New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-29
EXTRADlTION WITH RUSSIA.
THE OPPOSITION TO THE NEW TREATY.



Washington. March as.--No treaty that has come
before the Senate OF late years has attracted more
nublic attention than that which recently con-
ended between the Government Of the Car and the
limited States. 1t has been severely criticised, and
Is said by its opponents to be- the first stroke against
the liberty Of those who fee to America to escape
political persecution In the last two three lecis
ative sessions Of the Senate there has been debate
over the proposition TO release the injunction Of
secrecy and permit the people to know exactly
what 1t contains. resolution was introduced
Yesterday to remove this injunction Of secrecy. but
n was referred to the Committee Foreign Re-
latons and that committee has not yet reported The
majority OF the Senators want the matter made public
for the that the text OF the treaty has been
wrongly stated by the public prints and the
Senate Us they assert. has been unjus,ly criticised
he reason OF this INSTRUMENTATION. The State De-
uartment is also willing that the text of the treaty
should 20 out but there Is not such unanimity
Of sentiment concerning the proprfety OF publish
ing the accompanying correspondence The COM
mittee on Foreign Relations is In communication With
the officials of the State Department and as soon
q an agreement is reached the resolution TO re-
move the Injunction Of secrecy will be favornbly re-
ported to the Senate.
TIE criticism Of this treaty Is principally directed
against the article which Is said to make the COM
mission Of political offence extradisable the IAN
image OF this clause identical with that found In
the treaty with Belgium. Iii that treaty 1t Is provided
that the provisions of this convention shall not De
applicable to persons guilty OF any political offence
ar crime or Of connected with such crime or
orencep il also provides that can attempt against
the Mfe OF head OF foreign government or against
that of any member of his family. vixen such attempt
comprises the act either OF murder assassination or
Of poisoning. shall not be considered political odcnce
or an act connected with such an offence"
In the public prints there has appeared at the
c1o,,uo tba nd
ext,aditable" No such affirmative statement appears
n, me treaty 1t Is the clause Of this convention
relative TO attempts to assassinate the Car or any
members Of his family that has aroused the opposition
IN the treaty so much another matter that mas
been found hidden away in the text and OF seemingly
innocent purport far anything political Is con-
ce,ned The treaty makes the forgery Of any gov
eminent paper document an offence Tor winch the
Ruty person may be eAtradited.
II Ia we'll known that political suspect can leave
Russia without the aid OF passport and that he can
not secure that coveted document. Necessarily he Is
compelled to resort to forgery. The treaty contains
m explanatory footnotes but makes exraditabe the
offence that has been in every such case committed.
II Is argued that the Russian Government has by
virtue of the treaty ratified by the United States
q yeritable drag net, with which II can pull back into
its boundary every man who makes his escape and
punish him-not for the political offence but the act
OF forgery The result, IL Is contended, Will be the
same for IL removes the individual from every right
Of asylum which lie has gained by flight to this
country.
II is certain that this phase Of the never
hrourht before the Senate for senator who made
bitter fight against the ratification OF the treaty says
Tint no one ever dreamed That such a clause lay
hidden in the text and that had 1t been discovered
material modification Of the text w0uid nave oceh
made Senators now say that there Is no Intention
that such construction shall be placed upon 1t. They
81. l. nf IN A
documents within the Interpretation OF the conven-
tiou and that a demand might be made upon this
GoveInment for the extrndtiOn OF the offender. but
this admission Is by statement that is declared
10 neutralize the effect Of such an Interpretation The
presentation Of warrant and papers OF extraauoh Is
they say, not sufficient evidence upon which 10
transp9tia mair ont Of the country. The magistrate
who sits in the ease. and after him the Secretary Of
State must pass upon the question whether the
forgery Of such papers constitutes political oencc
II Il Is such an offence. then. say these Senator'S ex
tradition would not be allowed. 49,
Those who are opposed to the treaty look with
alarm upon matter that vests In the judicial decision
Of the sgisrate the Secretary Of state the
INTERPRETATION OF convention, which, they assert
should bear upon ats face Just what Is INTENDED ana
dispute. ,u,,,.. ia,
Senator The t Republican one sas
the crrdest things Of its character he has ever seen
and boldly declares that 1t is due TO the fact that
such matters are cOEQuceu uIlucI Vel VI
Rsiieycd of the sense Of duty that impresses them
in public this Senator that Senator's pay little
attention to grave matters like this, except those
who are members Of the Foreign Relations COMMITTEE
and that they 20 through by reason OF blind and
Sometimes misleading faith in the committee that
has them In charge. 1t Is, he says one OF the besI
sroumenfs that can be advanced In favor OF the
sbroeation OF the executive session.
TSe committee will probably report back the
,..outton o remove the Injunction Of secrecy at the
next executive session. What amount OF the col
respondence will be released with 1t depends upon
tSs Wishes Of the State Department
RESOLUTION DENOUNCING THE TREATY.
Columbus, Ohio, March % speciaD.-Mr. Lampson
IN the Senate this afternoon, offered Joint resolu
ton. which went over under the rules, denouncnt
the recent extradition treaty between the UnNet
states and Russia as inhumane, In conflict with Tho
spirit Of free American institutions ana calculated u
make the American courts instruments OF foreign
tyranny. Senator LAmpson said that he offered TIT