Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-05

sage of December 9, 1891 my predecessor,
| President Harrison, said:
TT would. I believe, be entirely compe-
| tent for Congress to make offenses against
| the treaty rights of foreigners domiciled
in the United States cogniZable in the Fed
| eral courts. This has not, however, been
done, and the Federal officers and courts
| have no power in such cases to intervene
either for the protection OF a foreign citizen
or for the punishment of his slayers. 1t
seems to me to follow, in this state of the
law, that the officers of the State charged
with police and judicial powers in such
cases must in the consideration of inter-
national questions growing out of such IN
cdents be regarded in such sense as Fed
eral agents as to make this Government
answerable for their acts in cases where it
would be answerable If the United States
| had used it's constitutional power to define
and punish crimes against treaty rights
A bill to provide for the punishment of
violations of treaty rights of aliens was
| introduced in the Senate March l. 1892
| and reported favorably March 30 Having
| doubtless in view the language of that
part of Article III of the treaty of Febru-
| airy 90, 1871. between the United States and
| Italy, which stpulates that The citizens
| of each of the high contracting parties
| shall receive, in the States and Territories
! of the other most constant protection and
| security for their persons and property,
| and shall enjoy in this respect the same
| rights and privileges as are or shall be
granted to the natives, on their submitting
| themselves to the conditions imposed upon
the natives the bill SO introduced and
reported provided that any act commit ed
| in any State or Territory of the United
In viz of 10 riph of Oft;
| zen or subject of a foreign country secured
! to such citizen or subject by treaty between
| the United States and such foreign country
and constituting a crime under the laws
of the State or Territory shall constitute a
| like crime against the United States and
| be cognizable in the Federal courts No
| action was taken by Congress in the mat
| ter.
| | earnestly recommend that the subject
| be taken up anew and acted upon during
| the present session. The necessity for
| some such provision abUndantly appears.
> Precedent for constituting a Federal juris-
diCtion III criminal cases where aliens are
sufferers is nationally deducible from the
existing statute which gives to the district
and circuit courts of the United States
jurisdiction of civil suits brought by aliens
where the amount involved exceeds a GER
| tain sum. If such Jealous solicitude be
shown for alien rights in cases of merely
| civil and pecunary import, how much
greater should be the public duty to take
| cognizance of matters affecting the life
and the rights OF aliens under the settled
principles Of international law no less than
under treaty stipulation, in cases of such
transcendent wrongdoing as mob murder
especially when experience has shown that
local justice is too often helpless to pun
| ism the offenders.
After many years Of endeavor on the part
Of this Government to that end the Italian
Government has consented to enter into ne
gotiations for naturalization convention
having for one of its objects the regulation
| of the status of Italians Except those Of an
age for active military service) who. hay
ing been naturalized in the United States.
may revisit Italy. 1t is hoped that with
the mutually conciiatory spirit displayed
a successful conclusion will be reached.
Commercial Treaty With Japan.
The treaty of commerce and navigation
between the United States and Japan on
November %. 1894, took effect in accordance
with the terms of its XIXth Article on the
18th of July last, simultaneously with the
enforcement of like treaties with the other
powers, except France whose convention
did not go INTO operation until August 4th,
the United States being. however granted
up to that da e all the privileges and rights
accorded to French citiEens under the old
French treaty. BY this notable conven-
tional reform Japar's position as fully
Independent sovereign power is assured
control being gained Of taxation, customs
revenues, judicial administration, coasting
trade, and all other domestic functions of
government, and foreign extra territorial
rights being renounCed.
Comprehensive codes of civil and criminal
procedure according 10 western methods,
public instruction, patents and copyrights,
municipal administration, including juris-
diction over the former foreign settlements,
customs tariffs and procedure, public
health and other administrative measures
have been proclaimed. The working Of the
new system has given rise to no material
complaints on the part of the American
citizens or interests, a circums lance which
attests the ripe consideration with which
the change has been prepared
Valuable assistance was rendered by the
japanese authorities to the United States
transport ship Morgan City while stranded
at Kobe Permission has been granted to
land and pasture army horses at Japanese
ports of call on the way to the Philippine
Islands. These kindly evidences of good
will highly appreciated
The Japanese Government has shown
lively interest in the proposition of the
Pacific Gable Company to add to it's pro-
jected cable lines to Hawaii, Guam, and
the Philippines a branch connection with
the coast of Japan 1t would be a crafty
ing contamination We're the utility of the
contemplated scheme enhanced by bring
ing Japan and the United States into di-
rect Geographic relation.
Without repeating the observations of
my special Message of February 10. 1892
concerning the necessity of a cable to Ma
nila l respectfully invite attention to 1t.
l recommend that, in case the Congress
should not take measures to bring about
this result by direct action of the govern
ment, the Postmaster-General be author
lied to invite competitive bids for the es-
adjustment of a cable; the compan, max
Ing the best responsible bid to be awarded
the contract; the successful company to
give ample bonds insure the completion