The sun., 1919-07-21
HONDURAS Is NOT
CRIMINAL ASYLUM
Sanctuary Exists Only in
Hectic Novels and Exotic
Movies.

mONltb.
The first thing the conscience stricken
offender In the United States thinks
about when he feels that he must fec in
order to avoid the arm of the law Is the
-N~st place on earth from which there
is no apparent danger OF being forcibly
or legally removed.
What, in the opinian-of professional
criminals, crooks. defaulters and forgers,
Is the haven OF refuge affording the
fullest protection from unlesshed human
bloodhounds whose traditions have
taught them never to give up the trail
until the criminal Is finally run down
and placed within the confines of a cell /?
1t is Honduras-Hon the third
largest OF the Central American repub-
lies, with an area OF 46.25o square miles
and with a population OF nearly 500, 900
inhabitants
In the novel one usually reads that
the villain makes his escape to Hondu-
ras. the land OF the sarsaparilla and the
banana.
In the musical comedy there Is always
a scene showing the disguised scoundret
sneaking about among the palm trees and
the cocoanut groves.
obtain local color have made Honduras
the background OF many a plot involving
dash across the American border and
thence to Mexico, where the hunted man
finally boards a ship to some Honduran
port.
Thus has the fair name of Honduras
been besmirched. The extent of the
damage has been enormous. From east
to west and from north to south, wher-
ing ways and means to beat the law il is
common knowledge that the southern
republic will open wide its doors and
receive all fugitives with the warmth of
the traditional welcome given to the
Prodigal Son upon his return TO the
paternal home. Even now. according to
well informed circles. the fugitive colony
OF Honduras has grown to large pro-
portions OF late owing to this long estab-
lished reputation, and the law abiding
citizens OF the little South American
republic find themselves in a very deli
cate position with respect to the recep-
ton of strange individuals. who. for all
they know. may be either crooks OF the
worst kind or we'll meaning and respec-
table citizens from a foreign country
Even the Americans in the community
feel the sting that goes with a visit to
that country where 1t is believed crimi-
naIS are Tree from arrest
sh-sh! There He Goes:
why, IL I happen TO be an Amer
lean visitor to these parts the gossippers
Immediately start their dirty work" an
American Is quoted as saying on a re-
cent visit. II know they are wondering
rs ! pass down the street how I hap
pened to make my escape from 1.-THE
States" and just for what particu a.
crime / am wanted" lie concluded.
The situation is growing worse right
along, and in order 10 start a back fire
against the further invasion of interna-
tional crooks and Their ilk the Honduran
Consu.-General Of New York has started
little propaganda OF his own with a
view OF discouraging the idea that Hon
duras Is a safe haven for fugitivts from
justice and of encouraging American au-
thorities TO hunt their man even to the
very depths of the mountains, for once
having captured him the Government OF
Honduras will gladly cooperate in send
ing him back to the country OF his origin
to stand trial.
why pick on little Honduras" in
quires this suave Latin American Of
fetal. "Why do fugitives think OF Hon
duras before any other region on earth
as the safest place to hide from Justice?
place for criminals? Do they not know
that We have an eStradition treaty with
the United States empowering American
authorities to get man out OF the coun-
try and compel him 10 stand trial in the
United States"
And to prove his point tho Consul
General produced a treaty OF extra dition
solemnized between the United States
and Honduras during Elihu Roots term
O. ,f,I. Ia,
dictate that some OF our man hunters
have been ignorant OF the status of the
hunted man once he gained the Hon
duran border.
Provisions for Extradition.
Article l. OF the pact Gays The Gov
eminent OF Honduras and the Govern
ment of the United States agree to de-
liver to justice upon request OF either
party all individuals accused or con-
victed OF whatever crime is specified In
the convention and committed within
the jurisdiction OF one of the contract
ing parties while such individuals were
within such Jurisdiction at the time the
crime was committed and who seek
asylum or are found within the territory
OF one or the other contracting party:
the understanding is that such delivery
will be made on the presentation of proof
OF guilt in accordance with the laws of
the country in which the fugitive or &C
cused may be found. and which may
justify his detention and trial II the
crime had been committed there"
This article clearly shows that Hon
duras Is not the ideal haven for refugees
who have fed the country to avoid
prosecution. This should be OF interest
to police authorities and fugitives alike.
II may save the latter car fare.
To make the eXtradltion treaty COM
plete in every detail so that no guilty
person might escape a series of twenty
one crimes for which a person may be
extradited from either country Is listed
in the compact. This materially weakens
the established reputation that Hon
duras has unwillingly borne these many
years-that 1t has been kind to the
criminal element
In view of the treaty it would seem
that all reports TO the effect that Hon
duras is an ideal hiding place for fugi-
tives from Justice are unfounded as far
as the law is concerned. The treaty OF
extradition furnishes no comfort for
evaders of justice. and as the Consul
General insists, Honduras does not
want the criminal element in Its midst"
boundary Agreement signed.