The Alaska daily empire., 1920-02-27
. THE EXTRADITION CRISIS

The Versailles treaty provided for the surrender oy Germany such of her citizens as the Allied powers should designate, to be tried before an Allied court for crimes against humanity and violation of the laws of nations, With few exceptions, the Germans nave been sentimentaliy opposed to this proceeding and ii they surrender amy their citizens it will be because they feel helpless under the treaty to refuse The crisis just now, however is not with Germany, put with Holland William Hohenzollern deserted his army and fled to the Netherlands at the time the armistice was signed, followed little later by the Grown Prince The Allied powers. not including the limited States have asked Holland to surrender them for trial This is not a demand but request
 It has been the custom of civilized nations, a custom as strongly held in the United States in any other country, refuse to deliver refugees upon the demand of their native land whose ohense was ln any way political In order that this sort or protec- tion should be given to common criminals, extra diton treaties have been executed between nearly all civilized countries, specifying exactly the country asking extradition make prof of presumtion guilt sufficient to satisfy the country or refuge that the charge camouflage to get possession of person other purposes Any sort of charge not specifically mentioned in the treaty can be, and usually is. held to be insufficient.
 It is understood that the charges which have been made against the former Kaiser do not come within the provisions of Hollands exradition treaties with the countries which made the request for his de- livery Holland live neighbor to Germany. While the Germans themselves cannot refuse to give any who may be demanded of them because. they have agreed by treaty. they would probably resent Holland doing so when she under such compu- sion. Switzerland is in the situation Holland, if not having great many more refugees subject demand, and being closely linked with Germany geographically and economically. She has many refused surrender political refugees to her hurt in being compelled to hafbor anarch ists She will surrender her principles in this gard unless compelled to do Apparently the allied powers will compelled decide between dropping the whole subject far neutras concerned, or make demand and bring pressure to bear upon these small neuras proceeding in which the United States could be induced to join however, much it might sympathize with their purposes. For the time being have nothing to do with the case because we have not ratified the treaty.
 How much Fin earnest the nations other than Great Britain in desiring punishment in this way is uncertain. Paris correspondents have said that of them, not France. is eager to press the ter The Japanese said to oppose 1t sentimenally although Japan is of the Allied powers named constituting the proposed court. They consider it contrary to "Bushido,' which is the Japanese code of honor that the persons should constitute both the prosecuting parties and the court of trial. The Germans have offered to constitute special court and permit the allied powers participate as prose- way out of the difficulty.