There is a rumour in France,—though not one of any
authority,—that a demand is to be made for General Boulanger's extradition for the offence of embezzlement. If such a demand should be made, we do not see what the British Government have to do with it, though in France the rumour is that the British Government is to be sounded on the subject before the demand is made. Surely it would be just as reason- able to sound the British Government on the extradition of a thief. If there be a prima-facie case to go before a Magistrate for the commission of any offence within the Extradition Treaty by a Frenchman now domiciled in England, such a case would have to be placed before the Magistrate of the district in which the Frenchman resides, and he would deter- mine whether the prima-facie evidence was or was not adequate. The Government would have as much or as little to do with it as with the committal of an Englishman for trial. But the prima facie case for embezzlement against General Boulanger would be tried after a fashion rather different from that pursued in the French Senate in the absence of the accused, especially as the General would be able here to present his defence under the advice of the best counsel he could get.
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