Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1891-12-09
arenuousiy insisted upon on the part of Euro

haval officer OF the insurgent fleet, manned by
It's sailors and with soldiers on board, was
,eized under process OF the United states
court at San Diego, Cal, for a 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 10 sea. II
would have been inconsistent with the dig
nifty and self-respect OF this government not
to have insisted that the ltata should be re-
turned To san Diego. 10 abide the judgment OF
the court. This was so clear Ia the Junta oil
the Congressional party, established al lqui-
que, that before the arrival OF the ltata al
that port, the secretary OF foreign relations OF
ne provisional government addressed TO Rear
Admiral Brown, commanding the United
States naval forces, communication, from
which the following Is an abstract.
THE provisional government has learned by
the cdbegrams OF the Associated Press that
the transport Itata, detained In San Diego by
order OF the United states for taking on board
munitions OF war and in possession of tho
marshal, left the port. carrying on board this
official. who was landed at point near the
coast, and then continue d her voyage. II this
news De correct. this government would de
plore the conduct of the ltata. and a. an eyi
dence thst il is not disposed TO support OF
agree to the infraction OF the laws OF ths
Unit ed states, the undersigned takes advan
tage of the provisional relations you have beer
arrival in this port 10 declare 10 you that al
soon as she Is within rea oh Of our ORDERS
his government will put tho Itata, with thu
arms and munitions she took on board at san
Diego. at the disposition of The United states
A trial in the district court of the United
States for the southern district Of California
has recently resulted in decision holding
among other things, that, inasmuch rs the
Congressional party has not been recognized
"A DplliUPrpDt the acts dome I'm IFS Interest
could not be violation OF our neutrality
laws. From this judgment the United States
has appealed. not that the condemnation of
tle vessel Is a matter Of Importance, but thai
we may know what the present state of our
law Is. for, IL this construction of the statute
is correct, there is obvious necessity for re-
vision and amen1ment.
a Disapfointment.
During the progress of the war in Chill this
government rendered its good Offices 70 bring
about a peaceful adjustment, and il was M
one time hoped that good result might he
reached; but in this we were disappointed.
The instructions Ia our naval officers asd 10
our minister at Santiago, from the first TO the
last of this struggle, enjoncd upon them the
most impartial treatment and noE-nterfer-
ence. am satisfied that these instructions
were observed, and that our representatives
were always watchful 10 use their influence
on more than one occasion, did effectively,
We could not forget. however. that this gov
ernment was In diplomatic relations with the
then established government Of Chill, as IL
is now In such relations with the successor of
that government. am quite sure that Presi-
dent Montt, who has, under circumstances Of
promise tor the peace of Chill. been installed
As president OF that Republic, will not desire
that. in the unfortunate event of any revolt
against his authority. the policy of this gov
ernment 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 presented to this govern
ment; and IL Is a matter Of regret that so
many Of our own people should have given ear
to unofficial charges and omplaints that man
if,stly had their origin in rival interests and
in a wish To pervert the relations of the nited
States and Chill.
The collapse of the government Of Ralma-
ceda brought about a condition which Is, un.
too familiar in the history of the
Central and South American states With
the overthrow of the Bamaceda government,
he and many Of his councillors and officers
became al once fugitives for their lives, and
81 the commanding officers of the
foreign naval vessels in the haFbor Of Val
paraiso. and to the resident foreign ministers
at Santiago for asylum. This asylum w9s
freely given. according 10 my information. by
the naval vessels OF several foreign powers
and by several OF the legations al Santiago.
The American minister. ss well as his col
leagues. acting upon the impulses Of human
ty, extended asylum 10 political refugees
whose lives were in peril. i have not been
willing To direct the surrender OF such Of these
persons as are still In the American legation
without suitable conditions.
The Baltim ore Incident
On the 10th Of October an event occurred al
V valparaiso, so serious and tragic in its circum-
stances and results. as 60 very Justly excite
he indignation Of our people, and to call for
prompt and decisive action on the part of this
government. A considerable number Of the
'ailors of the United States steamship Balti-
more, then In the harbOr of Valparaiso, being
ipon shore leave and unarmed. were assaulted
~ armed men. nearly simultaneously I'm dif-
crent localities In the city. One petty officer
vas killed outright. and seven OF eight seamen
we're seriously wounded. one of whom has
incc died. so savage and brutal was the as
ault that several of our sailors received more
han two, and one Of them as many as eiQh-
cen, stab wounds
An investigation OF the affair was promptly
made by board OF officers of the Baltimore.
nd their report shows that these assaults
we're unprovoked. that our men were conduct
ng themselves in "a peaceable and orderly
ity took part la the assault, and used their
Weapons with fatal effect. while "A few Others.
With some wei-disposed citizens endeavored
o protect our men. Thirty-si OF our sailors
'ere arrested, and some OF them. while being
aiken to prison. were cruelty beaten and NAL.
rcated. The fact that they were all dis
harged. no criminal charge being lodged
gainst any one of them, shows very clearly
bat they were Innocent of any breach of the
oaCe.
so far a. ] have yet been able 10 learn no
ther expiaaatiop Of this bloody work has been
lgg, sted than that II had its origin in hos
lity To these men as sailors of the United
tates, wearing the uniform Gf their govern
rent, and not In any individual act oy personal
nimosity. The attention of the Chilean gov
rnment was at once called To this affair. and
statement Of the facts obtained by the in
estigation we had conducted was submitted.
by a request TO he advised OF any
ther or qualifying facts in the possession OF
he Chilian government that might tend To re-
eve this affair OF the appearance Of an in
llt to this government. The Chilean gov !
rnment was also advised that II such quali- /
ling facts did not exist this government !
ould confidently expect full and prompt re- |
aration.
II IL to be regretted that the reply of the sec /
etary for foreign affairs of the provisional .
,vernment was couched in AN offensive tone.
d this no response has been made This gov .
'nment Is now awaiting the result Of an ia .
'stigation which has been conducted by the
'lmlnal court at Valparaiso. IL Is reported,
nofiicially, that the Investigation Il about .
,mplcted. and IL Is expected that the result
Ill soon be communicated to this govern
ent. together with some adequate and salts
ctory response tn the note by which the at
ntion OF chill was called To- this incident. II
NNsaN ss..Na.