Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-10-30
OUR CHILEAN AFFAIR
THE REPLY TO UNCLE SANS DEMAND
FOR PREPARATION.
No Authority Other Than Chiie's Recog-
| sixed to Judge and Punish the
Guilty In Chile.
rBy telegraph to the Dispatch.l

WASHINGTON, d. c., October o.
There was little or no excitement in
official circles here this morning over
the Santiago press cablegram announcing
the receipt Of an unsatisfactory response
from the Junta to the representatives OF
the United States. and saying that the
BaItimore's crew were practically "boy-
cottcd" at Valparaiso. Naval officials
discredit the latter statement and believe
it's foundation lies in the prudent course
adopted by Commodore Schley respect.
ing the granting OF liberty to his sailors
during the present condition Of excite
ment. No word has been received at
the Navy Department from the Commo-
dore reporting any new phase OF the
situation.
At the Department Of State cipher
| cablegram from Minister Egan was re-
ceived this morning. 1t was translated
and laid before the President about
noon. Secretaries Blaine and Tracy
were Immediately summoned. and there
! was long conference. At 6 O'Clock the
following official statement of the con-
tents of Minister Egan's dispatch was
made public:
CHILE on HER DIGNITY.
1.-THE Department of State received
this morning a telegram from Minister
Egan, dated Santiago. October 2Sth, in
which he gives the following as the reply
of the Chilean Government to the Presi-
dents telegram of October 23d, asking
reparatIon for the recent murder Of
American sailors in the streets OF VAL
paradise: The Minister OF Foreign Affairs
| replies that the Government OF the
United Estates formulates demand and
advances threats that. without being cat
back with scrimony, are not accept
able. nor could they be accepted in the
present case or in any other OF like ma
| ture. He does not doubt the sincerity.
rectitude, or expertness of the investi-
cation on board the Baltimore. but will
recognize only the jurisdiction AMI
authority OF his country to Judge and
punish the guilty in Chilean territory.
| He says the Administration and the iudi-
| cial authorities have been investigating
the affair that n judicial investigation
| under Chilean law Is secret, and that the
| time is not yet arrived TO make known
the result. When that time does arrive
| he will communicate the result.
although he does not recognize any
other authority competent TO Judge
criminal cases than that established by the
| Chilean people. Until the time arrives
to disclose the result OF the invesiiga-
ton he cannot admit that the disorders
in Valparaiso or the silence OF his de-
partment should appear rs an expression
Of unfriendliness towards the Govern
ment Of the United States, which might
put in peril the friendly relations be-
tween the two countries.
| WHAT NEXT?
| No reply has been made to this dis
patch yet. What will be the nature Of
any reply that may he made is altogether
conjectural. The most plausible theory
advanced is that the suggestions cour-
| teously and automatically conveyed in
Acting-Secretary Wharton's dispatch
| that this Government had no doubt an
| investigation would be made and repa-
ration afforded will now be renewed in
the shape OF a stern and formal demand
| for some immediate assurance of pro.
per action on the part Of the Junta. and
that if this be not forthcoming Minister
Egan will take passage on the Balti-
more for the United States, thus sever
ing diplomatic relations between the two
| countries.