The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-09-23
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
and not converted into wine, dried grapes
bringing $40 ton against SIS ton for
fresh grapes
BARRUNDIA'S SURRENDER.
Miner Should Have Referred the Matter
10 the State Department.

NEW YORK, Sept. 22-Commenting on the
Herald's quotations from Miners report,
the Tribune says: While his Interpretation
OF international law was unquestionably
correct, so far as he conceded local jurisdic-
ton over merchant steamer in Guate-
melan port, there were safeguards for avert
ing bloodShed and securing a deliberate re-
view of the case which ought to have
been provided. The correspondence
shows that the Minister was fully aware
OF the political nature of the offenses with
which Barrundia was charged. The Minis
ter seems to have overlooked the fact that
Mexico and the United States between them
were virtually surrendering a political Of
lender. Certainly such a surrender ought
not to have been made with indecent haste,
nor without obtaining adequate guarantees
for his protection, or at least for averting
Sanguinary conflict on the steamer
An Interpretation of the law of nations.
which would have answered the ordinary
requirements of an undOubted exercise Of
police rights in port, would not suffice for
this case, with its exceptional features. The
Guatamalan authorities had prevailed upon
Mexico TO expel political offender and place
MN on board an American steamer bound
1or their ports. His arrest when he reached
one OF those ports seemed to involve the
United States IN an irregular method Of
facilitating extradition from Mexico of one
charged with political crimes The Minis
ter might properly have brought these facts
before the attention of the Guatemalan Gov
ernment without in any way questioning
the right of local jurisdiction. 1t
was case which ought to have
been referred to the State Department
and pending the decision of his superiOrs
the Minister would have been justified in
taking Barrundia under the protection of
the American flag, either at his own resi-
dence or ON board one of the United States
men-of-war lying in the harbor. The Min
lister, while reporting all these facts
frankly to the department, seems to have
entirely overlooked their significance,
The Commercial Advertiser says on the
principles OF law Miner is clearly right in
the Barrundia affair.
The Sun says: Captain Pitts loses moth
ing in the estimation of those who
admire Yankee pluck, even when it
runs. counter to international law. He
did his best to keep his promise
which mistaken notion OF his obligations
to passenger who trod the decks of his
snip, and generous in an exaggerated sense
OF personal loyalty, had impelled him
to make to the unfortunate Barrundia.
But Mr.. Miner was right and so were the
American naval officers who refused
to interfere for the protection of
the fugitive. Barrunda at the time
OF his death was no more under
the protection of the American flag, which
was fiying on Pitts ship, than if he had
been killed few rods away on the shore,
with that same flag still in sight.
The Herald's Washington correspondent
says: | am able to give the Herald, in brief.
Blaine's opinion on the Barrundia case from
the diplomatic side Of the question. The
Secretary of State holds that the
authorities Of Guatemala had an in
disputable right to arrest Barrundia
upon any form of warrant legal in that
country, whenever found within the terri
torial jurisdiction of that republic. The fact
that he was on board a merchant vessel of
the United States made no difference, nor
was it necessary that he should De shown to
be actually guilty OF any offense prior TO
his arrest So far as an investigation is
concerned the conduct of Captain Pitts from
first to last, in the opinion of the depart
ment, presents most emergent subject for
inquiry. His case is regarded as standing
in an exceedingly favorable light upon the
facts so far as they are known.