The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-11-05
The PRESIDENTS REPLY.
DEPARTMENT % STATE,

wAsHIsGfOS. oct p. 1891.
To EGAN, American Minister Santiago Chile.
Immediately upon receipt 81 information Of tho
assaults made on the 10Th inst. la the streets 81
Valparaiso upon number Of American sailors be-
longing 10 Tie United STATES mar-of. war Balti-
more. now in that hArbor, the Commander Of that
vessel, Capt w. :. scley, was directed TO cause
an immediate aud thorough inquiry TO H. made
into the origin and incidents 81 that tragic affair
aud communicate the results simultaneously to ths
Government and To you. His report under date
81 Yesterday has just been transmitted 10 this De-
parimeut by the oecreiaTt OF the Navy who nd
yises me that copy OF the report WAS forwarded
by Capt. Schley 10 you.
You will observe that tho board Of officer. select
ed 10y Capt, Scheg 10 investigate this affair report
That our sailors were uuarmed aud gave no provo
caioui thHt tie assaults upon them were by armed
men, greatly superior la number and must con-
cudc animated iu their bloody work 10y hostility
G" these men as sailors Of the United states You
VIII also notice that the character 81 some Of Tie
wounds indicate HAT thc public police. some Of
them, took pafl la the attack. and will also OBJ
serve that other American sailors were ,jtItnut
Huy apparent fault arrested and for some time held
10y the authorities. Tho friendly efforts Of few
81 the public officers to give -uCC1T To our men fur
Uisucs the only TrdCening incident o.! this affair
lIr cruel work, 30 Injurious to The United states
took place on the 10Th inst, and yet no expires
81 regret 81 oi purpose TO make q searching ia
curry with view 10 tho institution Of proper pro-
ccedings for the punt hmeut Of the guilty parties
has been. 50 far az | Rm advised, offered TO this
Government
You viii NJ once bring 20 the attention Of The
Government 81 Chile the facts as reported To- YOU
10y Capt. Schley, aud viii inquire whether there
are any qualifying facts Ia the possession Of that
GsyctumeHt or any explanation TO be- offered OF an
event That lhs very deeply panied the people Of the
lIted States. not only 10y reason Of the resulting
death 81 one 81 our sailors aud the ptiess wound
ing ~ Others, but even more Rn apparent eH-
preston of uHfriendliness To this Government
which might put la peril the maintenance Of ami
cable relations between the two countries. IL the
] facts ere ~ reported by Capt. Scey this Govern
iueni cannot doubt that the Government IL Chile
/ VIII offer prompt aud full rcparalion You wi
"A -
Signed WHARros.
cHILEs INSULTING REPLY.
Last Thursday morning the State Densrt.
ment received a cabegram from Minister Egau
continuing the following reply from the Chilean
authorities:
Minister Foreign Affairs replIss cha, the Gov.
eument Of the United States formulates demand.
aud advances threats that without being cast bac
with nerlmony, are not acceptable. nor could they
bc accepted Ia the present or ia any other al
like nature. lie does not doubt the sincerity rec
utude, or erpcrtness Of investigation ON hoard the
Batlmore, but viii recognize only the Jurisdiction
aud authority Of hts country 10 Judge aud punish
the guilty la Chilean territory. lie saws lie adj
ministration aud Judicial authorities have been
investigating the affair; the judicial investigation
under the Chilean law ~ secret and the time il not
/ yet arrived 10 mike known results; when TIA
time does arrive, will communicate result RlthotpI
he does not recognize any other authority com,
1 petent 20 Judge criminal cases than that estAb
/ lished by the Chilean people. Tutil the tim,
arrives 10 disclose the result Of Investigation n,
cannot admit that tie disorders iu VAluHTAi-o oi
the silence uf his department should appear a. m
/ expression az uufrieudliuess toward the Govern,
ment Of The United States which night put la peri
| the friendly relations between the two countries
The dispatch was carefully translated aud
/ laid before the President before noon Secre
/ taries Blaine and Tracy were Immediately
| summoned 10 the White House and a long con
| snltati0n held The receipt Of the cablegram aQt
some inkling Of Its insOlent character was gen
orally known in the city, and the result Of ia,
deliberations was awaited with great interest
| When Secretary Tracy came out, he said th,
whole matter was in the hands of the State DE
| paTtment aud be could give no information
Secretary Blaine appeared cheerful, but would
not discuss the matter.
lt Is generally believed. however that a much
more energetic note 20 Chile has been decided
upon, and that il a satisfactory answer is moi
Immediately made by Chile, Minister F9aI
| will be instructed 10 leave Santiago, and take
~ his residence on the Baltimore In IN,
meanwhile there will be a strong concentration
| OF naval force in Chilean waters, which will
demonstrate our power 10 enforce complianc,
with our just demands.
CHILEAN CoMPLAINTA
In the meanwhile there has been active
canvass Of the Chilean complaints against Us
and none Of these is found 10 have any founda.
ton.
The FIRST complaint Is that while the Con.
Rressionalists were searching for torpedoes in
the hatbOr Of Valparaiso the Baltimore turned