The National tribune., 1892-01-14
THE CHILEAN SITUATION.
An Irritating Reply 10 the Demands OF the United
HfaieA

The State Department received q dispatch
on Friday, Jan. s, from Senior PereiTa, tho
Chilean Minister Of Foreign Affairs, through
Minister Mont, which was a decided disap-
pointment. 1t was simply the findings Of the
Chilean Judicial Officer, whose duties CORE
spond with those Of the District Attorney in our
legal practice, instead Of a statement which
might be regarded as an apology for the malic-
ious attack on United States sailors at VAL
paraiso. The length 10 which the inquiry has
been allowed 10 drag along in Chile, and state
ments made TO Secretary Blaine by Minister
Mont that other links remain 10 be added 10
the all ready long chain of legal formalities in
the shape Of a trial before the Judge of Crimes,
has naturally had an irritating effect on Presi-
dent Harrison and his advisors, who bad post
poned further correspondence with Congress
upon the Chilean situation, they hoping that \
satisfactory understanding would soon be
reached.
IL seems, however, that the dispatch marks
a tangible advancement toward reconciliation
between the two Governments as the tone OF 10
is more friendly and conciliatory than those
which have characterized previous communities.
tions. The present Foreign Minister speaks OF
the attack on the Baltimore's sailors as . de-
plorable incident" and an unfortunate incl
dent, when the former Minister used the terms
an affair" and the disorders in Valparaiso"
So far the proceedings in Chile have resulted
in tho Indictment Of three persons only, and IL
is hardly 10 be preusmed that the Chilean Gov
eminent, after the stand IL has taken, will
make an apology and promise Of reparation to
this country until the trials shall have taken
place and the prisoners are convicted OF murder
Gus assault But Minister Months statements
warrant the belief that these trialsare 20 begin
at once, and IL is apparent that the regular pro-
cesses OF Chilean law are being carried forward
with proper expedition, and that there is every
hall D..
coming when the trials are concluded, and that
the United States Government will await the
result reasonable length OF time.
There is great disparity between the findings
Of tho Chilean judicial officer and the testi-
mony collected from the Baltimore's sailors
concerning the attack made on them. The
disparity is evident when il is noted that Min
lister Pereira says in his dispatch " that only
one isolated shot was fired that from a revOl-
yer, and that the police carry Colombian car
bnes" while Medical Inspector Cooke, Of the
Baltimore, says that Riggin was killed by a
rife ball; that other men received bayonet
wounds; that Trumbull was stabbed Is or 20
times i'm the back while lying unconscious on
his face, and that Higgins body was stabbed
after he was dead. To reconcile these state
ments with those made by the Chilean Minis
ter will be a very difficult task, but the investi-
cation now being made in California by Judge
Advocate. General Remey. Of the Navy, may
throw a clearer light on the matter.
Gen. Remey has had number of the Balti-
mares sailors before him, aud the testimony so
far given shows that the assault was made
without prOvocation. and that il was premed-
tated. Gen. Remey Is assisted by District At
tOrney Carter aud United States Commissioner
Hanley. Mr.. Carter said on Saturday, Jan. .,
that there is no doubt but that Riggin aud
Turnbull were foullv murdered that the as
saults on the Americans were unproyoked, aud
that many were outrageous. The testimony
points very strongly 10 the fact that while the
attack resulted from quarrel between Riggin.
Talbot, and the Chilean sailor, il was seized
upon by the Chilean mob as a preteKt for
general attack.
IL was fully shown that the police and
soldiers in Chilean uniforms made little effort
TO disperse the crowd and protect the Ameri-
cans, and they even joined in the assault.
Although there were instances Of arrests made
and protection given 10 American sailors dur
ing that time still affirm that Riggin and
Turnbull were foully murdered"