The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-12-09

strcnuously insisted upon on the part OF Euro
rean nations =
The Itata. an armed vessel. &C mnanded by a
naval officer OF the insurgent feet, manned by
its sailors aud with soldiers hoard, was
seized under process of the United states
court at San Diego, Cal, for q violation Of Oh,
neutrality laws. While in the custody OF an
officer OF the court, the vessel was forcibly
wrested from his control and put 10 sea. ft
would have been inconsistent with the dig.
nifty and self-respect OF this government noe
TO have insisted that the Itata should be re-
turned 20 San Diego, TO abide the judgment oa
the court This was so clear to the junta OF
the Congressional party, established at lqui-
que, that before the arrival OF the ltata at
that port, the secretary of foreign relations of
the provisional government addressed TO Rear
Admiral Brown, commanding the United
States naval forces, communication, from
which the following is an abstract.
"The provisional government has learned by
the cAblegrams OF the Associated Press that
the transport Itata, detained in san Diego by
order OF the United States for taking on board
munitions OF war and in possession OF the
marshal, left the port carrying on board this
official, who was landed at point near the
coast, and then continue d her voyage. IL this
news ne correct. this government would de-
plore the conduct of the Itata, and, az an evil
dence that IL is not disposed TO support or
agree to the infraction Of the laws Of the
Unit ed States, the undersigned takes advan-
tage Of the provisional relations you have been
good enough to maintain with him since your
arrival In this port 10 dce-Sre 20 you that rs
soon as she is within r,-~h OF our orders,
his government will put the Itata, with the
arms and munitions she took on board at San
Diego. at the disposition Of the United States"
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 as the
Congressional party has not been recognized
as belligerent, the acts done in its interest
could not be a violation Of our neutrality
laws From this judgment the United States
has appealed, not that the condemnation OF
the vessel is n matter Of importance, but that
we may know what the present state of our
law Is; for, II this construction of the statute
IL correct, there Ia obvious necessity for re-
vision and amendment.
A disappointment.
During the progress of the war in Chill this
government rendered its good offices to bring
about peaceful adjustment, and II was at
one time hoped that good result might be
reached: but In this we were disappointed.
The instructions to our naval officers and To
our minister at Santiago, from the first to the
last Of this struggle, enjoined upon them the
most impartial treatment and non-interfer-
ence. | am satisfied that these instructions
were observed, and that our representatives
were always watchful 10 use their influence
impartially, in the interest OF humanity and,
on more than one occasion, did 80 effectively.
We could not forget, however, that this gov
ernment was in diplomatic relations with the
then established government of Chill, as il
IL now in such relations with the successor OF
that government. am quite sure that Presi-
dent Montt, who has, under circumstances Of
promise for the peace of Chill, been installed
"a president OF that Republic, will not desire
that, in the unfortunate event of any revolt
against his authority, the policy of this gov
ahould he NJ no than hat which xya
have recently observed.
No official complaint OF the conduct OF our
minister or OF our naval officers during the
struggle has been presented 10 this govern
ment and IL Is matter Of regret that so
many of our own people should have given ear
TO unofficial charges and complaints that man
ifestly had their origin in rival interests and
in wish to pervert the relations Of the United
States and Chill.
The collapse OF the government Of Balma-
ceda brought about condition which is, un-
fortunately, too familiar in the history of the
Central and South American states. With
the overthrow of the Balmaceda government
he and many Of bis councillors and officers
became at once fugitives for their lives, and
appealed to the commanding officers of the
foreign naval vessels in the harbor of Val
paraiso, and To the resident foreign ministers
at Santiago for 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. well as his coll
leagues, acting upon the impulses Of human
ity, extended asylum to political refugees
whose lives were in peril. / have not been
willing TO direct the surrender of such OF these
persons as are still In the American legation
without suitable conditions.
The BaItim ore Incident.
On the 10th Of October an event occurred at
Valparaiso so serious and tragic in its oircum-
stances and results as TO very justly excite
the indignation of our people, and 10 cali for
prompt and decisive action on the part OF this
government considerable number of the
sailors of the United States steamship Balti-
more, then i'm the harbor OF Valparaiso. being
upon shore leave and unarmed were assaulted
bv armed men, nearly simultaneously, in diff
ferent localities in the city. One petty officer
was killed outright, and seven eight seamen
were seriously wounded, one Of whom has
since died. 80 savage and brutal was the as
sault that several of our sailors received more
than two, and one OF them as many as eigh-
teen, stab wounds.
An investigation OF the affair was promptly
made by a board of officers of the Baltimore,
and their report shows that these assaults
were unprovoked. that our men were conduct
ing themselves in n peaceable and orderly
manner and that some OF the police of the
city took part in tho assault, and used their
weapons with fatal effect, while n few others,
Nltn sotnc Wtll-ulhpOSeu cillIenS. tndcaNOred
10 protect our men. Thirty of our sailors
were arrested, and some Of them. while being
taken 20 prison. were cruelty beaten and mall
treated. 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 of any breach of the
peace.
So far as 7 have yet been able 10 learn no
other explanation of this bloody work has been
suggested than that IL had its origin in hos
tility To these men sailors of the United
States, wearing the uniform OF their govern
ment, and not in any individual act or personal
animosty. The attention Of the Chilean gov
ernment was at once called TO this affair, and
statement OF the facts obtained by the in
vestigation we had conducted was submitted,
accompanied by request TO be advised of any
other or qualifying facts in the possession of
the Chilan government that might tend 20 re-
lieve this affair OF the appearance OF an in
suit 10 this government The Chilean gov
ernment WAS also advised that II such auali-
flying facts did not exist this government
would confidently expect full and prompt re-
paration. 80
IL is 10 be regretted that the reply OF the sec
rotary for foreign affairs of the provisional
government was couched in an offensive tone.
To this no response has been made This gov