The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-12-14
THEIR SIDE OF 1T.
a Chilian Minister on tho Affair Of tho
I" NA baltimore.

+
a Chilian Minister on tho Afair of ths
Baltimore.
| New YoRK, Dec l3.--The Herald's Val
paraiso adyices say: A circular letter pre-
pnred by Minister Of Foreign Affairs Malta
for distribution among Chilian legations in
Europe and America, gives Chilps side Of
the difficulty with the United States, grow
ing ont the Baltimore Outrage. He says
with reference to the report Of the secre-
tary Of the navy and the message
Of tho president I think II OPP
pottune to say the information upon which
the report and the message were grounded
are erroneous Or deliberately incorrect. So
fnr as the refugees ware concerned they
hnd never been threatened with cruelty,
nor has any one attempted to take them
from the legation, nor has their delivery
been ordered; nor has the house or the
person of foreign ministers been molested
in spite Of dallying and Intentional provo
cation. This is proven by notes
Of September, October and November CON
cerning the sailors of the Baltimore. There
is want of exactness and frankness in the
statements made in Washington. The ~
fray took place in tho bad part of the city,
the maintop of Valparaiso, and among
people by no means models. When the
police and other forces interfered ana
calmed down the tumult there were already
several hundred men engaged and it had
spread to q distance of ten blocks or more
from the place whore it commenced. Min
lister Egan purpOsely communicated to ug
q note IN aggressive and violent Language
answered Oct. "a. On Oct. IS began the
summing up, which was suspended on nc-
count of the non-appeArance of tho crew Of
the Baltimore and on account of the ille-
gal pretenses and denials of Minister
Egan. There has never been any
provocation, commenced Or accepted BY
this department., and it has always main
tanned an attitude of frmness and pru-
dence. II never had an aggressive policy,
and will mover approve hnmiliating one.
Notwithstanding the fact that interested
parties may try to make their conduct ap-
pear honest and try to dodge the issue by
erroneous accounts, whatever may be said
or may have been said in Washington, the
telegram, notes and papers sent you con-
tain the truth and the whole truth about
what has happened in regard to this affair,
and ill-will and subsequent conferences and
pretensions have not proceeded from this
department. Mr.. Tracy and Mr.. Harrison
have been led into error concerning our
people and our government. Their
instructions of impartiality and am
lty are not YET complied with.
They are not now, nor have they been be-
fore, and If no complaints have been made
against the minister and the sailors it is
because of public and notorious facts which
in Chill and the United States could never
have been made use of by our confidential
agents, even when we'll established. Bal
maceda's demands and the CONCESSIONS
made in June and July. the whole Itata af-
fair. the San Francisco in Quintero bay,
and the matter of the cable company, are
proofs of 1T. It has been purposely mis-
were attacked in various localities at the
same time. No final summing up having
been concluded il remains unknown VINO
and how many are the guilty parties. Your
excellency should take the nots of Nov. 8
in answer to Minister Fgana as we'll as the
not like to give. although he had said he
had proofs to show the lnurderers and
other guilty parties Of Oct. 16, and all other
notes. and have them translated and pub
lished. In the meantime please deny all
that appears to the contrary. We are sure
Of your punctuality as We are Of the right
and propriety Of Chili's acts, and of the
final results, in spite of the lntrigues that
descend so low and the threats that come
from some so high"
Senator Condarillas asked last night for
an explanation from Malta of his letters to
tne American government referred to by
President Harrison in his message as an
reply. Malta replied that there
was not the least truth in the
characterization. He never penned an
insulting reply to the United States
On the other hand
the Egan letters to the ChiIian foreign
office were insulting in marked degree.
Malta then won't on to maintain the truth
If the data contained in the circular letter
10 the Chilian legations in Europe and
America. He added with vehemenoe that
Chilli would act in every way with strict
Justice, and scored Egan and Consul Mo
Jreery for alleged Withholding of evidence
to arrive at n clear understanding
If the merits of the Baltimore case. He |
ai nothing would prevent Chill from
ully investigating the affair and Furnishing
hose found guilty in accordance with the
aw of the land.
Herr Gutschmidt, the German minister,
8 doing all in his power to stir up ill-feel-
ng against the United States government.
t is said he promised the Chilian admins
ration tho support of the German fleet in
he event Of war between Chilli and the
United States.