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Show VAN HORN'S CASE. Whether V erner Van Horn shall be surrender"'! to the Canadian government govern-ment by the United States may furnish the two governments with a nice question ques-tion of international Jaw. If the destruction de-struction of the bridge in Canadian territory ter-ritory could he construed as a crime and as maVing Van Florn a fugithe j from justice tiicre would be no doubt about tfie proper action to take. Tbe United States v.-ould be compelled to .-ur- j render him under its extradition t- a'y I with Canada. , ' Tho German officer makes the apparently ap-parently sound pl'-a that, his count ry is at war with Canada and fiat he ha', committed only a pel j t.iea j offense. Tlie government of the United titates ha frequently refused to deliver up a fu- ;jitive who has sought asylum in our j country and whose extradition might be j demanded on the ground that he has j committed a political offense abroad, j This has been the unbroken practice of our government for many years, and it is not likely that we will establish a new precedent by delivering up the German officer to Canada, unless it is demonstrated that he is not an officer in the German army aud has committed a crime in tho ordiuary acceptation of that term. The fact that we are not compelled to surrender Van Horn does not release re-lease us from liability for his acts if he operated from this side. As a neutral neu-tral country the United States is required re-quired to prevent any warlike undertakings under-takings against Canada from the American Amer-ican side. If such operations are conducted con-ducted without tho knowledge of our government, wo are, nevertheless, responsible re-sponsible aud, iu case of a Canadian claim, probably would be compelled to pay damages. Whether we can punish Van Horn is another question. It is certain, however, how-ever, that if he is a German officer and has taken refuge in' this country after operating in a country hostile to Germany, he can be interned until the end of tho war. If we should take that step wo would be acting in accord with the practice of The Netherlands government, govern-ment, which has iuterned both German and English combatants who have sought refuge in Holland. , There appears to be some doubt as to whether Van Horn was on the American or tho Canadian side of the line. If he was on the American side the case is simple. Ho can be punished pun-ished under our own laws and no international in-ternational question will arise. |