the opinion that these sections are applicable to the Canal Zone. That the Canal Zone is territory under the control or jurisdiction of the United States has been held in a long line of opinions by the Attorneys General (see 25 Op. 441. 444. 474. 26 Op. 113. 116. 26 Op. 376. 377. 27 Op. 136. 138). The opinions. seemingly contra. rendered with relation to the Tariff Act of 1909 and the 8hour law of 1913. in 27th Opinion 594. and 30th Opinion 142. were concerned with constructions of special statutes. and were not determinative of the general question. "That Congress in recent statutes clearly regards the Canal Zone as a possession of the United States. and therefore subject to its jurisdiction. is seen in the explicit provisions of the Employers Liability Act of April 22. 1908 (ch. 149. sec. 2 (35 Stat. 65)). that every common carrier by railroad In the Territories. the District of Columbia. the Panama Canal Zone. or other possession of the United States. etc.. and of the Immigration Act of February 20. 1907 (ch. 1134. sec. 33 (34 Stat. 908)). that the term United States shall be construed to mean the United States and any waters. territory. or other place subject to the jurisdiction thereof. except the Isthmian Canal Zone." 9. Relative to the authority of the United States to grant exequaturs to foreign consuls for the Canal Zone. a communication of July 21. 1921. from the Secretary of State (Hughes) to the Panamanian Charg4 dAffaires ad interim (Lefevre). is reported in the Digest of International Law. volume IV. page 670. as follows: "By the provisions of this article of the treaty (art. III of the convention of November 18. 1903). the United States is granted. in the Canal Zone. all the rights. power. and authority of a sovereign. and the Republic of Panama is entirely excluded from the exercise of such rights. power. and authority.