Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-08
CHILEAN CLAIMS TREATY.
1t Was Ratified by the Senate in Executive
Session Today.


The Senate today i'm executive session rati-
fed the Chilean claims convention, which was
transmitted to that body at the beginning Of
the present session by the President, with a note
calling attention to the necessity of early con-
sideration, and inclosing the following COM
munication on the subject from the Secretary
of State: ITO the President I have the honor
to submit to you, for transmission to the
Senate, convention for the settlement of claims
between the United States and Chile, concluded
at Santiago on the 7th Of August, 1892 There
are many long-standing claims Of American
Some have been pending for over fifty
years, others originated between 1850 and
1850, but the most important ones arose
out Of the Chilean-Peruvian war Of 1888
Similar claims against Chile Of the citizens of
other governments have for the most part been
satisfactorily settled. Early in the present
year Mr.. Egan reported a disposition on the
part of the Chilean government to agree
with this government upon some mode of set
Ting all pending claims-removing thereby the
only remaining causes Of difference between
the two governments. Mr.. Egan was instructed
to undertake negotiations for that purpose and
the treaty was concluded, which is trans
mitted herewith. 1t follows so closely the lan-
guage of the French claims treaty concluded
January 10, 1880, which in practice proved sat
isfactory, that there is no occasion for any of its
text
"The claims arising out Of the Entertainment
Of the sailors Of the United States steamship
Baltimore at Valparaiso. October 16, 1891. have
been separately settled to the satisfaction
of this government by the voluntary prefer
by the government Of Chile of a suitable
indemnity to be distributed among the fam
lilies of the deceased and among the injured
men. The only claims treaty which has here
tofore been celebroted between the two govern
ments was that of Nov. 10, 1858. which was not
OF general character. but for the settlement
only Of the so-called Macedonian claims
This convention has already been unani-
mously ratified by both houses of the Chilean
congress. and it's ratification can be exchanged
at any time when it has received the approval
of the Senate.
II have the honor to invite your attention to
the provisions of article MI, which require
such notifications to be exchanged on or before
February next
The treaty itself is comprised in preamble
and twelve articles. The preamble recites its
purpose TO adjust amicably the claims made by
the citizens of either country against the
government of the other growing out of acts
committed by the military or civil au-
thorities, and names the plenipotentiaries- Min
lister Egan and Errasuriz, the Chilean minister
of foreign relations. The first article pro-
vides for the submission Of all claims
of corporations or individuals to three
commissioners, one TO be named DIV the Pres-
ident Of the United States. one by the president
of Chile and the third to be selected by mutual
agreement. The second article confers author
ity upon the commissioners. the third pro-
vides for filling vacancies. the fourth pre-
scribes the meeting of the commissioners
at Washington within six months after notifi-
cation, the fifth declares that evidence must be
presented through government agent or
counsel OH either side, the sixth makes a con-
curing decision of two commissioners final
and provides that interest on claims allowed
shall not run beyond the close of the commits
sion. The seventh article makes the decisions
binding on both governments; the eighth re-
quires claims to be presented within two
months after the meeting Of the commission
and to be acted upon within six months; the
ninth provides that the awards must be paid
within six months after decision The tenth
section provides a method of procedure and
for expenses. The eleventh declares that the
proceedings must be regarded as full settle
ment of all claims, and the last relates to the
notifications