Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-02
THE CHILEAN VIEW OF IT.
How the Valparaiso AnAir 10 Regarded By
Malta,

l Vd6 CaxLEAN VIEW OF II.
How the Valparaiso AnAir 10 Regarded By
| Malta.
LETTERS WRITTEN By THE CHILEAN MINISTER
| OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO MINISTER EaAN-RK-
PORTS MADE BY THE POLICE COMMANDER AND
THE JUDGE OF CRIMES.
The New York Herald YESTERDAY published a
number of offcialietters from Minister Malta and
other Chilean officials regarding the Baltimore
Incident, which explains Chiles attitude in the
affair that now SC seriously threatens to en-
broil both her and the United States in war.
the letters. the Herald says, were obtained
| from sources Of the highest authority.
The first is q letter by Minister of Foreign
Affairs Malta to Minister Egan, dated October
| "a. in which Minister Malta says:
SIR-The undersigned received yesterday the
note in which your excelloncy. under date of
the 26th instant complying with instructions
received from your government, gives an ac-
count OF the diplomatic events which took
place on the 18th. and. after relating the result
reached by commission of the officers and
commander of the cruiser Baltimore expresses
opinions formulatcs demands and make threats
| winch, While not contruCicted with acrlmony,
are not accepted, nor can they be accepted by
| this government in the present case. nor In any
| other OF Il similar nature.
The undersigned does not doubt nor does he
protest against the sincerity, rectitudo and
| ability OF the Investigations made il reference
| to the lamentable occurrence between some
American sailors and some Chilean sailors and
| ooatmen. but in the performance OF his duty
| and In compliance with international require
| ments and usages, which have never been
| questioned by cultured nations, he defers and
will defer to the jurisdiction of the authorities
OF his own country, which alone have full right
| and sufficient power to judge and punish the
guilty ones, whoever they may be and wher-
ever they may be found on Chilean territory.
| The event occurred in Valparaiso, and from
| the day it took place the administrative and
judicial authorities respectively have occupied
| themselves in discovering the persons who
were TO blame and who should be punished in
the very derlorable event, which has not yet
been examined and judged,
TWO POINTS REoCIRINa An ANSWER.
Inasmuch as the underHgned believes that
in the position he holds it is his precise and de-
! cided obligation. as it his desire, to cultivate
good relations, not only with friendly nations,
but with its distinguished and authorized rep
resentatives, he does not take into considera-
ton the form given by the minister plenipotcn-
tlary to the complaints and protests contained
In some parts OF his note, and proceeds to
| answer the only two points III it which require
an answer in order that matters may remain
spends to them.
After the disorder which occurred between
American sailors and Chilean citizens, and Inch
caused the deaths and wounds referred to in
your excellency's note, the competent authori-
ties began the necessary yes legations in order
TO establish who were the responsible parties
and how they should be punished, and regard
ing TINS investigation the commander OF the
baltimore must have received notice or have
had some knowledge, since on the 22d or 23d Of
the present month, as am informed, the judge
OF crime directed a note to the intendente Of
Valparaiso, which was sent BY him to the com.
mander OF the Baltimore. in virtue of instruc-
tons received under date OF the 18th.
THE SECRET PROCEDURE.
The Judicial investigation of the facts, which
in our procedure has the name .sumario," and
Is kept secret up to Il certain point, when it is
made public. 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 NAV
prove to be guilty.
As soon as this reaches its final noint he the
conclusions what they may regarding the cul-
pabiiity and the guilty parties, the under
signed-who does not recognize any other
legitimate authority for the judging of criminal
occurrences In Chilean territory than that es-
tabiished by the people of Chile-will have the
honor and the obligation to communicate it to
the envoy extraordinary and minister pleni-
potentlary of the United States whose govern
nent and whose people have never disregarded,
nor ever will disregard in other countries with
which they maintain friendly relations, the pre-
negatives and rights of sovereignty. which no.
where are more evident or of greater applica-
ton than in the exercise of that jurisdiction
when corresponds to every independent ma
ton.
While awaiting the moment he NAV know
ana make known the result Of the examination
md ~
ones OF the 10th instant, without ack owledging
that the disorders in the streets of Valparaiso
and the silence observed 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 undersigned has the honor to reiterate to
the envoy extraordinary and minister plen-
ipotentiary his distinguished considerations,
&c, &c.
THE CHILEAN POLICE REPORT.
The report OF the intendente of Valparaiso
and the commander of police regarding the
affair are also given The police commanders
report, dated October Is. says, referring to re-
ports Of his subordinates: By these you will
see the extremity reached in the inexactness of
the charges formulated by the minister 81 the
United States against the police Of this port
In the first place 1t is materially impossible for
the police to have committed the number of
The conflict commenced about pm. in the
districts comprised by the streets of Claye, San
Marten San Francisco. &C., inhabited by peo-
pie Of questionable life and infested with
drinking saloons and sailors dance halls. The
forming of u mob in these districts il n few
moments Is very easy.
TO PRESERVE PEACE.
This intendencia WIZ informed of the tumult
at about quarter pas: six. Orders were at
once given by telephone 10 police headquarters
and to Santo Domingo station and verbally to
the guard Of the iatsndencia that without
moments loss OF time they should proceed with
the largest force possible to put down tho tu-
multi. This done. but when the force ar
rived. especially the police. about hal.-past 6
o clock. the CROW j already consisted of bout one
thousand men. which. from the Plaza Francesca
Echaurrer to the passenger mole. comprising
the streets Cocnrane and Bianco ard E.razuriZ
avenue. formed reritlble fold OF battle. in
which all, and especially the Americans, fought
with stones, sticks and knives.
The force of police and the army which went
to the place did nothing else than to pacify.
arrest those VINO were most determined either
on account of their excitement or because of
their drunkenness and dispersc the mob. An
hour later Sbalf-past seven p. M everything