New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-05
SUPRENDER OF THE ITATA.

The Itata is reported to have been sulren-
dered to the United States fleet at lqluque'
The vessel ran into Tocopilla, an insignificant
mort one hundred miles south OF the lnsurgenV
stronphod There orders were received by her
commander from the Provisional Government
and the vessel was taken 10 lquique and prompt
" nlaced at the disposal of the American al
miral with her cargo of 5000 rifles. This Is
most satisfactory termination of the Charles
toms long chase. The vessel Is returned to the
Jurisdiction of the United States courts, from
which il was forcibly and illegally rescued
Those courts will be competent to DECIDE all
controversial points respecting the ownership
of the vessel and the violation OF neutrality law
at San Diego.
If this important news be fully confirmed by
official dispatches to the Navy Department the
Government viii be credited by the country
with having acted with firmness, courage ana
diplomatic tact in this complex affair. Nou
only were cruisers sent out in search OF the
ship which had dehed the authority OF united
States law, but negotiations were entered INTO
hv which naval engagement in Gillian waters
was avoided and arrangements made for sec'ir-
ing the voluntary surrender of the 1tata by the
insurgents. The Government has acted with
no less discretion than boldness. The capture
of the ship in CHILEAN waters would have peeh
undertaken at very serious risks III the pres
ence of a superior naval force If naval en-
cagement and bloodshed had followed, tho
United States Navy would have been placed IN
the attitude of fighting Balmaceda's battle AS
It is, a conflict has been wisely avoided and
the return of the ship has been provided for by
diplomatic methods in advance OF her ARRIVAL NJ
louioue The aifront to the American nag
committed at San Diego has been ledressed
the authority of the courts has been vlndicateo !;
the responsibilities incurred by the acceptance
of the Geneva award have been fully assumed ;
and at the same time there has been nothing
like untimely and partisan intervention in the
civil war now in progress.
The action of the United States Government
in the Itata case~has undoubtedly produced
marked impression in Europe. The pursuit OF
the Itata on the high seas was most unusual
act. for which there were few precedents but
after accepting the Geneva award the United
States was in position to introduce new rule
of the high seas, if one were needed, Tor the
maintenance and enforcement of neutral OBJ
legations. The main effect of the ltata contro-
versy will be to enlarge the scope OF that que
diligence" which has been established as the
moral duty of neutral maritime nation in time
of war. If the pursuit of the ship had involved
naval battle al Iquique serious complications
would have arisen and tie attention of foreign
Governments would have been diverted from
the real points at issue. The conciEatory att
tude of the insurgents has prevented confice
and secured careful consideration OF the case
by the United States courts High standards
of neutral obligation have been set up without
an open fight in CHILEAN waters.