The National tribune., 1892-02-04
Minister Montt TO Mr.. Blaine.

LEGATION OF CHILE
WASHINGTON Jan. o. 1892 /
SIR ] have had the honor 10 receive your note
az yesterday, a. au Enclosure TO which you were
pleased 10 transmit 10 me the instructions sent 10
hf ERRn on the day previous.
In tie numerous conferences with which you
have been pleased 10 favor me- have informed
you that, immediately after the occurrence Of the
events ~ Oct, Dc "a Valparaiso, which my Govern
meni most sincerely deplored, the judicial authori-
ties initiated the investigation necessary throw
light upon the iaeis aud 10 detect and punish the
guilty parties.
From the autecedents which the Government Of
Chile was able 10 collect Ht the very outset, ID APP
peared that the disorder Of Oct. l6 began by guar
REL among drunken sailors, which assumed cOHBid-
cradle proportions, owing 70 the condition Of the
locality n which 10 originated. and tIat the police
performed their duty by re-estHblising tranquility
aud placing the persons who seem 10 have been
concerned IA Tie disorder al the disposal Of the
court.
The Government Of Chile has no data authoriz-
lnR q 70 think tiia tle quarrel due TO any dis
like 81 The uniform Of the United States or that the
police failed 10 perform their duty.
On tie contrary, ID Dr. "a weli-dcmonstratod fact
that sailors get intoxicated when they 20 ashore
hfier having been on board Of their vessel for a
long time. THIS i also quite natural. Tie intoKi-
cation Of seamen aud the disorders which % gives
rise, although they may assume serious proportions
hHd occasion very inmentabie Oflenses az WIS un-
fortunately TIC case az Valparaiso on the 10Th Of
October, cannot constitute an insult 20 the Nation
Do Whose service nre ihc men who have taken part
% the disorder although they certainly do not jus
tIfy the OfirnseE committed during the disorder
The Government Of Chile could not however
form hnM opinion concerning the nature Of
TIE occurrences in question, 10 whether
size police lad or had NOT improperly pnrt.
Cipaled therein or had failed % perform its duty
until he termination ~ the judicial invest igation
which Lad been Initiated without delay, and which
Wut pushed forward Hr speedily WHs compatible
with the provisions Of the law with the obi igation
81 collecting all The elements Of proof that ii was
possible colccl iu order 10 throw full light upop
ihc matter, and with tie necessity Of promptly
FURNISHING THE PERPETRATORS
~ fhg fffaraar rrIt8gF lad 400, ,,g.rr-Ftt.H
which had been ln part suffered by persons IN the
service u friendly nation. ID thc desire aud
ine duty Of ihe Government Of Chile to discover
ihc ifuil, iu order " make its future proceedings
conform thereto and in order lai tile United states
Government might be- satisfied that nothing was
neglected iu order 20 DO full Justice.
You were pleased, with your high sense Of recti.
tude, 90 remark 90 me that this proceeding Of tie
Governments Of Chile WAS correct aud that al
Though you desired tIal the Judicial investigation
might he brought 20 q close with Rs little delay az
possible you understood that ID was necessary that
thc ordinary legal proceedings (Which were not az
rapid iu Chile ar in the United slalesJ should be
held
have taken occasion a. suudry times 10 inform
sou Oi what tie Chilean authorities were doing 10
DItuK Tie investigation "a q close.
lu Tie criminal trial held "a Valparaiso not only
hhfe landtnen been heard, but also the -eafnen u
thc Baltimore. Both have been confronted with
thch ollitii tlc reports 81 physicians aud experts
have been called for the opinion Of The Surgeon
81 tile cruiser hHs likewise been invoked aud IN
Mufa. hotnuE has been neglected that could tend
tubuug Ihe whole truth 10 light. The scaIneu 0i tbe
Baltimore made their statements with the assist
hnce " ga Interpreter designated by themselves
WHO was 40 officer 0t tie cruiser so that tlie oAl
thkcn % ihe witnesses tleIT conformation with
eHrh uiheif ihe reports " tiEu experts concerning
tle cause aud nature 81 the wounds aud tile hear
liE granted 10 both Cilleaus aud Americans 70
thhlah uiEhi present their complaints aud charges
also - heard Dog theft own Justification give tucon.
trhllple authority 90 tht trial held al Valparaiso
De- tlit course 81 our conferences we rurDrtiu1ps
considered the case in which tIc Government ~
the United States and that 81 Chile should fail o.
ffs.ff lts. fts.s AZ.
hud Nic Two Governments should have formed
their fuHl opinion, and we agreed that arbitration
wee toe DEE. means 81 settling the difficulty, and,
advancing farther iu this c0noiliatory spirit We
even formally agreed that the differences tlst
might arise should be submitted 10 arbitration
The agreement 10 accept arbitration ilAs been
ihe hhhls oi several OF Our conferences especially
that 81 the 18th insi and NO untcoedrh or fact in
teiiefiuE Herewith haE come 10 my knowledge
on iiie contrary, took occasion % inform you on
hAe ihlo january that my Government authorized
me 90 conclude az agreement looking 20 Arbitra.
tl"h hld any Government subsequently, approved
~, ~ Lasenl concluded ~ Inc with you, Of which
A. the criminal trial initinted nj Valparaiso has
MOI yei come 10 AN end, my Government has not
Vel been able 90 reply 20 tle demands made by thai
81 ihc United States. The various documents and
hnleccdsnis 90 which have called your attention
% my foregoing communications were designed
10 Inform tue United States Government 81 tlle
progress ~ ule Judicial investigation aud OF tie
lhetE thereby elected, they do not, however con-
huiutc reply, which can only be- given when lie
facs Rre definitely brought a. Ilglu ~ lie solie,eq
which must be pronounced by tlie oourts
lac testimony which thc Government az lie
United States LAS caused 60 be taken in Cnlffornia
iion tie crew of t4e Baltimore cannot take tl,s
place oi tle iTlh which b. being held AT Valparaiso
where tie nfeHsee were committed This testi.
mony may De- useful for dHCI luury 90 adulinirt rs
hve purposes in the United siHtes but ID cannOl
serve az the basic Of judicial sentence either n
Chile 90 in tie United states
The copy which have to-day Lad tie honor A
SEND you ~ tIe statement made hy one oi the sea.
hch 81 ihe Baltimore "a Valparaiso shows thai
that seaninn made 40 charge against The police
lIIE cnAHGEs WHICH M MAKEs
here, in the absence ~ Tie accused partier in CON-
uh haclloh 81 hls hrsl statement can have value
RNHMn 80 ln law or ln your enlightened opinion.
Mnh DE observed. moreover, that tie stHtemeui
lls seaman 40 Valparaiso is attrstad n,
M the signature VI tnc SeaLDan himself