If he was a common criminal escaping from justice. why did Commander Reiter ask to take him to Acapulco and put him in a place of safety? Why did he ask permission of the Guatemalan Government at all? If Barrundia was a political refugee. he had. in my judgment. the right to extend to him the right of asylum. upon which I shall have something to say in a moment. But if Barrundia was a common criminal. and Commander Reiter knew it. if Barrundia was an offender against the common law of all nations. then he was asking the Guatemalan Government to allow him to take a common criminal and carry him into safety in a port of Mexico. If hewas not acommon criminal. if he was a refugee. then it was a case for him to decide for himself. It is impossible to hold both positions. Barrundia was either a common criminal or he was not. If he was a common criminal. then Commander Reiter had no right to ask permission to take him on board an American manofwar and carry him into safety. If he was not a common criminal. then he was a political refugee. It is perfectly clear that when Commander Reiter asked for that permission he regarded Barrundia. as everybody regarded him. in the light of a political offender. for. if he looked upon him as a common criminal. then he was guilty of offering the protection of a United States ship to an offender against the common law of allnations.