The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-01-11
THE CHILEAN COMMISSION.
SECRETARY OLNEY AND MINIS
TER CANA AGREE.
10 VIII be Rehabilitated and the Re-
} naming Claims Will be
Arbitrated.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10.-Secretary
Oney and the Chilean Minister, SENIOR
ehana, have practically reached a sue
oessfu conclusion to the long negotda-
Unns for a rehabilitation of the Chilean
eaaaar1s Commission, which ended Its ex-
issuance by limitation nearly two years
ago without completing its labors, and
nc rs understood that the commission will
assemble in this city next October and
consider the remaining cases, of which
seventeen are American claims against
emile and two, including that for the
capture and detention of the Itata, are
supported by Chile against the United
States.
These constitute the sole causes of
N1otaon between the two countries,
which have been notably cordial in the
profession of friendship for the past
year and it is believed their settlement
Will dispose of amy lingering luminosity
whach resulted from the Baltimore at
1ahr and other incidents which led the
Chdleans to the verge of war with this
country. The present visit of Admiral
Beaudslee in the fiaShtp Philadelphia at
Valparaiso is thought Ito have contrib
uted considerably to this result.
When the six months existence of the
last commission, of which the then
Swiss Minister Alfred de Claparede was
President, came to an end after having
disposed of twenty-five cases, every
effort was made by Secretary Gresham
to induce Chile to extend its term, but
a Cabinet crisis occurring In that coun-
try just ait that time it was found i'm
icn
direction.
AT the instance of this Government,
however, negotiations were resumed,
and eventually Chile proposed an ar
arrangement for the pro rata settlement
of the remaining cases by the payment
of such amounts of any remaining
claims as the aggregate amount award
ed by the commissioners on claims they
had already settled bore to the face
amount of the claims left over. Chile
pointed out that England, France,
Spain and other countries had found
tlds method satisfactory with their
claims, but the administration insisted
THAT every claim had to be examined
and settled on It's merits by a. commits
sion. Chile then suggested a lump
compromise, and when thts was also re-
Jected that Government offered to agree
to another commission, provided 1T sat
at Santiago, as the claimants Were
mostly Americans, and on condition
that the claims of the North and South
american Construction Company should
Toe left out.
Secretary Olney declined to consent
ITO either of these propositions and
sought TO have the old commission re-
haloalitated as far as john Goode, the
American member, and Senior Cana, the
Chilean member, were concerned, with
a new President in place of NJ. de Clap
rrarede, who had gone home, and that
the proceedings should continue from
the point at which they were interrupt
ed after twenty-five cases had been ad-
indicated.
Fortunately a year ago it was found
possible to get rid of the North and
South American Construction Company
smpediments and by a. compromise,
Senior Cana paying Secretary Olney
S160.O00 ON january 18th last, this was
settled permanently. With this out Of
the way 1T Is understood that Chile has
at last consented to resuscitate as far as
possible the old commission and have it
complete its work next fall.