Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-12-17

dence that II is not disposed 10 support or agree
TO the infraction Of the laws Of the United
States. the undersigned takes advantage OF the
personal relations you have been good enough
To maintain with him since your arrival In this
port TO declare TO you that ne soon as she ~
within reach Of our orders this Government Will
took on board in San Diego, at the disposition
= A trial In the District Court OF the United
has recently resulted In q decision holding.
among other things, that. inasmu, MS the Con-
gressional party had not been rec gnfzed as q
belligerent, the acts done In it's interest could
not be q violation OF our neutrality laws. From
this Judgment the United States has appealed.
mot t. AZ the condemnation n ., the vessel n -
what the present state OF our law IA; for AZ this
construction OF the statute 10 correct there 10
obvious necessity for revision and amendment.
During the progress OF the war IN Chill this
Government teudered its good ot1ces 70 bring
about peaceful adiu .tment, aud It was at one
time hoped that a good result might DO reached; ;
but In this we were disappointed.
The instructions TO our naval officers and 10
our Minister AZ santiago. from the nrst TO the
last OF this struggle, enjotned upon them the
most impartial treatment and absolute non
Interference. am satisfied that these instruc-
tions we're observed and that our representa-
tives were always watchful TO use their inhu-
ence tnpartially In the interest OF humanity,
aud on more than one occasion did 80 effect
lively We could not forget however, that s Ills
the then established Government OF chill. as IL
is now in such relations with the successor
OF that Government. l am quite sure that
President Mont, who has, under circumstances
OF promise Tor the peace OF Chill, been installed
as President of that Republic will not desire
I at, in the unfortunate event or any revolt
against his authority, the policy OF this Govern
ment should be ether than that when we have
recently observed.
No oficiaI complaint OF the conduct OF our
Minister or our nava; officers during ths strug-
gle has been presented TO this Government, an a
II Is a matter OF regret that 30 many Of our peo-
IL 81. aNaI nd
complaints at manifestly had heir origin In
rival interests and in q wish to pervert the re-
ia5ons Of shs unite ne sssses sn 9Th
brought about a condition which Is unfortu-
nately too familiar In the history Of the Central
and South American States. With the over
throw OF the Balmaceda Government, he aud
many OF his councillors and officers became at
once fueitives for their lives and appealed to the
commanding officers OF the foreign naval vessels
in the harbor OF Valparaiso and to the resident
foreign ministers at Santiago for asylum. This
asylum was freely given according to my infor
powers and by several OF the legations at San
tiago.
The American Minister. as we'll as his ool-
leagues. acting upon the impulses OF humanity,
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 suit
able conditions
1t Is believed that the Government OF Chill is
not in a position, In vi5w of the precedents with
which IL has been connected, to broadly deny
the right OF asylum, and the correspond
ence has not thus far presented any tuch de-
NAL The treatment OF our Minister for q time
was such as TO call for decided protest, and II
very gratifying to observe that unfriendly
measured, which were undoubtedly the result OF
the prevailing excitement, were at once rescind-
ed or suitably relaxed
on the 10th OF October an event occurred in
Valparaiso so serious and tragic in its circum-
stances and results as to very justly excite the
indignation of our people and to call for prompt
and decided action on the part OF this Govern
the United States steamship Baltimore, then In
the barbor of Valparaiso, being upon shore
leave and unarmed, were assaulted by armed
men nearly simultaneously in different locali-
one petty oficer was killed outright and
seven or eight seamen were seriously wounded
one of whom has since died.
SO far as 1 have yet been able 10 learn no
other explanation of this bl ody work has been
suggested than that it had its origin in hostility
to these men "a sailors Of the United States
wearing the uniform OF their government and
not in any indivi ual act or personal animosity.
The attention Of the Gillian government was at
once called TO this affair, and statement of the
facts obtained by the investiga: ion we had con-
Quoted was submitted accompanied by re-
quest to be advised of any other or qualifying
facts in the possession OF the CHILEAN govern
ment that might tend to relieve this affair OF
the appearance of an insult to this Government.
The CHILEAN government was also advised that
IL such qualifying facts did not exist this Gov
eminent could confidently expect full and
prompt reparation.
1t is to be regretted that the reply OF the Sec
rotary of Foreign Affairs Of the provisional
government was couched in an offensive tone.
To this no response las been made. Our Gov
eminent is now awaiting the result OF an I'm
vestigation which has been conducted by the
Criminal Court at Valparaiso. 1t is reported
unoficially that the investigation Is about com;
nletod and 10 IL exIcctod that the result Will
soon be communicated to this Government, to-
gether with some adequate and satisfactory re-
spouse to the note by which the attention OF
Chill was called to this incident.
IL thes j ct expectations should be disap-
pointed or further needless delay intervene 1
WILL by "A speci MESA o, bring this mat er
agsin to the attention of Congress or such
action as may be necessary. The entire CORE
spondence with the Government of Chilli Will at
an early day be submitted to Congress.