Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-12-13
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
OUR EXTRACTION LAWS.
Notice from Mexico of Termination
of the Terms of the Convention.
CONTINUED from last week)

Notice from Mexico OF Termi ton
of the Terms of the Convention.
The Interpretation of certain provisions
Of the extradition convention of Deem
Der II, 1861, has been at various times the
occasion of controversy with the govern
ment Of Mexico. An acute difference arose
in the case of the Mexican demand for the
delivery of Jesus Guerrero, who having
led marauding expedition near the border
with the proclaimed purpose of initiating
an insurrection against President Diaz,
escaped into Texas Extradition was refused
on the ground that the alleged offense was
political In its character, and therefore
came within the treaty proviso OF non
surrender. The Mexican contention was
that the exception only related to purely
political offenses, and that, as Guerrera's
acts were admixed with the common crime
9f saa Nod
position which this government was unable
TO admit, in view of the received interna-
tional doctrine and practice in the mat
ter. The Mexican government. In view Of
this, gave notice January "a, 1888, of the
termination of the convention, to take eff
feet 10 months from that date, at the same
time inviting the conclusion Of a new con-
vention, toward which negotiations are on
foot.
sity of some amendment Of our existing
extradition statue. 1t Is a common stip-
ulation of such treaties that neither party
with the added proviso in one Of our
treaties that with Japan, that 1t may sur
render If it see fit, 1t is held In this country,
by an almost uniform course of decisions
tion to surrender the president is not In
vested with legal authority to act The
conferment to such authority would be In
the line of that sound morality which
shrinks from affording secure asylum to
the author of a heinous crime. Again.
statutory provision might be we'll made for
what is styled extradition by way Of tran
sit, whereby fugitive surrendered by one
foreign government to another may be con- con-
States to the jurisdiction of the demanding
state. A recommendation in this behalf.
made in the president, a o. Of lsse
The problem of the Mexican free zone
has been often discussed with regard to its
Cling Cling into the United states along an eS-
{snsys and thny guarded land border
March Mae afIs iss5 to remedy the abuse charged
by suspending the privilege of free trans
portatlon in bond across the territory of the
suit, as is stated in report No, 7Os. Of the
house of representatives, submitted In the
last session, March II. 1885, As the ques
concurrent legislation Of the two countries
looking to the protection of the revenues
by HARMONIOUS measures operating equal
~ on either side of the boundary, rather
than by conventional arrangements. I sug-
gest that congress consider the advisability
of authorizing and inviting conference of
menfs of he united States and Mexeo to
consider the subject in all its complex bear
ings, and make report with pertinent rec
concentrations to the respective govern
mcnts for the information and the consid-
Grafton of thei rcongress.
Mexican Water Boundary.
The Mexican water boundary commission
to the satisfaction Of both governments,
save in three important cases; that of the
Chamizal at Ell Paso, Tex. where the two
in. ' for this case only. this government has
proposed to Mexico the addition OF third
member; the proposed elimination Of what
lands formed by. the cutting off Of bends
the treaties Of 1884 and 1885 recommended
by the commissioners and approved by this
government, but still under consideration
by Mexico; and the subject Of the "equita-
bic distributio1 Of the waters Of the Rio
commended an International dam and reser-
voiri, approved by Mexico. but still Under
oe hse III s pssa
pires December 20 next.
the Netherlands was made the occasion 81
fitting congratulations.
The claim Of Victor H. McCord against
Peru, which for number of years has been
pressed by this government, and has on
several occasions attracted the attention
of the congress, has been satisfactorily ad-
justed A protocol was signed May II, 1898
whereby the fact Of liability being admit
ted, the question of the amount to be
award was submitted to the chief justice
of Canada as sole arbitrator. His award
sets the indemnity due the claimant at $40, :
Treaty with Peru.
The government of Peru has given the
prescribed notification of it's Intention to
abrogate the treaty Of friendship, COM
merce and navigation concluded with this
country August 3d. 1887. AS that treaty
contains many important provisions neces-
sary to the maintenance Of commerce and
good relations, which could with difficulty
be replaced by the nomination of renewed
provisions within the brief u months inter-
Vening before the treaty terminates, have
invited suggestions by Peru as to the par
ticular provisions It is desired to annul
in the hope of reaching an agreement
whereby the remaining articles may be
Professionally saved.
Ambassadors to Russia.
His majesty, the czar, having announced
his purpose to raise the imperial Russian
mission at this capital to the rank of an
embassy, I responded, under the authority
conferred by the act Of March 8, 1893, by
commissioning and accrediting the actual
representative at st. Petersburg in the ca
pacity of ambassador extraordinary and
plenipotentiary. The Russian ambassador
to this country has since presented his Gre
dentials.