Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-10

/ D6TptLudt6 uulunb
against any product OF the United States
placed this government in a position te
effectually urge the removal of such dis
ordinations against our meats. 1t il
gratifying to be allowed to state that
France, in the order named, have
can pork products. The removal o
these restrictions in every instance waf
asked for and given solely upon the
ground that we had now provided g
meat inspection that should be accepted
as adequate to the complete removal oil
the dangers, real or fancied, which had
been previously urged. The state de-
partment, our ministers abroad and the
secretary of agriculture have cooper.
ated with unfagging and intelligent
| zeal for the accomplishment of this
great result.
The outlines of an agreement have
been reached with Germany looking tc
equitable trade concessions in consid-
Grafton of the continued free importa.
ton of her sugars, but the time has not
yet arrived when this correspondence
can be submitted TO congress.
FRIENDLY COUNSEL TO BRAZIL.
The recent political disturbances in
the republic of Brazil have excited oul
solicitude. The information we possessed
was too meager to enable us to form
satisfactory judgment of the causes lead
| ing to the temporary assumption of su-
preme power by President Da Fonseca,
but this government did not fail to ex-
| press to him its anxious solicitude for
| the peace of Brazil and for the main
| tenance of the free political institutions
which had been recently established,
nor to offer our advice that great mod
Grafton should be observed in the clash
of parties and the contest for leadership.
These counsels were received in the
most friendly spirit, and the latest in
formation is that the constitutional
government has been re-established
without bloodshed.
THE ITALIAN IMBRoGIW.
The lynching in New Orleans in March
last of eleven men of Italian nativity by
mob of citizens was most deplorable
and discreditable incident. 1t did not,
however, have its origin in any general
animosity to the Italian people, nor in
any disrespect to the Italian govern
ment, with which our relations were of
the most friendly character. The fury
of the mob was directed against these
men as the supposed participants or &C.
cessories of the murder of city officer.
I do not allude to this as mitigating in
any degree this offense against law and
humanity, but only as affecting the in
ternational question which grows out OF
it. 1t was represented by the Italian
minister that several of those whose
lives had been taken by the mob were
Italian subjects, and demand was
made for the punishment of the partici-
pants and an indemnity to the families
OF those who were killed. 1t is to be
regretted that the manner in which
these claims were presented was not
such as to promote calm discussion
of the question involved, but this
will be attributed to the excitement
and indignation which the crime
naturally evoked. The views of
this government as to it's obli-
cations to foreigners domiciled here
were fully stated in the correspondence,
as we'll as its purpose to make an inves-
tigation of the affair with view of de-
terming any circumstances that could,
under such rules of duty as we had in
dicated, create an obligation upon the
United States. The temporary absence
of minister plenipotentiary at this
capital has retarded further correspond
ence, but it is not doubted that a
friendly conclusion is attainable.
Some suggestions growing out OF this
unhappy incident are worthy OF the at
tention of congress. 1t would, l believe,
be entirely competent for congress to
make offenses against the treaty rights
r La tal
States cognizable iu the federal courts.
This has not, however, been done, and
federal officers and courts have no power
in such cases to intervene, either for
the protection OF a foreign citizen, or
for the punishment of his slayers. 1t
seems to me to follow in this state OF
law that the officers Of the state charged
with the police and judicial powers in
such cases must, in the consi deration of
international questions growing out of
such Incidents, be regarded in such
sense as nfederal agents, 80 as to make
this government answerable for their
acts in cases where it would be answer
able if the United States had urged its
constitutional power to define and pun
ish crimes against treaty rights.
THE CHILEAN CIVIL WAR.
The civil war in Chile, which began
in January last, was continued, but for
tunately with infrequent and not i'm
portant collisions, until August 9Th,
when the Congressional forces landed
near Valparaiso, and after bloody en-
gagement captured that city. President
Balmaceda at once recognized that his
cause was lost, and a provisional gov
ernment was speedily established by
the victorious party. Our minister was
promptly directed to recognize and put
himself in communication with this
government 30 soon as it should have
established de facto character, which
was done. During the pendency OF this
civil contest frequent indirect appeals
were made to this government to extend
belligerent rights to the insurgents and
to give audience to their respective
agents. This was declined, and that
policy was pursued throughout which
this government when wrenched by
civil war 80 strenuously insisted upon
on the part of European nations.
THE ITATA AFFAIR.
The Itata, an armed vessel, command
ed by naval officer of the insurgent
feet, manned by its sailors and with
soldiers on board, was seized 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 to sea. 1t would have been incon-
IA = III