The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-01-29
CHILE's BOMB asst.
The Position Taken Two Years Ago In
the Pan American Congress.

The Position Taken Two Years Ago in
the Pam American Congress.
WAsHINGToN, Jan. 27.-Chile's offer to
arbltrate is inconsistent with the action OF
her delegates to the PanAmerlcan confer
ence two years ago, when those representa-
tiyes dissented from the principle of arbl-
trating differences between the nations in
the following bOmbastiC utteTance:
We, the delegates of Chile. are unwilling TO en-
tertain the Illusion that any conflict which may
directly affect the dignity or hOuOr OF nation
shall ever be submitted 10 the decision Of a thitd
party. Judges shall not be looked for either tn
that case or any other OF an analogous nature 10
decide whether nation has the right 10 ma IN
tam her dignity or preserve her honor. FOr de-
euse of bOth all The elements OF strength ana re-
slStauce which III y be counted upon Will he
called forth, and there is no temeTlIy In ASSERT
ing that country That is ready 10 submit this
class OF questions to The decision or an afUl-
traitor would lack It's TalSOn retire. Moved Dy
these considerations the delegation from Chlie
thinks Itself In the right when asserting th L tue
priuclpl' OF abOslu'e arbitration, Applicable 10
all cases which may occur, may, n0lwl!ustaud-
lug It's good purposes, become OF doubtful april
Gallon In a serious International crisis. we
must iusist In this Affirmation, tuai nation
whose dignity has been wounded or whose honor
has been attacked, viii never seek au arDitIa-
ti0u remedy for tile Oiieus-.
The principle Of absolute arbitration, no mat.
ter how cOnEenIal and sympathetic, when under
stood aud applied ia The way above stated, be-
q
aud has against t the serious objection that II IS
incon sstent Win tie nature OF things.
said principle cannot, therefore, be accepted
Wi huut limitations.
This is our conviction, reached after attentive
and mature consideration OF the project
Would 10 be advisable 10 enumtrate those n.
tdliOns? This * a que StOu To which the answer
10 be given IS dltlcuiG IL Is not possible Tor any
one TO fOtesee, or deter mine with eXactueSS, all
The cases In which the nature OF me question
peTmls Of al lblIration. All euumeratlOhs W0ull
be deficient, IL not casulstIc. InlS Is the reason
why, In explaining the exceptions, general and
vague expressions are resOTted TO- they balug
The only ones which can IN every contingency
constitute guaranty that the necessary liberty
of action was preserved.
The application OF these principles IS natur-
ally 10 be left TO The discretion and judgment OF
the nation which may have occasion 10 couslTue,
and which, ~ each particular case, VIII date L
mine whether the case which has presented Itself
is OF i not included among them; aud lt cannot
be otherwise. because II The decision IS 10 be
given by third party the interested nation
would sustain detrIment ID It's sovereignty,
which cannot be allowed. Oiherwlse, Inc ef!!
produced thereby would be undoubtedly suIt
worse than the eyll which 1t was attempted 10
correct.
Tie Government Of Chile, in reserving its
liberty 10 resort 10 arbitratloa ID each particular
case, does nothing else than 10 take shelter uu-
der QUE OF these general provisions recently indI-
Gated, whose purpose Is 10 formulate au eXcep-
lion 10 the principle OF arbitration. To say that
arbitration VIII De TesOuGd 10 whenever Tie
conflict does not involve a point, for instance. or
erumeut shall decide whether the p ndiuE diff
cIity is OF such nature as 10 ad nil OF settle
meuJ by arbitration. Is IN substance 10 say the
same Identical thug, because IN both cases free
dom Of action j. secured.
The award nT an arbitrator NAV be the last
word Iu a controversy but THIS VIII not destroy
the germ which produced IT, A. general rule,
one OF Tie con eLdHg parties generally deems
itself 10 have been WrOnged; anu iL Is not rash
to state That the source OF the dis greement Ie
maius latent
Win The foregoing statements the delegates
from chile believe they nave accomplished the
following double purpose:
FIrst-Iu have stated In clear and precise
manner, without disguise or retlceHCe. what the
views OF their Government are on THIS delicate
question OF duration; what IS the rule Of action
their Government has Invariably followed In re-
gatd thereto and what Is the spirit which ami
mates it 10 resort 10 said method Whenever
proper, with al eedOm Ol action which II eN-
pressly reserves
SeoOud-To explain to the conference their
own position Ia regard 10 the grave subject, and
set forth, as they have done ln the preceding Ie-
marks, tEe grounds OF their action.
Therefore, We, the undersigned delegates
from Chile, DO hereby declare that We abstain
from discussing OF YO,iug on this project, and
ask that this paper should be appended 10 the
minutes, as provided by the rules and practice
Of this conference. l.. &. NARAS,
L