The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-10


llshed de facto character, which was done
During the pendency OF this civil contest ire
qutnl indirect appeals were made to this u oy-
eminent 10 extend brlligerent rights to the III
surgcnts and to give audience 10 their represen-
tailYes. This was declined and that policy was
pursued throughout which this Government,
when wrench by civil war, so strenuouSly ln-
sisted upon on the part OF European nations. The
ltata, an armed vessel, commanded by naval
officer of The insurgent Ell. nj ,nGed by 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. II would have been inconsistent
with the dignity and self,tespect OF THIS Govern
ment not 10 have insisted that the lIata should
be returned 10 San Diego TO abide the Judgment
OF the court.
The Itata Seizure.
This was so clear to the Juuta OF the Congress
sional party established at lqulque that before
The arrival OF the lata at that port The Secretary
OF Foreign Relations of the Provisional Govern.
meDt address, Rear Admiral Brown, command
ing the United States naval forces. commune
cation. from which the following IS an extract:
The Provisional Government has learned by
tile cablegIams OF tile a SSocated Press that the
transport Itata, detained in San Diego by order
OF The United States for taking on board NUM-
lions OF war, and IN possession OF the aIshal,
lef the port, Carrying on board that official, VINO
was landed at a point near the coast and then
continued her voyage. Ii This news is correct
this Government would deplore The conduct Of
The Itaa, aud as evidence that II is not disposed
to support or agree 10 ;he infraction OF the laws
OF the United States The undersigned takes ad.
vantage OF HE personal relations you nave been
coed enough 10 maintain with him since your ar
rival N this port 10 declare TO you that as soon
as she is within reach OF our orders his Govern
ment Will put the ltata. with the arms aud NUM-
tiOns she took in San Diego, al lhe disposition OF
The United States"
The Law of the Case.
A trial In the District Court of the United
States for the southern district of California has
recently resulted in a decision holding, among
other things, That inasmuch the Congress
ional party had not been recognized as belhger-
apr flta slgfu dana in, ~ nut agIt ha
violation OF our neutrality laws From this
Judgment lhs United States has appealed; not
that the condemnation of Ine vessel Is matter
OF mpoi lance, but that W. may know the pres
eut state OF our law, for If this construction of
the statute IS correct there is obvious necessity
for revision aud amendment. During the prog
Tess OF the war In chile this Government ten
dered Its good Offices to bring about peaceful
adjustment. and II was at one time hoped that
good result might be reached but III this we
were disappointed. The instructions to our
naval officers and TO our Minister al Santiago.
from the st 10 the last OF this strugg joined
upon them the most impartial treatment and b.
Suute nun-inerlereHce. l am satisfied hat The Sc
Instructions were observed and that our repre-
Sentatives were always watchtul TO use their III
nuenee impartIally in the interest OF humanity,
and on more than one occasion did So effectively.
Our Present Relations.
We could not forget however that :his Gov
eminent was III diplomatic relations with the
Then established Government OF Chile, as it is
now in such relations with tile successor OF that
Government. | am quite sure that President
Montt, who has, under circumstances OF prom
lSe Tor the peace of Chile, been Installed as
President of that republic, Will not desire That In
The unfortunate event OF any revolt against mis-
authority lbe policy Of This Government should
be other than which We have recently observed.
: Nc official complaint Of the cOnduct of our Min
lister or OF our naval officers during IN struggle
has been presented 10 This Government. and ii is
matter OF regret that SO many of our own peO-
pie should nave given ear TO unofficial charges
and complaints That manif-sty mad their origin
IN rival interests and IN 4 wish 10 peryert lie re-
lations of The United States with Chile.
Right of Asylum.
The collapse of the Government OF Balmaceda
brought about a condition which is unfortunately
too familiar in the history of the Central ana
South American States. With the overthrow OF
tile Balmactda Government he aud many of his
cOuuseors and officers became fugttiveS for their
lives aud appealed to the commanding officers OF
tile foreign naval vessels III the harbor Of Val
par6lso and TO tile resident foreign Ministers at
Santiago Tor asylum. This asylum was freely
given, according TO my information, by the naval
vessels OF several foreign powers and by several
OF the legations at Santiago. The American
Minister, as well as his colleagues, acting under
the impulses Of humanity, eXte nded asylum to
The political refugees, whose lives in peril.
have not been wiling 10 direct tile surrender
OF such oil these persons as are still III the AmeTi
can Legation without suitable understandings.
II is believed that the Goyernme at of Chile Is
not III position, IN view Of the presidents in
which II has been connected, 10 broadly deny he
right OF asylum aud The correspondence has not
thus far presented any such denial. The tIeat-
ment OF our Minister for a tue was such TO
call for decided protest, and II was very graft
Tying 10 observe that unfriendy measures,
which were undoubtedly the result of tile pre-
yaillug excitement, were at once rescinded or
suitably relaxed.
The Valparaiso Murders.
On the 10TH OF october an event occurred In
Valparaiso SO serious and tragic IN It's crcum-
stances and results as 10 very justly eXcit- the
Indignation OF our people, and 10 call for prompt
and decided action on The part OF this Govern
meDt. a considerable number OF the sailors OF
the United States steamship Baltimore, then In
the nafUor OF Valparaiso beng upou shore
leave and unarmed, were assaulted by armed
"A flar- Inca lao
IN the city. One petty officer was killed outright
and seven eight seamen seriously
wounded, one Of whom has since died. SO saw
age ana brutal was the ass ult that several Of
our sailors received more than TWO, and one as
many as eight stab wounds An investigation
OF The ahalr was piomptiy made by board OF
officers of the ltimore aud Their report shows
that these assaults were unpgoyoled; that our
men were conducting Themselves Ia a peaceabls
aud orderly manner, and that some of the police
OF tile city took part in the assault and used
their weapons with fatal effect while a few
others, with some well-dlsposed citizens, en-
deavored TO protect our men. Thity>ix of our
sailors were arrested, and some of them, while
being taken TO prison, were cruelty beaten and
maltreated. The fact that they were all dis
charged no criminal charge being lodged against
any one OF them, shows very clearly that they
were innocent vi a breach Of the peace.
An Offensive Chilean.
So far as l have YET been able 10 learn, no
other explanation of this bloody work mas been
suggested than that 1t had its origin IN hosil-
ity TO these men as sailors OF the Uniled States,
wearing the uniform OF their Government, and
not IN any individual act or personal animOSttV.
Tine attention OF the Chilean Government was at
once called 10 this affair, aud a statement OF The
facts obtained by the Investigation we had con-
Quoted was submitted, accompanied BY a request
to be advised OF other OF qualifying facts In the
possession Of the Chilean Government that might
relieve this affair OF the appearance OF am Insult
to this Government. The Chilean Government
was at once advised that If such qualifying facts
did not exist THE Government would confidently
expect full and prompt reparatlOn. 1t Is to be
regretted that the reply OF tile Secretary for
Foreign Affairs of the Provisional Government
was couched In an offensive tone. To this no
response has been made. This Government is
now awaiting the result OF an investigation
which has been conducted by the Criminal Court
at alparaiso. 1t is reported, unoileially, that
the investigation Is about completed, and that
Tie result Will soon be communicated TO this
Government, together with some adequate and
satisfactory response to The communication
by which The attention OF Chile was called
TO this incident. If these just expectations
should be disappointed or further needless
delay intervene l VIII, by a special message,
bring this matter again TO the attention of Con-
gress for such action as may be necessary. The
entire correspondence with line Government OF
Chile will, at ali early day, be submitted 10
Congress.
/ renew the recommendation of my second
message, dated January 10, 1890, for the adOp-
tlon OF the necessary legislation 10 enable this
Government 10 apply in the case OF Sweden and
Norway the same rule in respect TO the leyying
OF tonnage dues as was claimed and secured o
the shipping OF The United States In 1928, under
Article of the treaty OF 1927. The adjourn.
meut Of the Senate without action on the pend
ing acGs for the suppression of the slave traffic
ID Africa and for the reform of the revenue
tariff OF The Independent State OF the Congo left
this Government unable TO exchange those acts
on the date fixed. July 2, 1891. A modus
viyendi has been cOnclud d by which the power
OF the Congo State to levy duties on imports Is
left unimpaired. aud, by agreement of all the
siRnaOrirs to the General Slave Trade Act, The
time for the exchange OF Publications on the part
OF the Uniied States has been extended to Feb
ruary 2, 1892,
The Chinese Massacres.
ha Lott thrua IL ntps far aTu In
parts of the Chinese Empire has been cause
Of deep concern, In view of the numerous
establishments of our citizens in the interior of
that country. This Government can do no less |
than insist upon continuance OF the protective |
and puDitoiy measures which the Chinese Gov
eminent has heretofore applied. No effort Will /,
be omitted to project our citizens peaceably So
journing In China, but recent unofficial Informal |
ton indicates that what was at first regarded as
an outbreak of mob violence against foreigners |
has assumed The form OF an instruction against |
public order. The Chinese Government has de-