Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-04

unauthorized action of our late naval COM
mander in those waters in saluting the re-
VOTED Brazilian admiral, being indisposed
to countenance an act calculated to give
gratuitous sanction to the local insurrec-
ton.
The convention between our Government
and Chile having for its object the settle
ment and adjustment of the demands of the
two counties against each other, has been
made effective by the organization of the
Claims Commission provided for The two
Governments falling to agree upon the third
member of the Commission. the good offices
of the President of the Swiss Republic were
invoked. as provided in the treaty, and the
selection of the Swiss representative in this
country to complete the organization was
gratifying alike to the United States and
Chile.
The vxatious question Of so-called lega-
ton asylum for offenders against the State
and its laws was presented anew in Chile
by the unauthorized action of the late Unit
ed States minister in receiving into his off,
cial residence two persons who had just
failed in an attempt at revolution and
against whom criminal charges were pend
ing growing out of a former abortive dis
turbance. The doctrine of asylum as ap-
piled to this case is not sanctioned by the
best presidents and, when allowed, tends to
encourage sedition and strife. Under no
circumstances can the representatives of
this Government be permitted, under the
ill-defined fiction of extraterritoriality, to
interrupt the administration of criminal
justice in the countries to which they are
accredited. A temperate demand having
been made by the Chilean Government for
the correction OF this conduct in the in
stance mentioned. the minister was in
structed no longer to harbor the offenders.
Chinese Legislation.
The legislation of last year, known as the
Geary law, requiring the registration of all
Chinese labo-ers entitled to residence in the
United States, and the deportation of all
not complying with the provisions OF the act
within the time prescribed, met with much
opposition from Cinnamon in this country
Acting upon the advice of eminent counsel
that the law was unconstitutional. the great
mass of Chinese laborers. pending judicial
inquiry to it's validity, in good faith de-
clined to apply for the certificates required
by its provisions: a test case upon proceed
ing by habeas corpus was brought before
the Supreme Court, and on May 15 1898, a
decision was made by that tribunal sus-
tanning the law.
1t is belived that under the recent amend
ment of the act extending the time for
registration, the Chinese laborers thereto
entitled, who desire to reside in this coun-
try, will now avail themselves of the re-
newed privilege thus afforded of establish
ing by lawful procedure their right to re-
main, and that thereby the necessity of en-
forced deportation may to a great degree
be avoided.
1t has devolved upon the United States
minister at Picking, as dean of the dipIo-
matte body. and in the absence of a repre-
sentative of Sweden and Norway to press
upon the Chinese Government reparation
Tor the recent murder of Swedish mission
aries at Sung-pu. This question is of vital
interest to all countries whose citizens en-
gage in missionary work in the interior.
The African Slave Trade.
By Article XII of the General Act of
Brussels, signed July ., 1850, Tor the SUM-
preston of the slave trade and the restric-
ton of certain injurious commerce in the
Independent State of the Congo and in the
adjacent zone of central Africa, the United
States and the other sgnatory powers
agreed to adopt appropriate means for the
punishment OF persons selling arms and
ammunition to the natives and for the con-
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the plain duty of this government TO aid in
suppressing the nefarious traffic, iynpair-
ing as 1T does the praiseworthy and civil
liking efforts now in progress IN that region,
L recommend that an act he passed rroh;b-
ting the sale of arms and 'ntoxicants to
natives In the regulated zone by cur citi-
zens.
Costa RIGA has lately testified its friend
illness by surrendering to !he United States.
In the absence of a convention of extradi-
ton, but upon duly submitted evidence of
criminality, noted fugitive from Justice.
1t Is trusted that the negotiation Of a treaty
with that country to meet recurring cases
OF this kind will soon De accomplished In
my opinion treaties for -eciprocaI eA tradi-
ton should be concluded with all those
countries with which the United States has
not already conventional drrangements of
that character.
1 have deemed it fitting to express to the
Governments of Costa Rica and Colombia
the kindly desire of the United States to
see their pending boundary dispute finally
closed by arbitration in conformity with
the spirit of the treaty concluded between
them some years ago.
Our relations with the French Re2ublc
continue to be intimate and cordial l sin
cerely hope that the extradition treaty with
that country, as amended by The Senate,
will soon be operative.
While occasional questions affecting our
naturalized citizens returning TO the land
of their birth. have arisen in our inter
course with Germany, our relations with
that country continue satisfactory.
Great Britain.
The questions affecting our relations with
Great Britain have been treated in a Spirit
of friendliness.
Negotiations are in progress between the
two Governments with 4 view to such con-
current action as will make the award and
regulations agreed upon by the BehrinS Sea
Tribunal of Arbitration practically effect
i've; and it is not doubted that Great Brit
ain will cooperate freely with this country
for the accomplishment of that purpose.
The dispute growing out of the 6iscrm-
mating tolls imposed in the Weliand Canal,
upon cargoes of cereals bound to and from
the lake ports of the United States, was
adjusted by the substitution of more
equitable schedule of charges, and my pre-
decessor thereupon suspended his procla-
nation imposing discriminating tolls Upon
BRITISH transit through our canals.
request for additions to the list Of ex-
traditable offenses covered by the existing
treaty between the two countries, is under
consideration.
During the past year an American citi-