The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-01-29

that the disorder of October 10th began
by quarrel among drunken sailors,
which assumed considerable proper
tlons, owing to the condition of the
locality in which it originated. and that
tho police performed their duty by re-
establishing the tranquility and placing
the persons who seemed to have been
concerned in the disorder at the dis
posal of the court.
Tho government of Chilli has no data
au thorizing it to think that quarrel was
due to any dislike of tho uniform of
the United States or that tho police
tailed to perform their duty. On the
contrary, it is a we'll understood fact
that the sailors get Intoxicated when
they go ashore. after they have been on
their vessel for long time. This is
also quite natural The intoxication of
seamen and disorders to which it gives
rise, although they may assume serious
proportions and occasion very lamenta.
bic offenseS, as was unfortunately the
case at Valparaiso on the 10th of Octo-
Der, cannot constitute an insult to the
nation in whose service are the men
who have taken part in tho disorder,
although they certainly do not Justify
the oifenscs committed during the dis
order.
1.-The government of Chilli could not,
however, form final opinion concern.
ing the nature of the occurrences in
question, or as to whether the police
had or had not improperly participated
therein or failed to perform it's duty
until the termination of the judicial in
vestigation, which had been initiated
without delay, and which was pushed
forward as speedily as was COM
patlble with the provisions of the law,
with the obligation of collecting all the
elements of proof that it was possible
to collect in order to throw full light
upon the matter, and with necessity of
promptly Furnishing tho perpetrators of
the offense which had heen committed.
ut was the desire and duty of the
government of Chilli to discover tho
truth in order to mako its future pro-
ceedings conform thereto, and in order
that the United States Government
might be satisfied that nothing was neg.
lected in order to do full justice. You
we're pleased, with your high sense of
rectltude, to remark to me that this
proceeding of tho government of Chilli
was correct, and that, although you de-
sired tnat the judicial investigation
might be brought to close with as
little delay as possible, you understood
THAT 1T was necessary that the ordinary
legal proceedings, which were not as
rapid in Chilli as in the United States.
should be heard. | have taken oc-
casion at sundry times to inform YOU of
what the Gillian authorities were doing
to bring tho investigat ton to a close. In
criminal trial held at Valparaiso not
only have the landsmen been heard, but
also the Seamen of tho Baltimore. Both
have been confronted with each other.
The reports of physicians and experts
N ln6 60,
surgeon OF the cruiser had likewise been
invoked, and in a word nothing has been
neglected that could tend to bring the
whole truth to light. The seaman of
the Baltimore made Their statements
with the assistance of an interpreter
designated by themselves, who was an
o1fcer OF the cruiser, so that the oath
taken by the witnesses, their conforma
tion with each other, the reports of ex.
perts concerning the cause and the ma.
ture OF the wounds, and the hearing
granted to both Chilians and Amer-
cans, so that all might present
thelr complaints and charges, and
on the contrary, l took occasion to in
form you on the 1st of January that nv
government authorized me to conclude
an agreement looking to arbitrati ton,
and my government subsequently, APP
proved the agreement concluded by me
with you, of which ! also informed YOU.
AS the criminal trial initiated at Val
paralso has not yet come to an end, my
government has not yet been able to
reply to the demands made by that of
the United States. The various docu-
ments and antecedents to which have
called your attention in nv foregoing
communications were designed to in
form the United States Government
OF the progress of the judicial in
vestigation and of the facts thereby
ELECTED. They do not, however,
constitute the reply, which can only be
given when the facts are definitely
brought to light by the sentence which
must DO pronounced by the courts. The
testimony which tho Government of the
United States has caused to be taken
in California from the crew of the Bal
tlmore cannot take the place of the trial
which is being held at VALPARAISO.
where the offenses were committed.
Ihls testimony may be useful for dis.
clpllnary or administrative purposes in
the United States, but it cannot serve
as the basis of judicial sentence, either
IN Chill or in the United States. The
copy l have to-day had the honor
TO send You of the statement
made by one of the seamen of
Inc baltimore at Valparaiso shows
that the seamen made no
charge against the police. The charges
which he makes here, in the absence of
the accused parties in tho contradic-
ton of his first statement, can have
n" value. 1t is to be observed, moro
over. that statement made by this
seaman at Valparaiso is attested by
the judge, by the signature OF the sea
man himself and by chat of the interpre.
ter, who was an officer of the Baltimore.