"absolutely," and if it is used in this sense, then, as shown in my last note, nonextradition for absolute political offenses is always implied in treaties without making any express exception. When they exclude political offenses, it is precisely connected or complex offenses which are meant. It being unnecessary in this case to construe the treaty, no opinion is expressed as to the construction placed on it by your excellency. But it may be doubted whether it was the intendment of the treaty to include connected or complex offenses in the category of extraditable offenses. For, on the one hand, the exclusion of absolutely or purely political offenses is implied, without express exception, while the express exception of political offenses excludes mixed or connected offenses; and on the other hand, if so wide a departure from the traditional policy of this Government had been intended, it is reasonable to suppose that the inclusion of such offenses would have been clearly and specifically indicated, as was done in the treaty with Belgium. And if the intent in the insertion of the word had been such as your excellency supposes, it is remarkable that no allusion appears to have been made to it heretofore, either in the Cuzo case or even in the case of the eight Mexican revolutionists, when extradition was refused for the same reasons as in this case. Over thirty years have elapsed since the adoption of the treaty, and so far as I am informed the construction of the treaty now made by your excellency is made for the first time, and if it had been made and accepted in the two cases above mentioned extradition should have been granted instead of being refused. Accept, etc., JOHN SHERMAN. Señor Romero to Mr. Sherman. [Translation.] MEXICAN LEGATION, Washington, January 24, 1898. MR. SECRETARY: I have the honor to inform you that I have received instructions from my Government to denounce the treaty of extradition between Mexico and the United States which was signed in the City of Mexico December 11, 1861. The reasons which my Government has for denouncing that treaty have been on several occasions pointed out by it when proposing its revision. To those reasons is added the conviction that the treaty lacks sufficient precision to prevent the confusion of purely political offenses with those of the common order perpetrated under some political pretext, as is demonstrated by what has recently occurred in the case of Jesus Guerra. The decision which the Department of State recently pronounced in that case corroborates in the conception of the Government of Mexico the necessity of concluding a new convention in such precise terms as shall not admit of conflicting decisions in analogous cases, and which shall, moreover, embrace other rules of action, the addition of which is suggested by experience. Accept, etc., M. ROMERO. No. 311.] Mr. Sherman to Señor Romero. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, January 28, 1898. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 24th instant, giving notice of the denouncement by your Government of the treaty of extradition between the United States and Mexico, signed December 11, 1861. In view of the expression contained in your note of the conception of the Government of Mexico of the necessity of concluding a new convention, I take pleasure in expressing the willingness and readiness of this Government to enter into negotiations to that end. Inasmuch as the present treaty will, by its terms, continue in force during the period of twelve months ensuing the notice of its denunciation, it is desirable that if a new treaty, mutually satisfactory, shall be agreed upon, it may be formed and ratified during the life of the present treaty. Accept, etc., JOHN SHERMAN. Señor Romero to Mr. Sherman. [Translation.] LEGATION OF MEXICO, Washington, January 29, 1898. MR. SECRETARY: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note, No. 311, of yesterday, in which, owing to the fact that the Mexican Government has expressed its desire to abrogate the extradition treaty of December 11, 1861, with the United States, you express a desire that a new treaty shall be negotiated and signed before the expiration of the term of one year, during which the treaty to abrogate which the Mexican Government has expressed its desire is still to be in force. I understand that it is the purpose of the Mexican Government, stated in the note which I addressed to you on the 24th instant, and I consequently do not doubt that it will be glad to see the readiness of the United States Government to negotiate a new treaty, as announced in your note to which I am now replying, and which I transmit to it this day. Accept, etc., M. ROMERO. THE NETHERLANDS. INAUGURATION OF HER MAJESTY QUEEN WILHELMINA. No. 151.] Mr. Newel to Mr. Day. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to inclose herewith in duplicate, together [Inclosure.-Translation.] STANFORD NEWEL. PROCLAMATION OF HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN DOWAGER REGENT OF THE KINGDOM. In the name of Her Majesty, Wilhelmina, by the Grace of God, Queen of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau, etc. We, Emma, Queen Dowager, Regent of the Kingdom. FELLOW-CITIZENS: The task which was intrusted to me in 1890 will soon be ended. To me falls the inestimable privilege of seeing my much loved daughter attain the age at which she, in accordance with the provisions of the constitution is called upon to govern. In days of grief and bereavement I entered upon the Regency of the Kingdom, now the whole nation is gathered rejoicing around the throne of its youthful Queen. God has been my preserver throughout these years, my fondest wish is realized. To all who by word and deed have assisted me and by their love and attachment have supported me, I tender my thanks. May our country and its possessions prosper under the reign of Queen Wilhelmina. I resign the high position which I have held in the State with the sincere wish that God's blessing may rest on a Queen and people united by the closest bonds. Issued at the Hague, this 30th day of August, 1898. EMMA. W. H. DE BEAUFORT, The Minister of Justice. H. GOSMAN BORGESIUS, The Minister of Marine. The Minister of Finance. ELAND, The Minister of War. C. LELY, The Minister of Waterstaat, Trade, etc. CREMER, The Minister of Colonies. Mr. de Weckherlin to Mr. Day. LEGATION OF THE NETHERLANDS, New York, September 12, 1898. MR. SECRETARY OF STATE: I have the honor herewith to transmit to you, with a translation, the letter whereby Her Majesty, the Queen, my august sovereign, announces to the President that, having attained her majority, she has taken the reins of government in hand. Begging you to be pleased to forward said letter to its high destination, I avail myself, etc., G. DE WECKHERLIN. [Inclosure.] Wilhelmina, by the grace of God, Queen of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau, etc. To Mr. WILLIAM MCKINLEY, President of the United States of America. VERY GREAT AND GOOD FRIEND: Having attained my majority, I have just assumed the royal power, which, during my minority, has been exercised, in my name, by Queen Emma, my well-beloved mother, with such wisdom and devotion that they will ever be indelibly engraved in my heart and in the hearts of my faithful subjects. I desire to inform you that I have taken the reins of government in hand, and I beg you to believe that, on my part, nothing shall be neglected in order to maintain and draw closer the amicable relations existing between the Netherlands and the United States of America. I flatter myself that I may rely upon your highly valued cooperation for the attainment of this object. The welfare of the nations whose destinies are confided to us will certainly be promoted thereby. With my best wishes for the prosperity of the United States of America and for your own happiness, I beg you to accept the assurances of my high consideration. Done at The Hague, this 31st day of August, 1898. Your good friend, W. H. DE BEAUFORT, The Minister of Foreign Affairs. WILHELMINA. Mr. Newel to Mr. Day. No. 156.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to state that the inauguration of Her Majesty Queen Wilhelmina took place in Amsterdam on the 6th of September, 1898. On the 5th of September, Her Majesty the Queen, accompanied by the Queen-Mother, and attended by four Dutch Indian princes, a full court suite, a guard of honor composed of representatives from all the elite families of the city of Amsterdam and the province of N. Holland, and further by detachments of troops selected from all branches of the army and navy, made her public entry into Amsterdam. FR 98-33 The town was en fete, the streets being gaily decorated, and throngs of people enthusiastically greeted Her Majesty en route from the railway station to the palace. The inauguration ceremony, which took place at 11 o'clock a. m., in the Nieuwe Kerk, an imposing edifice adjacent to the palace, was of very impressive character. The United First and Second Chambers of the States-General had been summoned to a special and extraordinary session in the church, and all were present except the three socialist members. In addition thereto there were present the immediate royal relatives of the sovereign, the whole of the diplomatic corps, the cabinet ministers, the chief officials from the Government departments, the judges, the principal army and navy officers, all those who had in any way assisted in the education of Her Majesty, a very large representation of the elite of the country, and a very numerous body of representatives of the press. The building was crowded with a splendidly dressed audience, space being left for only 50 of the public, who, in order to secure admission, took their stand before 6 o'clock a. m. The Queen, attended by her court in full state, proceeded on foot from the palace to the church, and, just in front of the Queen-Mother, who stood awaiting her, took up her position on a throne specially placed for this occasion on a dais, around which were gathered the royalty, the diplomatic corps, and the Government representatives. In a clear, distinct, and most touching manner the young Queen pronounced the speech from the throne-a copy of which is herewith transmitted in duplicate, together with translation-and then raising her right hand pronounced the oath prescribed by the constitution. The speech was heard with rapt attention, and at its close the heralds proclaimed Her Majesty Queen, and there followed hearty cheering from all parts of the building, the acclamation being taken up immediately after by the crowd outside the building. Subsequently each member of the States-General in turn took the oath of allegiance, which done, Her Majesty left the church in the same manner that she had come, amidst renewed cheering, the ringing of bells, and firing of cannon. In Amsterdam, from the 6th till the 9th, there was a rapid succession of festivities, at most of which Her Majesty with a full suite attended, engrossing the general attention. On the 9th instant the Queen made her public entry into The Hague, and between that date and to-day, the 13th instant, there has been a repetition of the festivities of last week in Amsterdam, The Hague vying with the capital in doing their Queen honor. On the 15th instant there will be a grand naval review at the mouth of the river Maas; the ordinary session-1898-99-of the States-General will be opened on the 20th instant; and on the 22d a review of the troops and a military display will take place on the eastern side of the country, and at all these events Her Majesty will appear. I have, etc., STANFORD NEWEL. [Inclosure in No. 156-Translation.] GENTLEMEN, MEMBERS OF THE STATES-GENERAL: In early life, by reason of the decease of my never-to-be-forgotten father, God called me to the throne, which I ascended under the wise and beneficent regency of my dearly loved mother. On the completion of my eighteenth year I assumed the sovereignty, as my proclamation has announced to my loved people. |