Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, SEPTEMB. 20, 1919. KAISER AND DUTCH LAW.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2031, 20 September 1919, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, SEPTEMB. 20, 1919. KAISER AND DUTCH LAW.

JMSCCSSIXG the legal position of the. ex-KaUer and the ex-Crown Prince, the Dutch newspaper Handelshlad says; —Both of them have been admitted into the country as a matter of 'fact, not as a matter of right, for no authorisation to trav-

el or reside in Holland lias been issued Ur I Bern in-accordance with the law of 184!) relating to foreigners. They were not interned as belonging to a belligerent army; indeed, since their arrival in this country liberty has been restored to all interned military men. Nor are they interned as dangerous foreigners. The temporary law of 1918 relating to foreigners requires that the foreigner, “shall be deemed dangerous to public order, safety, health, or morality," which can hardly he said wHh regard to the Kaiser and the Crown Prince. In one respect they are certainly free, and we cannot imagine that the Government will hinder them'from leaving the country, if they think proper, and going to Germany nr wherever they wish. Can the Kaiser and the Crown Prince be expelled’.' 'five law relating to foreigners gives protection only to' foreigners /admitted in a. legal manlier. It even provides that foreigners not in possession of an authorisation to travel and reside in the country must be pul over the frontier. On the other hand, extradition can only take place on the ground of definite offences described in the law relating to extradition and in extradition treaties. Now, as the Kaiser by the. terms of the Peace Treaty-is accused,'not of any offence described in a penal code, buff “for a supreme offence against international morality and the sanctity of treaties,” his, extradition cannot be granted by,virtue of our Extradition Law. The ease of live Crown Prince is different. If (lie Associated Powers should .include him. among the other responsible for definite war offences whom they wish to bring to trial before their military judges, and they ask for his extradition. on this ground, our Government will have to decide whether his . alleged offences are included in our extradition law treaties or are merely political of- , -fences.