The Dickinson press., 1891-12-12
THE TROUBLE WITH CHILL.
An Intimation That the Baltimore Affair
Is Not Yet Settled.


Is Not Yet Settled.
The civil war in Chilli which began in January
last, was continued but fortunately with in
frequent and not important armed collisions,
until August 90, when the congressional forces
landed near Valparaiso and. after II bloody ell
gagement captured that citv. President Balma-
ceda at once recognized that his cause was lost.
and II provisional government WAS speedily es-
tablished by the victorious party.
Our minister was promptly directed to rec
ogniZe and put himself in communication With
this government az soon rs it should have es,
tablished its de facto character, which was done.
During the peidency OF this civil contest fire.
aucnt Indirect appeals were made % this govern
ment to extend belligerent rights to the insurg-
ents and give audience to their rrepresent anives.
Some suggestions growing out Of this unhappy
incident are worthy the attention OF congress-.
1t would, believe. be entirely competent for
congress to make offenses against the treaty
rights OF foreigners domicled In the United
States cognizabe iii the federal courts. This
has not. however. been done, and the federal Of
fcers and courts have no power i'll such cases to
intervene either for the protection OF foreign
citizen for the punishment of his slayers. 1t
seems to me to follow, Ill this state OF the law,
that the officers OF the state charged with police
and judicial powers III such cases must. i'll the
consideration OF international questions, grow
ing out OF such incidents, be regarded in such Il
sense as federal agents rs to make this govern
ment aliswerable for their acts in cases where it
would he answerable ii the United States had
used ITS constitutional powerto define and pun
i,h crimes against treaty rights.
This was declined, and the policy was pursued
throughout which this government. wien
wrencied by civil war. 80 ostrenuously insisted on
upon the part OF EuropeaiIna,ions. The Itata
an armed vessel commanded by u naval officer
OF the insurcent fleet, manned by its sailncs and
with soldiers OH board. was seized under process
OF the United States court at San Dis4o. Cal,
for q violation OF our neutrality laws. While in
the custody OF an officer OF the court the vessel
was forcibly wrested from his control and put
to sea. ltwuud have been inconsistent with the
dignity and lf-respect OF this government not
to have insisted thut the Itata should be re-
turned to San Diego and abide the judgment Of
the court This was SC clear to the unta of the
Congressional PARTY established at Iquque. / hat,
before the arrival of tine ltath at that port, the
secretary of foreign relations OF the provisional
government addressed to Rear Admiral Brown
commanding the United States naval forces 1.
communication from which the following is an
extract:
1.-THE provisional government has learned by
the cab.egrams of the associated press that tine
transport ltuta, detained In San Diego by order
OF the United States for taking on board muni-
tions OF war and in possession of the marshal
lett the port. carrying OH board this fficial, who
was landed at point near The coast. aud then
continued her voyage. If this news be correct.
this government would deplore the conduct OF
the lttta and, as all evidence that it is not dis
posed TO support OF agree an ihtraction OF the
laws OF the United States, the undersigned takes
advantage OF the personal relations you have
been good enough to maintain with him since
your arrival i'll this port to declare to you that
as soon as she is within reach of our orders his
government will put the I.ata. with the arms
at the disposition OF the United States"
trial i'll the district court OF the United
States for the Southern, district Of California
mas recently resulted in Il decision holding.
among other things. that, inasmuch AS the con-
gressiona. party mad not been recognized as q
beliigerent, the acts done i'll its interest could
not be a violation Of our neutrality. From this
judgment the United States has appealed. not
that the condemnation OF the vessel is matter
OF Importance, but that We may know what the
present state OF Our law is foc. if this coDstruc-
ton 81 the statute Is correct, there Us obvious
necessity for revision aud amendment.
During the progress of the war Ill Chilli this
government rendered its good Offices to bring
about a peaceful adjustment. and it WAS at one
time hoped that good result might be reached;
but i'll this We were disappointed. The instruc-
tions to our naval officers and to our minister
at Santiago, from the first to the last Of this
struggle, en1oned upon them the most impartial
treatment and
ABSOLUTE NoS-INIERFERENcE.
l am satisfied that these Instructions were OBJ
served and that our re presentativ were slua ays
watchful to Use their influence impartlasy in
the interest OF humanity and on more Gs II one
occasion, did SO effectively. We could not for
get, however, that this government was. i'll diplo-
matte relations with the then established gov
ernment OF Chill, as 1t Is nov IN such relations
with the successor OF that government am
quite sure that President Montt, VIII % has under
Circumstances Of promis. for the I-eace of Chill.
beel installed president Of that republic will
not desire that, i'll the unfortunate event OF any
revolt against his authority. the policy Of this
government should be other than that which we
have recently observed No Official complaint
Of the conduct OF our minister or OF our naval
officers during the struggle has been ed to
tbIs government; and it As matter OF regret
that so many OF our own people should have
given ear to unotticia! charges and complaints =
that manitesty had their origin III rival inter-
ests aud i'll wish to pervert the relations ci the
United States with Chill.
The collapse Of the government of Bairnaceda
brought about condition which is unfortunate
~ too famia, in the history OF the Cenrral and
South American states With the overthrow OF
the Ba!maceda government, he and many OF his
counselors and officers became at once fueitiyes
for theif lives. and appea!ed to the commanding
officers OF the foreign naval vessels in the har-
Dor OF Valparaiso and 10 the resident foreign
ministers AT Santiago for asylum TAis asylum