Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-28
CHlLE'S APOLOGY,


possible IOr the president OF sne rep1oGic 10
modify or set them aside. This delay, which was
inevitable owing to the independence with
which the judicial authorities must act. has
compelled the government OF the undersigned 10
delay, greatly to its regret, the settle
ment of the difficulty pending with your
Of repatriation for any injury done
to the sailors OF the Baltimore, and that might
DO attributed to Chilean soldiers or sailors. or
that might effect the responsibility Of Chile.
In view of your communication, and consider
Ing that, up to date il has been impossible Tor
the trial initiated by the judge of the criminal
court OF Valparaiso to be decided, the under
signed regards it as his duty TO declare once
more That the government OF Chile lameEts the
occurrence Of October 10, ard by way OF show
ing the sincerity Of his feeling and the conf
dence which he has in the Justice of has cause.
ne declares bis willingness not TO await the de-
clslon OF the examining judge and proposes to
the United States government that the case be
submitted to the consideration of the supreme
Court OF Justice at Washington TO the end that
that high tribunal, with its learning and I'M
paruaIty, may determine without appeal
whether ,hefe is any groundfor PREPARATION and
IN what shape il should be made. The under
signed would remind you. referring 10 the con-
duct of the Valparaiso auth critics that appears
from the preliminary examination that they
sent without delay to the scene of the conflict
all the forces at their disposal belonging to the
special guard Of the intendeucia and TO the
HOMES, Cunningham. Williams. Talbot Hollard.
Hodge, Butler, &c, seamen belonging 20 the
crew OK the Baltimore. stated to the inter-
prefer of that vessel that the object OF the
police in arresting them was to shelter
them from any attempt al attack by the
excited people. The undersigned thinks
that the action of the police in this matter
should be considered with duo allowance
for the civil war which has recently been
brought to close. The body was not
yet properly organized, nor did it have the
force that was required to put down disorder
OF such proportions in a short time. In this
connection it is proper 10 recall the words
used by the honorable Secretary of State at
Washington in his note addressed to tie Mar
quis Imperial, and bearing date of May 2i.
1871: There Is no government, however
civilized it may be, however great may be the
vigilance displayed, by its police, however
severe Its criminal code may be. and
however speedy and infexible may be ats
administration of justice, which could
guarantee its own citizens against violence
growing out Of individual malice or q sud
den popular tumult.' This was precisely the
situation of the administrative authorities at
Valparaiso on the occasion of the occurrence
which took place in October. The uuderslgEed
hopes that the foregoing will Convince The hon
orable Secretary of State that the govern
ment of Chile attaches due importance to the
question now under discussion; that he
does not for a moment hesitate 20 condemn in
vigorous terms the act committed on The 10th
Of October or 20 offer such reparaton is
just, and that he has not neglected the oppor-
tunity to express these sentiments before now,
since on various occasions and through the
plenipotentiaries of both countries he has for
warded explicit declarations on the subject
to Washington. The undersigned takes
the liberty to recall the TACT that i've
days after he had taken charge of the depart
meIt of foreign relations he addressed 10 the
minister OF Chile in the United States a teie-
gram which, In the part relating to this matter,
says: Express to the United States govern
men: what has already been stated, adding all
the data that are known, in the most cor
rect and amiable form; express to the
United States government very sincere seEti-
ments on account of this unfortunate Incident,
winch, although and (not.D strange IN the ports
of the world this government doubly laments.
owing to its sincere desire to cultivate friend
ship with the United States. Ii the United
States government should not accept
the foregoing explanations as satisfac-
tory, Notwithstanding that the Judicial
authorities hold the guilty parties re-
sponsDlc for the disorder of October l6.
the undersigned must recall the circumstances
that the government of Chile. through the me
dunn OF its minister in Washington, has eX-
pressed the desire 10 submit any mlsunuer-
standing (dispute) to decision by arbitration
by any power or tribunal which may be indl-
Gated to it; and, IN fact, arbitration Was sug-
gested in conference with the minister OF
Chile in Washington on the Both OF Decem-
Der, when the government OF the under
signed declared its goodwill and its re-
solve to accept arbitration after the final judg-
ment which would not be further de.ayed
many days, in furtherance of Its purpose to
give a speedy solution to the incident an the
mos. friendly terms The government of the
undersigned called upon its minister for a def
mite reply on the 18th instant, and on the 18Th
Minister Montt reported that. Notwithstanding
certain observations made by the American
State Department. with respect TO the oppor-
tuneness of resorting to arbitration, he had
nevertheless agreed with the Hon. Mr.
Blaine that, if any divergence of views or dis
cord should sUpervene after the verdict of the
judge at Valparaiso, such controversy would
yield to arbitration. The undersigned fastened
to declare that he would fully accept such an
agreement, for which reason the government
OF Chile deems that the case has arisen for sub
mitting TO arbitration in terms as ample as
those above indicated. any difference OF views
which it may have with the government of the
United States concerning the incident of the
Baltimore.
There is therefore submitted to the honor
able Secretary of State of the department of
foreign relations of Washington the designa-
ton Of either the Supreme Court Of justice of
the United States or tribunal of arbitration
to determine the reparation which Chile may
have to make for that lamentaEle occurrence.
As for the dispatch addressed under date of
In Washington by the minister OF foreign rela-
tions OF the provisional government, the I'M
dersigned submits that there could not be on
the part of the government of Chile the pur-
pose to intiict any offense upon the government
of the United States, with which it desires ever
to cultivate the most friendly relations. Con-
sequently, the undersigned deplores that
in that telegram there were employed. through
an error of judgment, the expressions which
are offensive in the judgment of your govern
ment. Declaring In the fuiflImont of a high
duty of courtesy and sincerity toward a friendly
nation, that the government of Chile abso-
lutely withdraws the said expressions, the I'M
designed trusts that this frank and explicit
declaration, which confirms that which mad al
ready been made to the honorable Secretary of
State in Washington, will carry to the mind of
his excollency. Mr.. Harrison, of his government
and of the American people the conviction that
the government and the people Of Chile, far
from entertaining feeling of hostility has the
lively desire to maintain unalterable the good
and cordial relations which, up to the present
time, exist between the two countries, a decla-
ration which is made without reservation in or
der that it may receive such publicity as your
government may deem suitable. With regard
to the suggestion made touching the change
of the personnel of your legation to which the
instructions OF the honorable Secretary of
State refer. it is incumbent upon the under
signed to declare that the government of Chile
will take no positive step without the accord of
the United States, with which it desires to
maintain itself in friendly understanding.
The undersigned brings this already long