The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-01-28

upon the crew of the Baltimore in the
city of Valparaiso, on the evening OF
the 10th of October last, and to the
evidence of the officers and that Of the
crew Of that vessel and some others
who witnessed the ARRAY, and his
conclusions upon the whole case are:
First-That the assault has not been
relieved of the aspect which early in
formation of the event gave to the eff
feet that this attack was upon the uni
form of the United States navy, hav-
ing originated in feeling of hostility
to this government and not in any act
of the sailors or any one of them.
SecOnd-That the public authorities
OF Valparaiso flagrantly failed in their
duty to protect our men, and some OF
the police and Chilean soldiers and
sailors themselves were guilty of UNI
provoked assaults upon our sailors be-
fore and after their arrest.
He thinks repOnderance of evil
dence and inherent probabilities leads
to the conclusion that Riggan was
killed by the police or. soldiers.
"Dhird-That be is therefore COM
PEELED TO bring the case back TO the
llOelllOl ltAhNil ny IlllS f5NNNl III
the note o, Wharton Of October %,
and to ask for suitable apology and
some adequate reparatiOn for the in
jury done this government.
"YOu will assure the government of
Chile that the president has no dispO-
sition to be eXacting or asking any
thing which this government would
not under the same circumstances
freely cOncede. He regrets that from
the beginning the gravity of the ques-
tiOns involved has not, apparently,
been appreciated by the government
of Chile, anC that the affair in which
two American seamen were killed
and sixteen others seriously
wounded, Whereil only one
Chilean was seriously hurt,
should be not distinguished from an
brawl of sailors in which
the provOcation was wholly personal
and participation limited. No self
respecting government can consent to
persons in it's service, whether civil
or military, being beaten and killed
in foreign seapOrts in resentment Of
acts by or imputed to their govern
ment without eXacting suitable repa-
ration.
The government of The United
States freely recognized the principle
and acts upon it. When injury is
done by its people to one holding Of
tlcial relation to II friendly power in
resentment of acts done by the latter
in such cases, the United States has
not sought for words of the smallest
aud n,,ui,rnnnI n
in which to convey its
apology, but has condemned
such acts in vigorous terms
and not refused to make adequate rep
lration, but it is not our purpose here
to discuss the incidents of this affair,
only to state the conclusions which
this government has reached, when
every opportunity to the government
Of Chile to present explanations or
mitigating facts has been offered and
iue regard for the fact that the gov
eminent of Chile has been for the con-
siderable time that has elapsed since
October Ii on provisional basis.
~ am further directed by the presi-
lent to say that his attention has been
called to the note of instructions by
Malta, secretary of foreign affairs, to
you under date of the 18th inst. MOntt
very prUdently and from just sense
Of the offensive nature of thedispatch,
refrained from communicating it Of
icially to this government, but in
view Of the fact that Montt
gave it to the press of
5his country, and it was given
-he best publicity throughout the
world this government, must take
notice of it. You are therefore di-
rected to say to the Chilean govern
ment that the expression therein inn
putting the untruth and insincerity to
the president and secretary of the
navy in their official communication
to the congress of the United States is
in the highest degree offensive to this
government.
"Recognizing the usual rules of dip
Iomatic intercourse. and respect, and
courtesy, which he cannot assume
wholly unfamiliar in the Chilean
foreign office, the president is disposed
to regard the dispatch as indicating
y purpose to bring about a suspen-
sion ofdiplomatic relations, but in view
Of the fact that Montt, acting unprO-
and that in the reorganiza-
ton of the Chilean cabinet about to
take place, and afterwards in further
view of the expectation held out of the
and of suitable apology,
notice ofthis grave ofTense has been de-
Iayed. | am now, however, directed
by the president to say that if the Of
fensive parts Of the dispar ch of Dec
II are not at once withdrawn and a
apology offered with the same
that was given the offensive
expressions he will have no other
course open to him except to terminate
relations with the govern
ment of Chile.
"Montt, in note of Jan, 20, advised
me that he had been directed by his
to inform the government
of the United States that you were not
persona grata to the government of
Chile and to request your recall. This
has been laid before the president,
and he directs you to say that in view
of the foregoing, he does not deem it
to make any present re-
Spouse thereto. 1t will be quite time
to consider the suggestion after a
reply to this note is received, as we
will know whether the correspond
ence will be maintained with the gov
eminent of Chile upon terms of mutual
respect. You will furnish to the min
lister of foreign affairs a full copy of
this note,