Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-12-16
MEXICO.
TIN rRFArIrs

THE TREATIES.
The encouraging development of the bene-
fetal and intimate relations between the
United States and Mexico, which has
been SO marked within the past few years,
| is at once the occasion OF congratuIation
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 Jan. 20, 1883. Our commercial treaty OF
1881 with Mexico was terminated accord
| ing to its provisions, in 1881, upon nonfca-
ton given by Mexico. in pursuance OF her
announced policy OF recasting all her COM
mercial treaties Mexico has since con-
cluded with several foreign governments
new treaties of commerce and navigation,
defining alien rights of trade, property and
residence, treatment of shipping consular
privileges and the like. Our vet unexe-
cuted reciprocity convention or $50 covers
none OF these points, the settlement or
which is so necessary 70 good relationship
l propose TO initiate with Mexico negotia-
lions for new and enlarged treaty OF COM
merce and navigation
THE CUTTING EPISODE
In compliance with q resolution OF the
senate, Icommunicated to that body on Aug
2 last, and also TO the house of representa-
tives the correspondence in the case of A. ~
Cutting, an American citizen, then impris-
oned in Mexico, charged with the commits
sion Oh "a DtLdl OAtust III lEAds, VI hLiC4 u
Mexican citizen was the object After de-
mand had been made for his release, the
charge against him was amended SO as 20
include violation of Mexican law within
Mexican territory. This joiDder or alleged
offenses one within and the other exterior
TO Mexico. induced me TO order special in
yestigation of the case, pending which Mr..
Cutting was released The incident has.
however. disclosed a claim of jurisdiction
by Mexico novel in our history, whereby any
her,,
and of which Mexican is the object, may. IL
the offender be found in Mexico, be there
tried aud punished in conformity with Mex
lean laws Jurisdiction was sustained by
the courts of Mexlco in the Cutting case,
approved by the executive branch OF
that government upon the authority of the
Mexican statutes The appellate court in re-
leasing Mr. eating decided that the aban-
donment of the complaint by the Mexican
citizens aggrieved by the alleged crime "a
libelous publications. removed the basis of
further prosecution and also declared Justice
TO have been satisfied by the enforcement of
u small part of the original sentence The
admission of such pretension would be at
tended with serious results, invasive of the
jurisdiction OF this government and highly
dangerous to our citizens in foreign lands
| Therefore, / have denied it, and protested
| against its attempted exercise as unwar-
| ranted by the principle of law and inter-
| national usuages A sovereign has jurisdic-
| territory, although concerted or commenced
outside It.; but the right is denied of any
| foreign sovereign to punish citizen of the
United States for an offense contaminated
| on our soil, even though the offense be
| against a subject or citizen OF such sover-
| eign. The Mexican statute in question makes
| the claim bodily, and the principle. If con-
| coded, would create dual responsibility in
the citizen and lead to confusion of that
certainty in law which Is an essential OF lib
4 arfv When fsifizanc NJ 10 TTp5fad
voluntarily go into foreign country they
| must abide by the laws there in force and
| will not be protected By their own govern
| menJ from the consequences of an offense
4 against the laws committed in such foreign
| country; but the watchfGl care and interest
| of this government over its citizens are not
i relinquished because they have gone abroad,
| and II CHARGED with crime committed in the
| foreign land. fair and open trial, con-
/ Quoted with decent regard for Justice, will
| be demanded for them. With less than that
this government will not be content When
| the life or liberty of its citizens is at stake,
/ whatever the degree TO which extradition
criminal jurisdiction may have been
| formerly allowed by consent aud
reciprocal agreement among certain
/ OF the European states, no such doctrine or
| practice was ever known to the laws OF this
country or of that from which our institu-
tons have mainly been derived In the case
| of Mexico there are reasons especially strong
!
| of jurisdiction. Nature has made us irrevo-
cably neighbors, and wisdom and kind feel
ing shoald make us friends The overflow
| Of capital and enterprise from the United
| States is potent factor in developing the
resources OF Mexico and in building up the
| property OF both countries To assist this
good work all grounds of apprehension for
! the security of person aud property should
be removed, and ! trust that in the interests
| of good neighborhood The statute referred to
| will be SO modified as to eliminate the pres
ent possibilities of danger 20 the peace of
the two countries
TIE NETHERLANDS
The government of the Netherlands has ex-
mbited concern in relation to certain
features of our tariff laws which are sun
| posed by them to be aimed et class of to
bacco produced in tie Dutch East Indies.
/ Comment would seem unnecessary upon the
unwisdom OF legislation appearing to have a
| special national discrimination for its object
i which, although unintent!onal, may give
rise 10 injurious relations The establish
ment less than four years ago. of a lepa
/ ton at Ieberan, is bearing fruit in the inter-
est exhibited by the shai's government in the
industrial activity of the United States and
the opportunities OF benefis. stable govern
ment is now happily restored in Peru by the
election OF constitutional president A
period OF rehabilitation is entered upon Re-
coyery Is necessarily slow from the ex-
hauseion caused by the late war and civil
disturbances A convention TO adjust by ar
| bitralion claims OF our citizens has been
| promised and is under consideration. The
navui Officer who bore to Siberia the testi
monias bestowed by congress- in recognition
| OF the aid gwen to the Jeanette survivors
has successfully accomplished his mission.
His interesting report will be submitted IL
\ Is Pleasant 20 know that this mark of appre-
citation has been welcomed by the Russian
| government and people as BELTS the tradi-
Uonal friendship of the two countries. Civil
| perturhations in the Samoan islands have
during the past few years been a source of
! considerable embarrassment to the three
governmepts-Germau Great Britain and
1 the United States-whose relations and extra
1 territorial rights in that impoi tant group are
| guaranteed by treaties The weakness or
the native administration and the conflict Of
4 opposing interests IN the islands have led
King Maietsa 10 seek an alliance or protec-
ton In some one quarter, regardless OF the
distinct engagements whereby no one of the
three treaty powers may acquire any para
mount or exclusive interest In Nav Last
Mniietsa offered TO place Samoa under the
| protection of the United States. and the late
consul, without authority, assumed 70 grant
It The proceeding was promptly disayewed
| and the oyefzealous official recalled Special
agents OF the three governments have been
deputed TO examine the situation in The
islands, with change in the reoresenf. tio,,