New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-27
ANOTHER ExTRADITION TREATY.

Currency is given in Canada to an important
rumor respecting the negotiation of new eX-
tradition treaty. "The Empire ordinarily
speaks autholtatively for the Dominion Gov
eminent, and it's explanations of the delay IN
the enforcement of the Weldon Act are made
in a semi official tone. 1t cOntradcts previous
rumors respecting the rejection of that act by
the Imperial authorities, and states that the
Governor-G eneral's proclamation, which is
requisite under the WITH Article in order to
legalize the new code, will be withheld until it
is aScertained whether or not the United States
Senate is prepared to ratify the treaty nego-
tiated last summer at Washington. 1hlS IS
the first hint which the American public has
received Of the renewal of eXtTaditiOn negoua-
tions between the two Governments. The as
sertion is made, ostensibly with explicit author
ity from the Canadian Government, that new
treaty was the chief cause of Sir Julian Patnce-
totes visit to England, and that it's ratification
nav dispense with the necessity for the enforce
ment of recent Canadian legislation.
If "The Empires announcement be anthem
tic, great and unexpected progress has been
made in the settlement of difficult question
closely affecting the welfare of the United
States and the British possessions. The reJec-
ton Of the Rosebery- Phelps Convention after
prolonged debate in the Senate on
the dynamite clause and on various tech
nical objections apparently involved an IN
definite pOStponement Of treaty negotiations on
this subject. The most reasonable explanation
that can be offered of the abrupt resumption
Of diplomatic correspondence on the question
is the embarrassment caused by the passage
of the Weldon Act by the Canadian Parla-
ment The British Government was placed
in an exceedingly awkward position. 1t could
not sanction that act without abrogatlng the
Imperial prerogatives of the Crown, and sub
hitting to the exercise Of treaty making 1unc-
tions by dependent confederation OF prov
inces; and on the other hand, il could not dis
allow legislation designed as substitute Tor
treaty engagements without exciting prejudice
and resentment in Canada. The only practical
method of avoiding either horn of the dilemma
was the prompt negotiation of new treaty
We suspect that overtures for resumption of
correspondence were made by the British Min
lister under these circumstances
1t NAV be assumed with a fair degree of con-
fdenCe that the British Government, in its
anxiety to hang up the Weldon Act without di-
rectly disallOwing it, has dropped the dynamite
clause and thereby removed the main ground
of objection to the convention which was re-
iected by the Senate. " advances were made
to the State Department for the negotiation
of a treaty, which would not be open to crit
cism on the score of countenancing the return
of political offenders, a favorable response would
undoubtedly have followed. The technical OBJ
jections to the last treaty could easily have been
removed, and with concession on the part OF
Great Britain of the ineXpediency of introduc-
ing anew the controversial matter which caused
the previous rejection of the convention, the
way would have been opened for the revision
of the present EXtraditiOn Code. If this result
has been secured it will be a matter for hearty
congratuation in England, Canada and the
United States. The code regulating extadltion
plactice between the great branches Of the
EngliSh-speaking race needs radical revision
so as to include enlightenment and various
classes of commercial crime There is most
urgent necessity for the negotiation Of new
treaty. and if the problem has been worked
out without compromising the time-hOnored
principle of asylum for political offenders, the
State Department has made wise use of the
opportunity offered by the passage of the Wei
don Act.