The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-08-10
HARTMANN
His Counsel Anxious to Know the
Views of the Government.
MR.. BLAINE REFUSES TO ACCOMMO-
A DATE HIM.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9.-Henry Wehle, coun-
sol of Leo Hartmann, has addressed letter to
Secretary Blaine asking whether in the event
of a demand by the Russian government he
could be arrested and surrendered to that gov
eminent. He says he advised Hartmann he
could not be extradited, and acting upon his
counsel the latter openly proclaimed his ar
rival in this country and asked the sympathy
of the American people for his countrymen
Wehle then alludes to reports of contrary de-
cision by the sssistant Secretary of State, and
asking Blaine If he proposes to disavow the
statement of this "garrulous officer"
Mr.. Blaine replies as follows:
You ask me as Secretary of State to declare
in effect that your client, Leo Hartmann, shall
have the protection of the government of the
United States in case his extradition should be
requested by Russia
l received by the same mail letter from an
eminent citizen of Pennsylvania urging that
this government should make known its will
lngness to surrender Hartmann in the event of
his being demanded by Russia. In both of the
communications am asked to violate official
propriety and disregard the traditions of the
department by declaring in advance what
would be the action of the government in a
hypothetical case involving grave legal princi-
pie and important personal rights You might
with equal propriety address a communication
to the chief Justice of the United States inter-
rogating him as to what decision he would
render if the case of Hartmann should come
D6lOro ulu Ou d VIII Vi HuU6US corpus. 4Ou
suggest it as the duty of the department of
State to deliver its conclusion on this case be-
cause one of its assistants is reported without
authority to have expressed his own personal
views in a casual conversation on the subject.
Would you regard it as good ground for de-
manding that the Supreme Court should make
an important ruling on hypothetical case be-
cause the reporter of decisions, or the United
States Marshal was said to have declared GER
tain views on the principle involved? There
is no citizen of the United States, native born
or naturalized, who havesthe right to demand
from any national tribunal its opinion on a
hypothetical case on the plea that it involves
principle which might affect his personal
rights. Can you assign any reason why Hart
mann who is not citizen of the United States
should the moment he sets foot on American
soil have the right to demand a ruling from
one of the executive departments of the ma
tional government upon a question of interna-
tional jurisprudence that may effect his per-
sonal liberty when there is no case pending be-
fore the department involving the issue2
A half million immigrants from Europe will
probably arrive in the United States during
the year. Can you indicate to me any reason
able ground on which Hartmann should be ex-
copied from out that vast number, the special
protection OF the government NvouchSafed and
Voluntarily guaranteed to him in advance of
any case arising in which his name may even
be mentioned 1t may perhaps be unnecessary
to advise you that the conclusions and decis-
ions of the depa rtment of state or important
legal and diplomatic questions are not made
prematHrely public through the medium of
newspaper interviews, nor in response to at
torneys or interested parties.