The herald., 1898-12-06

IN other countries, coming under the SOW
eereignty OF the. United States, the provis..
ions for the relief and Transportation OF
destitute. American seamen in these coun-
tries under our Consular regulations will,
IN consequence, terminate. 1t is proper,
therefore, that new legislation should be
enacted upon this subject, in order to meet
the changed conditions.
DIFFERENCES WITH MEXICO
The Interpretation of certain provisions
OF the extradltion convention of December
III, 1851, has been at various times the oc-
casion OF controversy with the government
of Mexico.
An. acute difference arose in the case of
the Mexican demand for the delivery of
Jesus Guerrero, who, having led maraud-
ing expedition near the border with the pro.
claimed purpose of initiating instruction
against President Diaz escaped into the
United States. Extadition was refused on
the ground that the alleged offense was po-
litical In its character and therefore came
within the treaty provso of non-surrender.
The Mexican contention was that the ex-
cception only related to purely political Of
lenses and that as Guerrera's acts were ad-
mixed with the common crime of murder,
arson, kidnapping and robbery, the option
of non,delivery became void, position
which this government was unable to admit,
in view of the received international doc.
trine and practice in the matter. Tho
Mexican government, III view of this gave
notice on January "a, 1898, of the termina-
tlon OF the convention, to take effect twelve
months from that date, at the same time
inviting the conclusion of a convention,
toward which negotiations are on foot. In
this relation, | may refer to the necessity
OF some amendment ot an existing eXtradi.
tion treaty statute. 1t is a common stipu-
lation of such treaties that neither party
shall be bound to give up its own citizens,
with the added proviso in one of our treaties,
that with Japan, that it may surrender,
if it see fit. 1t is held in this country, by
an almost uniform course of decisions, that
where a treaty negatives the obligation to
surrender, the President is invested with
legal authority to act. To confirm such au.
thority would be in the line of that sound
morality which shrinks from affording se-
cure asylum to the author of heinous
crime. Again, statutory provision might be
well made for what is styled extradition by
way OF transit, whereby a fugitive sur.
rendered by one foreign government to an-
other may be conveyed across the territory
Of the United States to the jurisdiction Of
| the demanding state. a recommendation
in this behalf, made in the Presidents mes
| sage OF 1856, was not acted upon. The NAB
ter is presented for your consideration.
THE MEXICAN FREE ZONE
The problem of the Mexican free zone
has been often discussed with regard to its
inconvenience as provocative OF smuggling
into the United States along an extensive
| line and thinly guarded land border. The
effort made by the joint resolution of March
| |, 1895, to remedy the abuse charged by sus-
pending the privilege of free transportation
IN bond across the territory of the United
States to Mexico failed OF good result, as
is stated in report No. 702 of the House Of
| Representatives, submitted in the last ses-
sion, March IL, lS0S AS the question is
one to be conveniently met by wise legisla-
tion of the two countries, looking to the
protection of the revenues by harmonious
| measures operating equally on either side
of the boundary, rather than by conven.
tional arrangements, | suggest that Con.
| gress consider the advisabifity of author.
izing and inviting conference of represen-
tatives OF the Treasury Departments of the
| United States and Mexico to consider this
subject in all its complex bearings and
make report, with pertinent recommenda.
ions, to the respective governments for
| the information and the consideration OF
their Congresses.
| The Mexican water boundary commission
has adjusted all matters submitted to it to
| the satisfaction of both governments save
in three important cases-that OF Chamizal,
at FL Paso, Texas, where the two commits
| sioners failed to agree and wherein, for this
case only, this government has proposed to
Mexico the addition of third member;
the proposed elimination of what are known
as "bancos," small isolated islands formed
by the cutting off of bends in the Rio
| Grande. from the operation of treaties OF
1884 and 1889, recommended by the COM
missioners and approved by this govern.
ment, but still under consideration by Mex
leo; and the subject of the equitable dis
| tribution of the waters of the Rio Grande,"
for which the commissioners recommended
an international dam and reservoir, are ap-
proved by Mexico. but still under consid-
GRAFTON by this government.
Pending these questions it is necessary
to extend the life of the commission, which
expires December D. next.
The coronation of the young queen Of tho
| Netherlands was made the occasion of fit.
ting congratulations.
A PERUVIAN CLAIM
Il The claim of Victor H. McCord against
Peru which for number of years has been
pressed by this government and has on sew
eral occasions attracted the attention OF
the Congress, has been satisfactorily adj
|justed. A. protocol was signed May IL,
1898, whereby the fact of liability being
admitted, the question of the amount to be
awarded was submitted to the Chief Jus.
tice of Canada as sole arbitrator. His award
sets the indemnity due the claimant as $i0,-
900.
The government of Peru has given the
prescribed notification of its intention to
abrogate the treaty of friendship, commerce
and navigation, concluded with this coun-
try August II, 1878. As that treaty con.
) tains many important provisions necessary
to the maintenance of commerce and good
relations which could with difficulty be re-
placed by the nomination of renewed pro.
visions within the brief twelve months in
tervening before the treaty terminates, I
have invited suggestions by Peru as to the
particular provisions it is desired to annul,
, in the hope of reaching an arrangement
whereby the remaining articles may be pro-
visionally saved.
THE CZAR'S PEACE PLAN
His Majesty, the Gar having announced
his purpose to raise the imperial Russian
mission at this capital to the rank OF an en-
bassy, responded, unden the authority con-
ferred by the act of March 3, 1893, by COM
missioning and accrediting the actual rep
resentative at st. Petersburg in the capacity
e of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipo-
S tentiary. The Russian Ambassador to this
= country has since presented his credentials.
; The proposal of the Gar for general re-
. duction of the vast military establishments
r that weigh so heavily upon many peoples
q in time of peace was communicated TO TINS
y government together with an earnest invita-
e ton to be represented in the conierence
D which it is contemplated to assemble, with
! view to discussing the means OF aecomp-
! fishing so desirable result. His Majesty
e was at once informed of the cordial SYM
pathy of this government with the principle
C involved in his exalted proposals and of the
c readiness of the United States to take part
s in the conference. The active military
, force of the United States, as measured by
y our population, territorial area and taxable
o wealth. is. and under any conceivable pros