The record-union., 1891-06-06
Special to the REcoRD-UN1oS.

WASHINGTON, June S. Secretary
Tracy says the next step will be to send
Che ltata back TO the United States to
stand trial. There is no expectation that
.he officers and crew of the Itata will
.eopardize their liberty by returning
with the vessel to San Diego, and in fact,
as it was reported from Mexico that the
commander of the insurgent warship
Esmeralda acted as captain of the Itata as
Tar as Acapulco, there are at least good
reasons why he should not return to the
United States.
In official circles it is believed the Itata
is not likely to suffer heavily as the re-
suit of her escapade. Credence is given
20 the story telegraphed from Chile that
The vessel took the contraband arms and
ammunition from the Robert and Minnie
outside of United States jurisdiction. If
this is true, the offense against the neu-
-rality laws is minimized, and it is very
doubtful if a case would be made out
against her in the present state of uncer-
ain construction of the law.
There is little doubt that she can be
1eld on other charges, such as contempt
Of court, in sailing away while under in
junction, kidnapping the Marshal, and
sailing without clearance papers. But
lhese are minor offenses. whose punish
nent is likely to take the shape of fines.
The only dispatch received at the Navy
Department to-day from Admiral Nc
Cam, at Iquique, was correcting the
statement as to the location of the Itata
when the arms were transferred to her
rom the schooner Robert and Minnie
This transfer took place of the San
Clemente Islands, few miles from the
coast, instead of at San Diego Harbor
The location of transfer may be Of i'm
.oortance III determining the question of
jurisdiction Of the United States Court.
According to dispatch received to-day
Ihe Itata surrendered 5000 rifles. What
-las become of the rest of the cargo of the
Robert and Minnie? The latter vessel,
according TO the information received at
The Treasury Department at the time she
sailed from San Francisco, had 200 cases
of rifles and 200 cases of ammunition on
BOARD. The impression prevails here
hat the Itata transferred the bulk of her
cargo to the Esmeralda when the two
vessels met off Acapulco, and that the
turning over of 5000 rifles is merely a
bluff.
OFFERS OF MEDIATION.
NEW YORK, June 5.-Mail advices
rom Chile state that it has been an
nounced by Government officials that the
offers of the United States and France to
act as mediators in the present struggle
nave been accepted and a conference be-
Iween both parties and the mediators
viii shortly be held in Santiago. The
men chosen by Balmaceda for this deli
cate affair are said to be Eulogio Altami-
-ano and Balisario Pratt. On the side OF
he insurgents, Pedro Moutt, Carlos
Walker, Donaso Vermera and Melchior
Concha have been selected.
a DIsCREDITED REPORT.
WASHINGTON, June 5.-The account
which came from San Francisco yester-
day Of the naval engagement in Valpa-
ralso harbOr Is received with incredulity
at the Navy Department. Such facts as
are officially known seem to discredit the
story.
The engagement is reported to have
taken place on April 2Sth, in the presence
Of foreign men-of-war.
Admiral McCann was there on that
date on board of the Baltimore, yet in
he report to the department on the
aext day he failed to mention any such
event.
In addition to this the department Off
GERS say they have no doubt that if an en-
gagement with such pronounced results
las taken place, the news would have
oeen promptly telegraphed to the United
States, instead of taking the slower course
Of mail steamers.
THE ITATA UNFIT FOR SEA.
1QUIQUE, June 5.-The machinery OF
lhe steamer Itata is in a bad state and
will require some days to put il in order
again. The Junta alleges that arms and
ammunition having been transferred tc
che Itata near the Island of San Clemente
che American law was not violated and is
making strong representations to the
United States Government with a view
OF getting possession of the munitions.