Mexico weekly ledger., 1891-12-17

as to very Justly excite the indignation
of our people, and to call for prompt
and decided action on the part of this
government. A considerable number of
the sailors of the United States steamer
Baltimore, then in the harbor of Valpar-
also. being upon shore-leave, and un-
armed. were assaulted by armed men
nearly simultaneously in different To-
calities in the city. One petty officer
was killed outright and seven or eight
seamen We're seriously wounded, one of
whom has since died. So savage and
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 Balti-
more and their report shows that these
assaults We're unprovoked, that our men
were conducting themselves in peacea-
BILE and orderly manner, and that some
Of the police of the city took part in the
assault and used their weapons with fatal
effect, while a few others with some
well disposed citizens. endeavored to
protect our men. Thirty-six of our sail
ors We're arrested and some of them,
while being taken to prison, were cru
ely beaten and maltreated, The fact
that they were all discharged, no GRIM
inal charge being lodged against any of
them. shows very clearly that they were
innocent of any breach Of the peace.
So far as have yet been able to learn
no other explanation of this bloody work
has been suggested than that it had its
origin in hostility to those men as sailors
of the United States, wearing the uni
form of their government and not in
any individual act or personal animosity.
The attention of the Chilian govern
ment was at once called to this affair,
and statement of the facts obtained by
the Investigation we had conducted, was
submitted, accompanied by request to
be advised of any other or qualifying
facts in the possession OF the Chilian
government that might tend to relieve
this affair of the appearance of an insult
to this government. The Chilian gov
ernment was also advised that, if such
qualifying facts did not exist, this gov
ernment would confidently expect full
| and prompt reparation. 1t is to be re-
gretted that the reply of the secretary of
| foreign affairs of the provisional govern
| ment was
Couched in an Offensive Tone.
To this no response has been made.
| The government is now awaiting the re-
suit of an investigation, which has been
conducted by the criminal court at Val
paraiso. 1t is reported, unofficially, that
| the investigation is about completed and
| it is expected, that the result will soon
| be communicated to this government
| together with some adequate and sat
| isfactory response to the note by which
| the attention of Chill was called to this
incident. If these just expectation.
| should be disappointed, or further need
less delay intervene, will, by a specia
message, bring this matter again to thf
attention of congress for such action a,
may he necessary. The entire CORE
spondence with the government of Chi.
will, at an early day, be submitted IL
congress.
/ The Congo State.
| The adjournment of the senate with
out action on the pending acts for tl,'
suppression of the slave traffic in Africa
| and for the reform of the revenue ia rit
| of the independent state of the Cong,
| left this government unable to eXchang;
those acts on the ,te fixed, July 2, 1891
A modus vivendi ia, been concluded b,
| which the power of the Congo state t,
levy duties ON imports is left uninl
paired, and, by agreement of all til
signatories, to the general slave tratl'
act. the time for the exchange of ratiii
cations on the part of the United State
has been extended to Feb. ?, 1892.
China.
The late outbreak against foreigner
in various parts of the Chinese Empi~
has been cause of deep concern, i
view of the numerous establishments q
our citizens in the interior of that couu
try. This country can do no less tha
insist npon continuance of the proteL
tive and punitory measures, which: Il.
Chinese government has heretofore al
Piled No effort will be omitted to pr,
\ tect our citizens peaceably sojourning i
China, but recent unofficial inform
ton indicates that, what was at first IT
garded as an outbreak of mob violenC
against foreigners, has assumed the larga
form of an insurrection against publ,
order. The Chinese government has d,
c1ined to receive Mr.. Blair as the nini
ter of the United States, on the grou:l
the enactment of the existing legislatio
against the introduction of Chinese labo
ers. he has become unfriendly and 81
jectionable to China, have felt cor
strained to point out to the Chinese gov
ernment the untenableness of this posi-
ton, which seems to rest as much O.
the unacceptability of our legislation a
: on that of the person chosen, and which
| if admitted, would practically debar tn
selection of any representative so long a
the existing laws remain in force.
You will be called upon to conside
the expediency of making special prt
vision by law for the temporary admis
sion of some Chinese artisans and labor
5 ers in connection with the exhibit {
Chinese industries at the approachin
Columbian exposition. l regard as dt
6 sirable that ne Chinese exhibit be faci
, itated in every proper way.
Spain.
A question has arisen with the go,
. ernment of Spain touching the rights {
American citizens in the Caroline island
Our citizens there, long prior to the col
| irmation of Spain's claim to the island:
had secured by settlement and purchas
certain rights. to the recognition an
maintenance of which the faith Of Spai
was pledged. have had reason with
the past year very strongly to prote'
3 against the failure to carry out tn
listers, which has resulted in great il
r Justice and injury to the American res
: dents.
The government and people of Spai
{ propose to celebrate the four hundredt
: anniversary of the discovery of Amerit
| by holding an exposition at Madri
t which will open on the 18th of Septen
g ber and continue until the 31st of D
g cember, 1892. A cordial invitation hi
: been extended to the United States
, take part in this commercial relatio
l and, as Spain was one of the first natiol
4 to express the intention to participate
s the Worlds Columbian exposition
T Chicago, it would be very appropria
: for this government to give this invit
: ton its friendly promotion.
5 Inter-Continentai Railway.
Surveys for the connecting links
the projected inter continental railw;
! are in progress, not only in Mexico, b
at various points along the course mapp'