The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-10-30
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON LETTER.
The method employed by our State
Department to obtain from Mexico the
extradition of the alleged boodler, Chas
Kratz, who is wanted for trial in St.
Louis, involves an interesting point in
international law and may establish an
important precedent in extradition pro-
ceedings. About a year ago we signed
an extradition treaty with Mexico which
included for the first time the crime of
bribery. When, however, we requested
Kratz's arrest, the Mexican government
was obliged to inform us that under lit
constitution the fact that the alleged
crime was committed prior to the signing
of the treaty, would make the prosecution
retroactive and expost facto and conse-
quently i'll violation of Mexican law.
Although such law does not hold in the
United States with reference to extradition
treaties, the State Department recognized
that it was binding upon Mexico, and
finally resorted to the very unusual pro-
ceeding of Mexican government to sur
render the man as ansact of the country.
Mexico has law which allows negatives
to be surrendered upon such call, even
though the crime charged may not be ex-
traditable under treaty; the only condi-
ton being that the government making
the request shall grant any similar one
made by Mexico. The State Department
is willing to enter into such an agreement
and Kratz will no doubt soon be returned
to st. Louis.
The presentation, by our minister to
Santo Domingo, of an autograph letter
from President Roosevelt to General
Wos Gil, congratulating him upon his
as president president of the republic,
was made the occasion of conveying to
this small country yelled warning, to-
gether with the well wishes and assurances
of protecting on the part of the United
States. The Minister,pointed out that the
Washington government did not seek to
destroy the autonomy of Santo Domingo,
and was even ready to guarantee its ter
ritorial integrity, but at the same time
it would not interfere to protect the re-
public against its lawful creditors.
President Gil accepted the advice in
the spirit in which it was given and
assured Mr.. Powell that Santo Domingo
would act in accord with its powerful
neighbor and intended to settle all diff
ferences amicably.
~
President Roosevelt has taken personal
interest III the welfare of the Porto Ricau
coffee growers, and assures them not
only that he uses their coffee on his own
table that he will do what he can to bring
about reciprocity treaties with European
countries to have Porto Rican coffee en-
tered there free of duty. AT present
France imposes duty of IS per cent and
other countries tax it so high that it is
practically excluded. While waiting for
the reciprocity treaties, the President has
given the st. Louis Worlds Fair Commits
sion of Porto Rico letter saying that he
has tried Porto Rico coffee and uses no
other. Perhaps this advertisement
will make the treaties unnecessary, as
this country ought to be able to use all
| the coffee the Porto Ricans can grow.
~
Although public men in Washington
never had the slightest apprehension that
we should lose our case before the
| Alaskan Boundary Commission, they
hardly believed that we should win it.
The Commission was composed OF
three Americans, two Canadians and one
Englishman, and unless either side
convinced at least one member of the
other, there would be no decision and
the question would remain to irritate the
relations of this country with Great
Britain. Lord Alverstone, the British
commissioner, became convinced OF
the validity OF the greater part OF
our claim and thus decision was
rendered which gave the United States
nearly all the territory in dispute. The
refusal of the Canadian Commission
ers to sign the award will have not the
slightest effect upon the decision, which
is final. The boundary line decided upon
runs east of all the bays inlets or other
Portland canal northward to Mount ST.
Elias. The Portland Canal is given to
Canada as are also the four islands at its
mouth. The two islands retained by the
naughnut, are the fartharest outward and
are of great strategic value, as they COM