The morning call., 1891-10-31
CHILE's ANSWER.

The official answer Of Chile to the tenn
parate demand Of the Government at Wash
ington for reparation for the Valparaiso
Outrage is very much indeed to be deplOred.
il is neither cOnsonant with friendly rela-
tons nor agreeable to international law 1t
is based on the assumption that the offense
committed by the murderers Of the sailors
Of the Baltimore was an offense against the
republic Of Chile only, and that foreigners
have nothing to do with it. 1t places the
affair on the footing Of a murder Of one
Chilean by another Chilean, which is not at
all the case. The men who were murdered
were not only citizens Of the United States,
hut the employees of the Government. and
il was the right aud duty of the Govern
m-ut OF the United States to inquire into
the circumstances Of their murder. They
did so, aud the inquiry instituted by Com
mauder Schley developed the fact that the
murder was UnpTOVoked, and was due to
the fact that they were Americans-n0t
only Americans, but were in the employ
meut of this Government. On this the
United States very properly demanded
Teparation. Chile replies that the trans
action is being investigated by her own
municipal authorities. and that the United
States must not only be satisfied with
their finding, whatever it may be, but must
be content to wait for it till it pleases them
10 make it known.
The Provisional Government of Chile is
lboring under a delusion if it imagiues that
this VIII satisfy the American people. We
cannot admit that petty court in a foreign
seaport may hold jurisdiction in matters Of
life and death over American citizens who
happen to be within It's reach. Much less
can we suffer that such a court can pass
finally upon the question whether mob
was or was not justified i'll assassinating
wearers of the uniform of the United
States. To do so would be to abdcate our
national sovereignty The contention is
pTeposterous, and ought not to seriously be
put forward by any responsible nation.
a hope that sober second thought will
Induce the Provisional Government to re-
view its action is not encouraged by the
tone of its late dispatch 1t is petulant,
and almost impeTtinent. This Junta of
petty politicians, who were conspirators and
fugitives only few weeks ago. address the
Government of the United States in the
tone OF a pedagogue addressing his scholars.
They undertake to give us lessons in inter-
national law, and correct our style of con-
Quoting diplomatic correspondence. They
are evidently acting under the coercion of
the bloodthirsty and brutal mob Of VAL
paraisO, which, only year ago, broke out
In riot, sacked stores, and were with diff
Guilty suppressed by troops brought from
Santiago.
On such people argument is wasted. The
only logic which will convince them Is the
logic Of facts-stern, hard facts. An occu-
patton Of the posts OF Iquique and Anto-
fagasta would bring them 10 their senses,
and it is possible that nothing else would
These are the outlets for the nitrate de-
pOsits which constitute two-thirds of the
exports of Chile. The territory in which
they are found was wrested from Peru at
the close Of the war eight or nine years ago
the deposits have since then been worked
with such energy that last year they yielded
over S33, 900, coo, most Of which sum came
from Germany aud France. A few Of our
vessels might hold these ports and forbid
expectation until the Valparaiso difficulty
was settled and a suitable indemnity, which
would be sweIled by any expenses incurred
for its collection, was paid to the United
States.
This would be in strict accordance with
international law and practice. Govern
ments have frequently attached property
and blOckaded ports in order to enforce de-
mands which recalcitrant nations refused
TO recognize, relying upon the Jelef that
there was no power anywhere to coerce
them. Half a century ago France bloekaded
Vera Cruz, and would let no ship enter or
depart until Mexico agreed to fulfill her
contracts. The United States dealt with
Paraguay in the same fashion few years
later. During the Napoleonic wars there
were several instances of similar action
both by England and France. Ample prece-
dent can be found for the blockade of the
nitrate ports. and from present appear
anees no other step seems likely 10 awaken
the Provisional Government of Chile to a
sense of its responsibilities.