Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-12-07

judgment be most ill-advised. The.paramount
influence we have there acquired once relin-
pushed could enly with difficulty be regained,
and valuable coin of vantage for ourselves
might be converted into a stronghold for our
commerclal competitors. | earnestly recon-
mend that the existing treaty stipulations be
extended for a further term of seven years. A
recently signed treaty to this end is now before
the Senate. The Importance of telegraphic
communication between those islands and the
United States should not be overlooked
TREATIES WITH JAPAN.
The question of a general revision of the
treaties WITH Japan is again under discussion at
Toxic. As the first to open relations with the
empire, and as the nation in most direct com
mercial relation with Japan, the United States
have lost no opportunity to testify their con-
sistent friendship by supporting her Just claims
and independence among nations. A treaty of
eXtradition between the United States and Ja-
pan, the first concluded by that empire, has
been lately proclaimed
AID FOR LIBERIA.
The weakness of Liberia, and the difficulty of
maintaining effective sovereignty over its out
lying districts, have exposed that republic to en-
croachmens. 1t cannot be forgotten that this
distant community is an offshoot of our system
owing its origin to the associated beneyolence
of American citizens, whose praiseworthy eff
forts TO create a nucleus of civilization in the
dark continent" have commanded respect and
sympathy everywhere, especially in this coun-
try. Although II formal protectorate over Libe-
ria is contrary TO our traditional policy, the
moral right and duty of the United States to as
sist in all proper ways, in the maintenance of
its integrity, is obvious. and has been constantly
advanced during nearly half century. | rec
ommend that III 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 coastwise revenues
MEXICAN COMPLICATIONS
The encouraging development of beneficial
and intimate relations between the United
States and Mexico, which has been so marked
within the past few years, is at once the occa-
sioIi of fcengratuation and of friendly soicitude.
| urgently renew my former representation of
the need of speedy legislation by Congress
to carry into effect the reciprocity com
mercial convention of January 20, 1883.
our commercial treaty of the year 1881
with Mexico was terminated, according to its
provisions, in 1881, upon notification given by
Mexico. In pursuance of her announced policy
of recasting all her American treaties,
Mexico has since concluded with several foreign
Governments new treaties of commerce and
navigation, defining alien rights of trade, prop
erty and residence the treatment of shipping,
consular privileges and the like. Our yet uneX
ecuted reciprocity convention of 1881 covers
none of these points the settlement OF which is
so necessary to good relationship. propose to
initiate with Mexico negotiations for q new and
enlarged treaty of commerce and navigation.
In compliance with Il resolution of the Senate,
| communicated to that body on August ID last
and also to the House of Representatives, the
correspondence in the case of A. X. Cutting, an
American citizen then imprisoned in Mexico
charged with the commission of penal ofiense
in Texas, of which Mexican citizen was the
object. After demand had been made for his
release, the charge against him was amended
so as to include violation of Mexican law
within Mexican territory. This joinder of
alleged offenses, one within and the
other exterior to Mexico, induced me to
order special investigation of the case, pend
ing which Mr.. Cutting was released: The Incl
dent has. however, disclosed claim OF Jurls-
fnfin l,rN in Nrh
by any offensa, committed anywhere by for
eigner, penal in the place of its commission.
and of which an American is the object, may.
If the offender be found in Mexico be there
tried and punished in conformity with Mexican
laws Jurisdiction was sustained by the Courts
of Mexico in the Cutting case and approved by
the Executive branch of that Government.
Upon the authority of Mexican statute, the
appellate Court in releasing Mr.. Cutting, de-
cided that the abandonment of the complaint
by the Mexican citizens aggrieyed by the al-
legged crime IA libelous publication) REMOVED
the basis of fu ther prosecution, and also de-
clared Justice to have been satisfied by the en-
forcement of a small part of the original SEN
tence. The admission of such pretensiou
would be attended with serious results, invasive
of the Jurisdiction of this Government and
highly dangerous to our citizens in foreign
lands Therefore l have denied it, and pro-
tested against its attempted exercise as
unwarranted by the principles of law
and International usageS. sovereign
has jurisdiction of oifenses which take effect
within his Territory, although concerted orcom-
menced outside of it, but the right is denied of
any foreign sovereign to punish citizen of
the United States for an ofense consummated
on our soil, in violation ofour laws, even though
the offense be against subject or citizen of
such sovereign. The Mexican statute in ques-
tion makes the claim broadly, and the prlnci-
pie, if conceded, would create a dual response
bilty on the citizen and lead to confusion
destructive of that certainty i'll the law which
is an essential of liberty. When citizens of the
United States voluntarily go into a foreign
country they must abide by the laws there in
force, and will not be protected by their own
Government from the consequence of an offense
against those laws, committed in such foreign
country; but watchful care and interest of this
Cove nment over its citizens are not reln-
quished because they have gone abroad, and if
charged with crime committed i'll foreign
land q fair and open trial, conducted with de-
cent regard for justice and humanity, VIII be
demanded for them. With less than that this
Government will not be content when
the lives or liberties of its citizens are at stake
whenever the DEGREES of which extra territorial
criminal jurisdiction may have been formerly
allowed, by consent and reciprocal agreement
among certain of the European States. No such
doctrine or practice was ever known TO the
laws of this country, nor of that from which
our institutions have mainly been derived. In
the case of Mexico there are special reasons,
strong in favor of perfect harmony in the mu-
tual exercise of jurisdiction. Nature has made
us irreyocably neighbors, and wisdom and kind
feeling should make us friends. The overflow
of capital and enterprise from the Uniies States
is po ent factor in assisting the development
of the resources of Mexico and in building up
the prosperity of both countries. To assist in
this good work all grounds of apprehension for
the security of person and property should be
removed, and trust that, in the interests of
good neighborhood, the statute referred 10 will
be so modified as to eliminate the present posi-
bilities of danger to the peace of the two coun
tries.
TIE NETHERLANDS.
The Government of the Netherlands
has exhibited concern in relation to
certain features of our tariff laws, which
are supposed by them TO be aimed
at a class of tobacco produced in the Dutch East
Indies. Comment would seem unnecessary upon
the unwsdom of legislation app airing TO have
a special national discrimination for its object.
which, although unineniional, may give rise 10
injurious retaliation
OTHER COUNTRIES.
The establishment, less than four years ago, OF
n egatioI at Teheran, is bearing fruit in the
'nerest exhibited by the Sbah's Government IN
the industrial activity OF the United States
and the opportunities of beneficial interchauges.
stable rovernment is now happily restored
in Perm by the eleetiono of q constitutional Presi-
dent and period of rehabilitation is entered
upon bot recovery is necessarily slow from the
exhaustion caused by the late war and civil dis
turbances. A convention to adjust. by arbitra-
ton, the claims of our citizens, has been prom
ised and Il under consideration.
The naval officer who bore to Siberia the tes
timonials 4estowed by Congress in recognition
of the aid given to the Jeanpette survivors has
81. cessfully accomplished his mission. his in
teresting report will be submitted. 1t Is pleas
ant TO know that the mark OF appreciation has
been welcomed by the Russian Government
and people as befits the traditional friendship
of the two countries.
CONCERNING s,MoA.
Civil perturbatiOns in the Samoan Islands
hsre during the past few years been source of
considerable embarrassment TO three Govern
ments- Germany, Great Britain and the United
States-whose relations and extra territorial
rights in that important group are guaranteed
by tr aties. The weakness OF the native admin
istration. and the conflict of oppo,ing interests
in the islands, have led King Maliioa to seek
allauce or protection in some one quarter re-
eardleSs OF the distinct engagements whereby
no one of the three treaty Powers may acquire
any paramount or exclusive interest In May
last Nal1toa offered to place Samoa under the
protection oftbe United states and toe late Con-
sui, without authority assumed to grant it. The
proce ding was promptly disayowed. and the
over jealous official recalled. Special agents of
the three Governments have been deputed TO
examine the situation in the islands, with
change in the representation OF all three Powers
and harmonious understanding between them
tion aud neutrality of Samoa can hardly fail to
be secured.
RECIPROCITY WITH SPAIN.
II appearing that the Government of Spain
did net extend to the flag of the United States
in the Antilles, the whole measure of recipro-
city requisite under our attitude for the consin.
uance of the suspension of Determinations
against the spanish flag in our ports, / was con