The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-10
THE TROUBLE WITH CHILE.
VII hepzration Must BE Made, or Con.

last, WINS Continued, but fortunately with in.
frequent and not important armed collisions,
uhtil August S, when the congressional forces
iai.ded reaf Valparaiso and after a bloody en-
| gssenent. captured that city. President Bal
naccda at once recognized that his cause was
lost, and provisional government was speedily
established by the victorious party. Our min
lister was promptly directed TO recognize and
| put himself in communication with this
| government so soon as it should have
established de fac.o character, which
| was done. During the tendency of this civil
| contest, frequent indirect appeals were made to
this government to extend belligerent rights TO
the insurgents and 10 give audience to their
| representatives. This was declined, aud that
pollcy was pursued throughout which this gov
eminent, when wrenched by civil war. 80
stfenuously insisted upon on the part OF Euro
| pean nations
| The Itata. an armed vessel commanded by a
naval officer of the insurgent feet, manned by
It's sailors and with soldiers on board, was
seized Under process OF The Cnlted states court
al san Diego, Cal. for aviolEfIon OF our neutral
| Ky laws. While IN the custody OF an officer OF
the court the vessel was forcibiy wrested from
| his control and put to sea. II would have been
Inconsistent with the dignity and selfrespeet OF
this government not to have insisted that
the ltata should be returned 20 san Diego to
abide the jndgment of the court. This was
SO clear 10 the iunta OF the congressional party,
established az lquique that before the arrival of
the itata at that port the secretary of foreign re-
latons OF the provisional government addressed
70 Rear Admiral Brown, commanding the
United states naval forces, communication,
from which the following is an extract:
"Ihe provisional government had learned
by the cablegrams of the Associated Press
that the transport itata, detained in san Diego,
by order of the Upited states for taking on board
munitions OF war and in possession OF the
MARSHAL left the port, carrying on board this
oiflcial, who was landed at point near the
coast, and they continued her voyage. If this
news is correct. this government would deplore
the conduct OF the Itata and evicence that
II is not disposed 20 support agree to the in
traction OF the laws OF the United States, the
undersigned takes advantage of tie per-
sonal relations you have been good enough
20 maintain with him since your arrival
In this port TO declare 10 you that soon as she
i within reach of cur orders, he Will put the
ltata with the arms and munitions she took in
san Diego, at the disposition OF the United
States.
rial in the district court Of the United
State. for the southern district OF California has
recently resulted in a decision holding. among
other things, that inasmHch rs the congres sonnl
party has not been recognized as belligerent
the act, done Ia It's interest could not be y o.
latlon OF our neutrality !aYs. From this judg
ment the United states has appealed, moi taat
the condemnation OF the vessel a matter of
Importance. but that we may know the present
state of our law. for il this construction OF the
statutes is correct there is obvious necessity
for revision ana amendment
During the progress OF the war in Chile, this
government rendered It's good Offices TO bring
about pesceful adjustment, and IL was at one
time hoped that a good result might be reached.
tons to our naval officers and to our
minister at Santiago, from the first to the
isst OF this struggle, eni1ined upon
them the most impartial treatment and absolute
non-interference. ! am satisfied that these in
structions were observed, ana that our repre-
sentatives were always watchtul to use their
influence iinpartlally in the interest of human
lily, and on more than one occasion did SO effect
lively. am quite sure that President Mont, who
has under circumstances of promise for the
peace of Chile, been installed president OF that
at a
event of any revolt against his authority, that
the policy OF this government should be other
than that which we have recently observed. No
official complaint of the conduct of our minis
ter or OF our naval officers during the struggle
has been presented to this government, and it is
a matter OF regret that so many OF our own peo-
pie should have given ear to unofficial charges
and complaints that maniiestly had their origin
In rival countries aud wish TO pervert the rela-
tons of the United States with Chile.
The collapse of the government of Balmaceda
brought about condition which is unfor-
tunately too familiar in the history of the South
American states. With the overthrow of the
councillors and officers became fugitives for
their lives, and appealed TO the commanding
Dor of Valparaiso aud to the resident foreign
ministers at Santiago for asylum. This
asylum was freely given, according to my
information by the naval vessels of several for
cign powers, and by several OF the legations at
Santiago. The American minister, "a well as
his colleagues, acting under the impulses of
humanity, extended asylum to political reiu-
gees whose lives were in peril
surrender Of such Of these 'S persons os
as are still in the American legation,
without suitable understandings 1t is believed
that the government of Chile is not in position,
in view OF the preeedents in which il has been
connected, 70 broadly deny the right of asylum,
and the correspondence has not thus far pre-
sented any such denial. The treatment of our
minister for time was such as to call for a de-
cided protest, and it was very gratifying to OBJ
al flp ~ Hlxsy
undoubtedly the result of the prevailing excite
ment, were at once rescinded or suitably re-
Taxed.
On the 10th of October an event occurred in
Valparaiso SO serious and tragic in its cireum-
stances and results as To- very Justly excite the
Indignation o. our people and 10 call for prompt
and decided action on the part of this govern
mcnt considerable number OF the sailors of
the United states steamship Baltimore. then in
the harbor OF Valparaiso. being upon shore on
leave hni unaTmcd, were assaulted by armed
men nearly simultaneously in different locali-
ties IN the city One petty officer was
Killed outright and seven or eight sea-
men were seriously w0Inded, one of whom has
since died 20 savage aud brutal was the assault
that several of our sailors received more than
two. and one as many as eight stab wounds. An
investigation OF the affair was promptly made
by board OF officers of the Baltimore and their
report shows that fhcs- assaults were unpr1-
voked; that osir men were conducting them
selves in peaceabte and orderly manner and
that some al the police of the city took part in
the assault and used their weapons with fatal
effect. while a few Others, with some Wen dis
posed citizens, underworld - protect oar
men. Thirty-six of our sailors were ar.
rested, aud some OF them. while be-
Ing taken To prison, were cruelly beaten
aud maltreated The fact that they we're all dis
charged, 40 criminal charge being lodged
against any one OF them. shows very clearly
that they were innocent OF a breach o. the
peace. 80 TAR as / have yet been able to learn
no other explanation OF this bloody WORK has
teen suggested than that IL had lis origin in
hostility to these men as sailors OF the United
States, wearing the uniform of their govern
ment ana ROT IN any individual act
or personal antmos.ty. The attention
of the Chilean government was
at once called 10 this affair. and statement Of
the facts obtained 10y The invest CATION we had
conducted WAS unlimited, accom- panied by a re-
quest 10 tie advised OF other or qualifying facts
ia the possession oi t.e thllean government
that N gh' relieve thls affair OF the appearance
OF All Insult to this government The Chilean
government waS az once advised that If such
qualifying facts did not exist this government
would confidently expect full aid prompt
rcDarstioa.
II is to %, regretted that the reply of the score
tary Tor foreign siiairs OF the provisional gov
eynmont was COuched IN an offensive tone. To
this 40 response has been I8Ne. This govern
meRt i now awaiting the result OF a inves;iga-
ton which has been conducted by the criminal
court ai Valparaiso. Il is reported unofliciallV
that the Investigation is about completed, and
that the result will soon tic communicated 10
this government, together with some adequate
and satisfactory response 10 the letter by which
the attention OF Chile was called 10 this Incl
dent
II these Just expectations should be disap-
poiutet or further needless DELAY intervene,
will 10y special message bring this mat or sgain
u the sttcpis "a 90 congress loT such act on as
may he necessary. The entire corresp aLdepce
with iEe government 81 CSte Will At an early
day &c submitted IL congress
OTHER FoEEIGN RELATIONS.
Suppression or slave Trade-The Chinese
outrages-The Worlds Fair
renew the recommend tion of my message
fas.d lannarE lh. ia. fnr thn a-....inn ~ -.