Evening star., 1921-05-01
J.. s. BR|T|SHPACT
WELFARE WORK AID
Treaty for Extraditing Will
full Family Deserters From
Canada Commended.

Ratification by the United States
Senate of the treaty between this
country and Great Britain making
desertion or willful non-support of
minor or dependent children an eX-
traditable offense' between the Unit
ed states and Canada marks the end
OF an eight-year fight. according to
William H. Baldwin of this city.
The treaty. when proclaimed. will
give much encouragement to social
workers, who are attempting to deal
effectively with the problem which
adds so much to the burden of TAX
ing care of deserving and dependent
families. he said. Mr.. Baldwin as
serted that the war has increased
family desertion not only in Canada,
but in this country, due apparently to
restlessness caused by the temporary
soldiers. and also to unsettled condi-
tlons following the armistice.
Negotiation Dates Back to 1913.
The negotiation for the treaty was
begun by Secretary Knox on Febru-
airy 13, 1913, and after considerable
time spent by the British government
in obtaining the approval of all the
provinces of Canada. Secretary Lans
ing on July s, 1915. announced that
treaty would be concluded, he as
serted. 1t was signed in London on
January Is. 1917, and submitted by
President Wilson to the Senate for
its approval on January 81, 1917.
Objection was made by member
of the Senate committee on foreign
relations on the ground that, as it
was drawn, the treaty applied to the
wife as well as to children. Because
of this objection. but especially be-
cause of delays due to the war, the
matter was not urged upon the Sem
ate until Congress met in December
last, Mr.. Baldwin said. When SEN
ator Lodge brought the matter up
at meeting called on December 8,
1920, for the purpose of acting on the
treaty, the committee on foreign re-
lations voted against ratification. On
February 2. 1921. the committee on
foreign relations voted to recommend
the ratification of the treaty with an
amendment limiting it to children.
The treaty was reported to the Sen
ate on March Z. 1921, and was ratified
on April 81, 1921.
DesertiOns Numerous in Canada.
When the British government ac-
ceptS the amendment striking out
wife desertion and the treaty is pro-
claimed, it will mark a decided step
forward in this field, said Mr.. Bald
win.
"Rev. Peter Bryce of Toronto, chair
man of the mothers allowance COM
mittee of Ontario, and Rev. Gilbert
Agar, general secretary of the social
service council there. who were here
a week ago to consult with me and
George S: Wilson of the board of
charities in regard to family deser-
tion matters said Mr.. Baldwin,
stated that desertion is increasing
in Canada and that most of the de-
serters from their vicinity come to
the United States because they are
safe here. Many deserters from the
United States, especially from places
along the border, find refuge in Can
ada in the same way. A man deserted
his family in Youngstown, Ohio, four
years ago and went to Canada, leav-
ing his children and wife. The wife
earned what she could by sewing, but;
the children have been charity
location of the father in Canada was
known all the time, he could not be
touched
Several months since. however. it
was found he had gone to Los Ange-
les. Calf, and extradition proceed
ings were Immediately begun. He
would have been brought back to
Ohio had it not been for an over
Jealous charity worker. who wired
the Los Angeles police asking for
his arrest, not realizing that he
would not be arrested without
requisition from the Governor of
Ohio.
This incident shows how improba-
BILE it is that injustice would be done
under the treaty, because reGuisi-
tions will not be granted unless the
State Department as well as the gov
ernor of the state in which the pro-
ceedings originate is satisfied by
ample evidence that the man has
committed a criminal offense against
the laws of his own state"