The French proposal for the remulation of the abuse of the right asylum which has been submitted to the Council of the League of Na~ tions isa timely document. The cables which have come to hand do not indicate the nature of the provvislons which have been proposed by France, though it is apparent from the headings which are quoted that a very. real has' been put forward for the prevention uch tragic occurrences as the nssas~ sinations in Marseilles. The right of political asylum has been one which has been jealousy guarded in many countries, and it has been sufteient for immigrants to show that, because of their political opinions, their lives would be endangered were they returned to their country of origin for rreflige to be extended to them. There fs a great deal to be said for the Practice. Undoubtedly in the past there have been men whose only crime way the ability to think some what differently from the mass. of their "fellows, The idea that such should be persecuted even unto death was repugnant in the minds of many, and rightly s0, But the poll Heal asylum granted such fugitives was generally upon the implicit un= derstanding that the refugee would nob abuse the hospitality extended him by continuing to plot against the government of the country from which he fled, or that, at least, he should do nothing to imperil the ordinary relations between his hosts ind the government whose pursuit had evaded. When the immunity from political persecution is abused by persons who devote their ener~ ales to campaigns of terrorism and Assassination entirely different con~ lderations arise, Tt has been proved time without number that political assassination is not only criminal but foolish. It serves no end, save the destruction of human life' that may bbe of value to mankind, and no matter what the reasons which Inspire it may be, as between the slayer fand hig victim it is no more and no Yess of an ordinary murder than those which so frequently occupy the attention of the Courts. The doctrine that because a murderer is obsessed with certain political, ¢on= vietion, he is, therefore, hors ta tot has only to be stated to show what 8 ridiculous state of affairs would be created if ever it could be entirely accepted,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.