Connecticut western news., 1892-01-07
Chili's Side of the Case.

NEW YORK, Jan. 2-The Herald pub fishes for the first time in full eight re- markable letters, written by the Chilian authorities to Minister Egan and to Captain Schley, of the American cruiser Baltimore, clearly explaining Chili's attitude in the Valparaiso affair that now so seriously threatens to embroil both her and the United States in war. The letters were ob- tained from sources of the highest authority. Several of them are written with much spirit. The first communication is sharp letter from Minister of Foreign Affairs Matta to Minister Egan.
 SANTIAGO Oct. 27.
 SIR-The undersigned received yesterday the note in which your excellency, complying with instructions received from your government. gives an account of the diplomatic events which took place on the 18th, and expresses opinions, formulates demands and makes threats which. while not contradicted with acrimony, not accepted by this government in the present case, nor in any other of & similar nature.
 The undersigned does not doubt nor does he protest against the sincerity, rectitude and ability of the investigations made in reference to the lanentable occurrence between some American sailors and some Cnilian sailors and boatmen, but in the performalc ice of his duty and in compliance with international requirements and usages, which have never been que stioned by cultured nations, he deferS and will defer to the jurisdiction of the authorizes of his own country, hich alone have full right and sutfi- cient power to judge and punish the guilty ones whoever they may be and wherever they may be found on Chllian territory.
 The event occurred in Valparaiso, and from the day it took place the administrative and judicial authorities respectively have occupied themselves ln discovering the persons who were to blame and who should be punished in the very deplorable event, which has not yet been examined and judged.
 Tho aGf ha 1nrsi Yadh hat in the position he holds it is his precise and de- cided obligation, it is his desire to cultiva good relations, not only with friendly nations, but with its distinguished and authorized rep resentatives, he does not take into considera- tion the form given by the minister plenipoten- tiary to the complaints and protests contained in some parts of his note, and proceeds to swer the only two points in iG which require an answer, in order that matters may remain in the position and in the light which corresponds to them. After the disorder the competent au- thorities began the necessary investigations in order to establish who were the responsible parties and how they should be punished, and regarding this investigation the commander of the Baltimore must have received notice or have had some knowledge.
 Facts Kept Secret.
 The judicial investigation of the facts, which is kept secret up to a certain point, when it is made pubic, has not yet reached me, and for this reason this department has no knowledge and cannot transmit the facts concerning the crime or those whom the investigation may prove to be guilty.
 As soon as this reaches it's final point be the conclusions what they may regarding the culpa- bility and the guilty parties, the undersigned who does not recognize any other legitimate authority for the judging of criminal occur rences in Chilian territory than that established by the people of Chili-will have the honor and the obligation to communicate it to the envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States, whose government and whose people have never disregarded nor ever will disregard in other countries with which they maintain friendly relations, the prerogatives and rights of sovereign ty, which nowhere are more evident of greater application than in the exercise of that jurisdiction which corresponds to every inde- pendent nation.
 Without acknowledging that the disorders in the streets of Valparaiso and the silence oo- served by the department shall appear as the expression of ill will toward the government of the United States, which may endanger the maintenance of the friendly relations between the two countries, the undersi gned has the honor to reiterate, etc., NJ. A. MATTA.
 On Oct. 30 Minister Matta assures Egan that due justice will be done.
 Judge of Crimes Fosters letter to Minister Matta, explaining his course in the Balti. more affair, is as follows:
 CRIMINAL COURT, l
 VALPARAISO, Nov. 3.
 Mir. MINIsTER-As your excellency knows, this court has since Oct r. last been engaged fin Investigating with activity and zeal the Iamentable disorders which occurred between sailors of the American cruiser Baltimore. Chllan sailors and townspeople, with the de- termined purpose of discovering he true origin of these disorders and in applying in due time the punishment merited by those persons re- sponsible for them, whatever their nationality.
 In the course of the investigation this court, anlmated by spirit of high impartiaity well as of international courtesy. issued de- cree ordering that all data relative to the oc- currences which the American consul and the commander of the Baltimore might have col le ted should be asked of them in order that they might be united in the investigatious but both these officials excuse themselves from furnishing any facts, alleging that the matter had had been referred to the Hon. Patrick Egan, envoy extraordinary and minister pleni potentiary in Santiago by order of their gov, ernment The commander of the Baltimore adds, that Mir. Egan might, if asked, furnish Q series of names of persons who in their turn might indicate the names of others who saw the death of the Sailor Riggin, etc.
 This last suggestion Of the commander obliges the undersigned to address you in order to so lcit through your deI artment the data which the Honorable Minister Egan can have
 And lnasmuch as this has furnished the occa~ sion of my addressing you l do not wish to al. io" It Io pass Without tnanlIestlng the Surpr1se produced on tn~ court by the fact that an at- tempt has been made to create troublesome international question out of an occurrence which ought not to have gone beyond the halls of this tribunal which has investigated it in con formity to the laws which in our own country secure the rights of all without distinction of nationality,
 Purely Local Affair.
 In effect, Mir. Minister. in order that a com mon crime recognized and punished by our penal code) should be carried to the ground of diplomacy it would be necessary that one of the following circumstances should have ocourrsd: