Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-12-11
THE TREATIES OF JAPAN

as the nation in most direct comm unication
with Japan, the United States have lost no
opportunity to testify their consistent
frie ndship by supporting the just claims of
Japan to autonomy and independence among
nations. A treaty of eItfaditidn between the
United States and Japan, the first concluded
by that empire, has been lately proclaimed.
| The weakness of
and the difficulty of matntaing effec-
| tive sovereignty over its outlying districts
| have exposed that republic to eucroach-
ment. It cannot be forgotten that this
| distant community is an ofshoot of our
own system, owing its origin to the asso-
ciated benevolence of American citizens,
whose praiseworthy efforts to create a neu-
cleas of civilization in the dark continent
| have commanded respect and sympathy
elsewhere, especially In this country. Al
though formal protectorate over Liberia
| is contrary to onr traditional policy, the
national right and duty of the United States
to assist III all proper ways in the maintain
ence of its integrity is obvious, and has been
consistently announced during nearly half
century. l recommend that in the
reorganization of our navy, a small
vessel no longer found adequate to
our needs, be presented to Liberia to be
employed by it in the protection of its coast
wise revenues.
RELATIONS WITH MEXICO.
The encouraging development Of beneficial
and intimate relations between the United
States and Mexico, which has been so
once the occasion of congratulation, and of
friendly soiicitude. / urgently renew my
former representation of the need Of speedy
legislation by congress to carry into effect
the reciprocity commercial convention of
January 20, 1888. Our commercial treaty of
1888 with Mexico westermiBated according to
its provisions in 1881, upon notification
given by Mexico, in pursuance of her an
nouncing policy of recasting all her COM
mercial treaties. Mexico has sig - con-
cluded with sevveal foreign governments
new treaties of commerce and navigation,
defining alien rights Of trade, property and
residence treatment, of shipping and con-
sulsr privileges and the like. Our yet I'm.
executed reciprocity convention of 1885
covers none of these points, the settlement
of which ia 80 necessary to good relation
ship. propose to innate with Mexico ne
Rotiations for a new and enlarged treaty OF
commerce and navigation.
TIE CUTTING CASE.
In compliance with resolution of the SEN
ate l communicated to that body on August
End, last, and also to the house Of represen-
tstives the correspondence in the case of
A. K. Cutting, an American citizen then ina
mission of penal offence in Texas, of
which Mexican citizen was the object.
After a demand had been made for his re-
lease the charge against him was amended
80 as to include a violation of Mexican law
within Mexican territory. This joiner of
alleged offences, the one within and the
other exterior to Mexico, induced me
to order a special investigation of the case,
pending which Mr.. Cutting was released.
The incident has, however, disclosed a claim
of jurisdiction by Mexico, novel in our his
tory, whereby any offense committed any
where by foreigner, penal in the place of
its Commission, and of which a Mexican is the
object, may, if the offender be found in
Mexico, be there tried and punished in con-
trinity with Mexican laws. This jurisdic-
ton was sustained by the courts of Mexico
in the Cutting case, and approved by The e1-
ecutive branch of that government, upon
the authority of a Mexican statute. The
appellate court, in releasing Mr.. Cutting,
decided that the abandonment of the CON-
plant by the Mexican citizens aggrieved by
the alleged crime "a Ebelous publication)
removed the basis of further prosecution
and also declared justice to have been salts
led by the enforcement of a small part of
the original sentence. The admission of
such pretension would be attended with
serious results, and is invasive of the juris-
diction of this government and highly
Therefore, have denied it, and protested
against its attempted exercise, as unwar-
ranted by the principle of law
and international usage. A sovereign
has jurisdiction of offenses, which take
effect within his territory, although concoct-
cd or commenced outside of 1T; but the right
is denied to any foreign sovereign to punish
a citizen of the United States for an offense
contaminated on our soil in violation of our
laws, even though the offense be against a
subject or citizen of such sovereign. The
Mexican statute in question makes the claim
broadly, and the principle, if conceded,
would create dual responsibility in the
citizen and lead to insStricable confusion,
destructive of that "a. 'ainty in the law
xens Of the Unite2t Kses voluntarily 20
into q foreign country, Guey must abide by
the laws therein, and will not be protected
BY their own government from the conse-
quence of an offense against the laws COM
mitted in such foreign country, but the
watchful care and intereat of this govern
ment over its citizens are not relinquished
because they have gone abroad, and if
charged with crime committed in the for
eign land, fair and open trial, conducted
with decent regard for justice and
humanity, will be demanded for
them. With less than that this gov
eminent will not be content, when
the life or liberty of It's citizens Is at stake.
Whatever the degree to which extra terri
torial crimes jurisdistion may have been
formerly allowed by consent and reciprocal
soreement among certain of European
states. no such doctrine or practice was ever
known to the laws of this country. or of that
from which our institutions have mainly
been derived, In the case of Mexico there
are reasons especially strong for perfect
harmony in mutual exercise of jurisdic-
tion. Nature has made rs irrevocably
neIohbors. and wisdom and kind feeling
shouId make us friends.
The overflow of capital and enterprise
from the United States is a potent factor in |
assisting In the DEVELOPMENT of the resources
of Mexico. and in building I'D the prosperi- |
tv of both countries, To assist this good |
work ALI grounds of spprehension for the Sc |
cnritv of persou and property should be re- |
moved. and I trust that in the interests of
GOOD neiehborbood the statute referred to |
viii be no modified as to eliminate the pres |
ant possibility of danger to the peace of the |
two Countries.
m.
Ane soNerhlien' Vi
THE NErHERIANDs
has exhibited concern in relation to GER
tain features of our tariff laws which |
are supposed by them to be aimed |
at class of tobacco produced in the Dutch |
and East Indies. Comment would seem |
4. .,Ia