Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-05

4 A LONG CONFERENCE As TO WHERE THE RESPONSE
] BILITr SHALL REsr-THE OWNERS DECIDED TO
BE LrABLE-ADMIRAL McASSs DIsPArcH--sEc-
RErARY TRacY's INTERESTING TALK.
| The surrender of the Itata with all of her
guns, OF which the Navy Department WAS Off
cially informed yesterday afternoon. was the
subject OF conference at the White House
later in the day between the President. Astor-
ney General Miller, Acting Secretary Wharton
and Secretary Tracy. An opinion as to
the international aspect Of the case was OBJ
| tanned from Mr.. Moore, assistant secretary
OF state. who showed how wide are the differ
ences between the authorities on the subject of
| the responsibility in such instances. His ulti-
matum was that in view of this disagreement
the Gillian government cannot be held re-
| spcnsiblc nor can the United States govern
ment. The owners OF the vessel may be held
| liable, as they undoubtedly must have known
that they were engaging in unlawful business
when they agreed to transport the arms to the
insurgents in Chilli.
ADMIRAL MCANNs DISPATCH.
The official information as to the surrender
of the Itata at Iquique was contained in dis
patch from Acting Rear Admiral Mccain re-
ceived by Secretary Tracy several hours after
the regular time of closing the department..
The dispatch came in cipher and it took about
three hours to translate it.
In effect the dispatch stated that the Itata
had arrived at Iquique from Tocopiiia Wednes-
day night, and was placed at the disposition Of
Admiral McCann yesterday morning. She had
on board. the dispatch says. 5000 rifles and also
ammunition taken from the schooner Robert
and Minnie of the port of San Diego, Cal. She
had no other munitions Of war than those be-
longing to the ship. and had transferred moth
ing to the Esmeralda, with whom she COM
inundated off Acapulco. Mex. After COMMUNE
eating with this insurgent cruiser she went d.
rect 10 Tocopila.
Admiral Mccain said also that the cruiser
Charleston arrived at Iquique yesterday and
that the Pensacola was expected before night
fall.
The Itata will now be sent back to San
Diego. probably under the convoy of one of
the cruisers of the admiral's squadron as soon
as she can coal and prepare for the return
trip She viii be delivered to the United
States court officers at San Diego, and the pro-
ceedings against her for violation of the neu-
trality law will be resumed at the point where
they were interrupted by the unlawful de-
parture Of the steamship, and the responsible
parties will. If they appear. also be called upon
TO answer the additional charge of contempt of
court IN running away while under injunction
WHAT LED TO THE SURRENDER.
Secretary Tracy explained to a reporter last
night the chain Of circumstances that led up to
the peaceful surrender to the United States of
the Itata yesterday.
The Secretary said that the desire for q sur
render came from the leaders of the insurgent
party at lquique. shortly after the vessel had
Illegally escaped from the custody of the mar
shall at San Diego the government was informed
by these leaders that they disapproved the ac-
ton of the officers of the vessel the moment
she escaped, and made offers through Admiral
McCann to peaceably surrender her to the
United States as soon as she arrived in CHILEAN
waters. These offers were then communicated
TO the department at Washington and in due
time were accepted by this government, with
out, however. implying any recognition on the
part of the United States of the insurgents as
belligerents. The proposition for peaceful
surrender was pending at the time the Charles
ton, which was in pursuit of the Itata, at
Acapulco replenishing her diminished coal sup
ply.
As soon as the offer was formally accepted a
telegram authorizing him to cease the chase
was sent to Capt. Remy of the Charleston but
the steamer had already sailed when the tele-
gram reached Acapulco, and the captain, una
ware OF the turn affairs had taken, proceeded
on his search for the escaped vessel.
The fact of the acceptance of the offers to
surrender the ltata on her arrival in Gillian
waters was. therefore, communicated to Admit
raj McCann, who WAS, therefore, prepared to
receive the Itata on her arrival. Secretary
Tracy saia that the ltata would be sent up the
coast TO San Diego to answer the charges
against her in court.