THE WEEKLY HEPPNER OAZETTE, KKBRUAKY I, 1892.
v-
President's Message
to Congress.
It fas Transmitted This
Washington. D. C, Jan. 25 The Pres
ident transmitted his message to Con
gresa in regard to the troubles with
Chili today.
Washington, D. C, Jan. 25 The cor
respondence accompanying the Presi
dent's message is of great volume and
would f obably fill more than 100 col
umns 1 an ordinary newspaper. It
dates back as far as August 15, 1890, 18
months ago, and much of it has been
described with sufficient accuracy in the
President's mes age sent to Congress at
the beginning of the present session and
the (Joipous newspaper publications that
have been made.
It is divided into three portions, the
first comprising correspondence between
Mr. Blaine and Mr. Egon, or Mr. Whar
ton In Mr. Blaine's absence. J The cor
respondence between Senor Lazcano, the
Chilian minister under the Balmaceda
administration, and lastly notes ex
changed between Secretary Blaine and
DonS Pedro Montt, the present Chilian
minister to Washington. The Egan cor
respondence begins August 15, 1890,
with the statement of tne changes in
the Balmaceda ministry which consti
tuted a precursor to the revolution.
Many chapters of this correspondence
are sow ancient history and therefore of
little interest at the present juncture.
The one fact that is established is that
Minister Kgan had an abiding faith up
to the last moment in the ultimate tri
umph of Balmaceda over his enemies
and the downfall of the insurgent cause.
Match 9, 1891, Mr. Egan transmitted
to Secretary Blaine a request by the
Chilian government that the United
States permit one of its shins to carry
from Valparaiso to Montevideo a sum of
about $4,000,000 bar silver, which is re
quired for the payment of the interest
on the national debt abroad ; that the
Chilian government feared its capture
by the revolted fleet if the sum iB sent
in the ruguiar course oi uusines. march
17. in a dispatch describing the sanguin
ary battles in the neighborhood of
Iquique, the minister says that the rev
olution baa tne unuiviueu sympamy
and the active support of the English
residents in Chili, that the English sup
erintendents of the nitrate works urged
their men to ioin the revolutionists and
Colonel North contributed the sum of
100.000 pounds sterling in its support.
April 14, the Minister tells of an ell'urt
of the Chilian government to collect
duties on exports from insurgent posts.
The protests made by the Uerman and
British ministers and the assurances be
has received that American vessels will
not be subjected to any inconveniences.
Anril 21. be telegraphs that the Chil-
ian government urgently requests that
tne proposition ol, tne unman minister
for the purpose of a man-of-war from the
United States be favorably considered
Mr. Egan began his efforts as a peace
maker April 24, when he telegraphed for
permission to act with the Brazilian
minister and French charge in an effort
to restore peace, the indications being
that mediation would be accepted by
both parties. The next day he received
Mr, Blaine a permission to act as media
tor. May 24 Mr. Egan informs Mr.
Blaine that the good oflices of the
United State, Brazil and France hnve
been moat cordially accepted by the
government ol until and tne revolu
tionists, those of England and Germany
having been declined.
Then follows a long history of the
attempt of the mediators to secure peace
in Chili, winding up with an account of
the breaking off of the negotiations bb
the result of the attempt to assassinate
Senor Uoueroy, one of Balmaceda
minister!. On the 1st of June Mr,
Wharton instructs Mr. Egan that,
prompted solely by a desire to restore
peace, and entirely disinterested, the
President desires him to informally and
discreetly ascertain whether the good
offices of this government can in any
way be used in the termination of the
ouuftict in Chili. In answer to the
President's suggestion that he renew hi
efforts of mediation, Mr. Egan tele
graph. Jane 0, that while the revolu-
tions were not inclined to make an
reasonable proposition the Chilian to
rnment is well disposed to enter ain
anv that might be made. Hear Adinira
McCann figured in the negotiations at
this state, And be tlien, at iquique, ap-
Sroached the revolutionary leaders, at
Ir. Egan'i instance, in the interests of
mediation.
June 12. he writes Mr. Egan as fol
lows : 1 have to regret that in my note to
Henor Irrazuriz, I uncautiously quoted
too freely from your letter of the second
Instant, especially tnat line that you ex
press tne opinion that "The government
at Santiago cannot do disturbed. Hie
consequences of this inadvertence on my
part (being unaccustomed to diplomatic
fencing) win oe seen in tne ueciarauon
ol Senor Irrazuriz. lie also adds that
the loss of Itata and arum, at that tim
excited great animosity against the
United States at Iquique. The declare-
tlon of Henor Irrazuriz to which Admiral
McCann refers was simply to the etl'ect
that be must be pardoned if tie excused
himself from discussing at that moment
Mr. Egan s statement that the govern
men t could not be overthrown. Mr. Egan
write note of regret to admiral, date
Jane 27th, saving that the circumstance
has been used to his detriment. There
was some correspondence in the latter
gart of Jane relative to the Central and
outh American cable. Mr. Wharton
transmit to Mr. Egan information re
ceived by wire from the president of the
company relating to the company being
forcibly preventod from working the
cable between Iquique and Valparaiso,
and expressing the willingness of
the company, but fear that
if the direct cable were
connected through between Peru and
f Aparaiso, it would be cut by officials
at Iquique. In reply Mr. Egau strongly
recommends that the telegraph com
pany accept the oiler made by the
Chilian government to pay the espouses
of opening communication with Valpar
aiso and to give guarantees against
damage to cable.
Jul? 3, Mr. Wharton summarily dis
posed of the request of t ho Balmaceda
government that a war vessel be sold
them, by replying: "I have to inform
you that the navy department replies
that it had none for sale."
September 20, Mr. Wharton informs
him of the arrival in Washington of
Henor Montt and Yarns, representing
the Congressional t party as confidential
agent. Of their mission he says: "The
object ot tbeir visit understood to be
the presentation of the claims of their
party to recognition hi belligerent gov-
eminent, conspicuously asserting .their
capacity as authoritative representatives i
of a de facto combatant and claiming to
be envovs of an organized sovereign gov- I
ernment, they have by their own pre
tension made it quite impracticable for
tnia department to receive tneui or com
municate with them directly, even in an
unofficial way, as on frequent oc
casion in the past the executive
is not disposed to prejudice the
question of recognition of a revolution
ary movement and nothing has yet oc
curred which would constrain this gov
ernment to a decision of the question of
the international status of the Congres
sional party in Chili. The non-reception
of the Congressional agent is in no
wise a decision on the merits of tbe
main question. Positive results must
be awaited showing tbe true purpose of
the people of Chili, and in the mean
time this government feel , bound , to
maintain it attitude of forbearance.
July 20th Mr. Egan comes out with
an unaualified contradiction of the storv
that be advised the issue of letter of
marque to privateers or, that he had
given Balmaceda any suggestions as to
the conduct of tne war. Egan adds tnat
he ha maintined cordial relations with
the government, and at the sarui time 1
hnve assurances that hehaa retained the
friendship and confidence of the leaders
of the opposition. In proof of this latter
statement he cites the fact that the
peace negotiation were conducted at
his legation.
He adds: "In tbe present terriblv
excited condition of public feeling here,
when every act ana word are closely
criticized and often distorted, it is ex
tremely difficult to avoid being misrep
resented. But solar I can congratulate
myself upon having been able to keep
this legation clear of all entanglements."
August 3, Mr. Egan transmits state
ment current at Santiago to the effect
that the English war vessel were help
ing tbe revolutioniits by carrying their
mail and endeavoring to sftcure the sur
render of tbe torpedo boats, Held by
Balmaceda, belonging to them.
August 23, he writes that be has
sheltered in the legation two of the
opposition leaders, Edwards and Matta;
that it was threatened tnat tne govern
ment would search the legation build-
ng : that, upon his protest, the presi
dent (Balmaceda) had disavowed any
such intention. Latei he told of the
downfall of the Balmaceda government,
describing the scenes consequent upon
tbe capture of Valparaiso and Santiago,
and announced that he has in asylum
80 refugees, including the wife of Bal
maceda and four children. He says
that the Spanish legation ha about the
anie number ot reiugees; that tne
French, Uerman, Argentine and Brazil
ian legations have more or Icbs, and
that the only legation closed its doors
and denied asylum was that of England.
September 4, Mr. Wharton directs Mr.
Egan to recognize the new government
and open communication with its head,
and on September 5, telegraphs that he
has done so, and mat tne relations witn
the new government are entirely cordial.
September 17. Air. r.iian writes tnat
since tne unfortunate itata incident, me
young and unthinking Chilian element
have had a bitter teeling against tne
United States, and that the English
eloment. as has always been their cus
tom in tun country, will do all in their
power to promote and foster tbia teeling,
He savs that the reasonable men in
power admit that the United States
could not consistently have taken any
other course than the one she adopted,
and that Irrazuriz, when acting as Min
later of foreign Relations two weeks ago,
so stated to hiru without reservation.
In this relation the minister alludes to
the charge that the United States
steamer San Francisco carried news to
the Balmacedists of the Congressional
landing, and encloses an unequivocal
dental ol the charge by Admiral Brown.
The minister tells of Balmaceda's sui
cide, and then begins recital of his
efforts, lasting through many months,
to protect the refugees in his legation.
September 24, he telegraphed that be is
oxpected to terminate the) asylum and
send the refugees out to be persecuted.
but to do so would be to sacrifice their
lives, and he has refused to permit them
to go out of tbe legation except under
safe conduct to neutral territory, lie
says: "On account of the Itata and
other questions a bitter feeling has been
fomented by the government supporters
against Americans. "Secret police sur
round the legation with orders to arrest
visitors. Two of Mr. Egan's spies were
arrested and are now in prison. Against
this disrespect to tbe legation he has
addressed a protest to th.i Minister of
foreign Affairs."
Later he telegraphs that twenty per
sons have been arrested in the last two
days for entering the legation and others
have been prevented by tbe police. All
this is intended to force him to drive out
the refugees, which he will not do with
out instructions. He ha addressed a
second note to the minister of foreign
affairs requesting; an explanation of such
extraordinary injustitlable and offensive
conduct. The department evidently
sustained Mr. Euan's course in this re
spect, lor on September 20, the follow
ing telegram was sent to nun: Mr.
Wharton instructs Mr. Egan by direction
ol the President to insist firmly in th
respect and inviolability due to the min
ister of the United States, and to the
legation building, Including tree access,
shall be given and observed fully and
promptly by the Chilian authorities,
The government of the United States is
prepared to consider In a friendly spirit
the question as to whether an asylum
haa, under the circumstances, been
given to the persons now at the legation
when the facts are more fully before it,
but it cannot allow to pass without a
firm protest the evidence of disrespect
towars its minister. It is expected that
this protest will be followed by prompt
action on the part of the authorities of
emu. "
On the follow iug day Mr. Egau tele
graphed the departments that In the mat
ter of the asylum he has acted strictly
in the spirit of the department's instruc
tions iu the llarundia attair. lie adds
"Three notes have been recieved from
the minister of foreign affairs in which
charges that the refugees had violated
the right of asylum and for this reason
defends the action toward the legation.
Mr. Egan has iiuformed the minister
that tbe charge is entirely and abso
lutely unfounded and has asked for safe
conduct for refugees. Similar request
had been made by him two weeks pre
vious, informally, but the orders were
given that all persons leaving the lega
tion should be arrested and many per
sons were thus obliged to procure pass
ports to visit the legation."
In bis notes to Minister Egau relative
to this subject Senor Matta, th Chilian
minister of foreign affairs, is rather
brusque as may be seen from th follow
ing extract:
"Relating to the extraordinary and
unexampled events taking place at the
legation the envoy extraordinary will
permit me to excuse discussion of the
point, because everything haa been done
and everything will bis done by tbe
po-ice agents to tbe exercise of the attri
butes incumbent upon the local author
ities, which are better informed and
better posted of what take place inside
the legation tad it vicinity than ap-
pn to th envoy extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary in reference to
the communication of his excellency to
the envoy extraordinary and minister
plenipotentiary to his government upon
the subjects and the proceedings that
may follow and the new instructions
and orders they may give him. These
are not matters to give grounds whatso
ever for discussion with the undersigned
who believes and hopes that, knowing
the facts, such as they are. they will be
judged in tbe same light and by tbe i
same criterion that he himself judges
them."
In the notes passing between himself
and Signor Matta, the latter cites an in
stance of persons bringing papers through
an open window. In reply, Mr. Egan
refused to admit the right of the regular
authorities to blockade the legation and
apserte that the papers passed through
the window were a letter thrown by
some of the brothers of tbe refugees,
who had been twice arrested for attempt
ing to visit the legation ; that the letter
related to family affairs and was in his
(Egan's) possession, and was at the min-
ister's disposal. Finally he asserts that
under international law the refugees are
free to receive correspondence.
October W, Baltimore tragedy occurred
and was reported on the 18th by Mr.
Egan to the stale department, un the
next day he wrote: "So far Captain
Schley has not ascertained the causes
which led to the disturbance, but the
general impression is that the act was
unprovoked. 1 he minister encloses cor
respondence in relation to tbe assault,
passing between himself and Captain
Schley and the intendente.
November 3 Mr. Euan telegraphs that
the same judge who would not allow an
officer of Baltimore to be present at the
nauiry permitted the secretary ot tne
German consulate to attend the inves
tigation of the killing of a lierman man-
of-war's nun which took place last
month.
Tbe case of Patrick Shields, the fire
man of the U. S. S. Keweenaw, and "an
American citizen," was brought to the
attention of the State department upon
Consul McCreery's report that he nad
been put in tail without process ol law
and brutally beaten by tbe police. Mr.
Kgan also tells ot the attacks being
made on the legation by the newspapers,
of threat Of violence made without
hindrance, and of a public meeting at
which resolutions were passed calling
on the government to request the deliv
ery of the refugees.
November 8 uonsui Mcureery, at Val
paraiso, telegraphed directly to Mr.
Blaine a substantial confirmation of the
story of the riot as told by Minister
Egan and captain scniey.
November 10 Mr. Man writes secre
tary Blame that the reiugees in his lega
tion had been treated as guests, and in
this way he had been at an expense
during some months past of over $5,000.
Mr. Kgan continues bis complaints
respecting the bad conduct of tne police
around the legation in a dispatcn dated
November 30, in which be says: It
will he seen that from the very begin
ning of -these annoyances that every
complaint which I have been obliged to
make about disrespectlul conduct to
ward tbe legation has been met with in
sinuations suspicious of conspiracy or of
indiscretion of conduct against refugees
and against the employes ot tne lega
tion, but up to the present the honorable
minister has not ventured to make
single tangible charge, for the very good
reason that no such conspiracies as those
nsinuated had ever exiated.
December 3rd Mr. Blaine requests Mr.
Egan to inform him who asked him lor
his testimony in the Baltimore affair,
which according to telegraph advices re
ceived by Chilian minister (Montt) from
the home office was requested of him
twenty days ago and not given. Dec.
11 Mr. Egan telegraphed that following
the impeachment proceedings affecting
some refugees the secretary of Chamber
of deputies in writing requested to be al
lowed to notify the refug-e in per.-on.
Mr. Egan replied that he could not with
propriety have communication with this
officer, and that he would not receive
any personal service in the legation
without being instructed. On the same
day he replied to Mr. Blaine's query as
to evidence in the Baltimore case that
he had referred the minister of foreign
affair to Captain Schley and that the
captain bad furnished all information
by giving him the names of witnesses
and sending bis men before the judge.
In a letter of the same date Mr. F'.gan
speaks of the publication in the press of
the legal proceedings then progressing,
despite its then supposed secrecy, and
the effect has been a number of
very bitter criticisms and attacks
upon the United States, its navy and
legation. He ineloses more correspond
ence between himself. Captain Schley
and the intendente. The last named in
a communication to Captain Schley says
that during the trial it was necessary to
remove by force from tbe court room
one or two sailor of the Baltimore who
presented themselves in a slate of intox
ication. Captain Schley returned a denial of
the allegation Jtecember 19.
December IS was breached one of the
gravest issue in the case, which is still
open, in the shape of the Matta note to
the Chilian ministei abroad. Mr. Kgan
ays in his telegram that this was sent
to the Chilian minister at Washington
with the sanction of tbe President, was
read in the Senate and published in all
tbe paper.
It text in full is as follows. "Hav
ing read the portion of tbe report of '.he
secretary of the navy and of the mes
sage of the President of the United
Stales I think proper to inform you that
the statements on which both report
and message aro based are erroneous or
deliberately incorrect. With respect to
the person for whom an asylum has
been granted they have never been
threatened with cruel treatment, nor
has it lieen sought to remove them from
the legation, nor has their surrender
been asked lor. Never has the house or
the person of the plenipotentiary, not
withstanding indiscretions and deliber
ate provocations, been subjected to any
offeuse as is proved by the 11 notes of
September, October and November.
"With respect to the seamen of the
Baltimore, there is, moreover, no exact
ness nor sincerity in what is said at
Washington. Tbe occurrence took place
in a bad neighborhood of the city, the
slums of Valparaiso, and among people
who are not models of discretion and
temperance. When the police and
other forces interfered and calmed the
tumult, there were already several hun
dreds of people on the ground, and it
was ten squares or more from the place
where it had begun.
"Mr. Egan sent on the 23d of Octo
ber a note that was aggressive in pur
pose and virulent in language, as is seen
by the copy and the note written in
reply the 25th. On the 18th, the pre
liminary examination had already been
commenced ; it has been delayed owing
t the non-appearance of tbe officers of
the Baltimore and owing to the undue
pretensions and relusals of Mr. Egan
himself. No provocation has ever been
accepted or instituted by the depart
ment. It attitude, while it has ever
been one of firmness and prujence, has
been one of aggressiveness, nor will it
ever be one ol humiliation, whatever
may be or have been said by those who
are interested in justifying their conduct
or wno are blinded, by erroneous views.
Th telegram, note and letter
which have been sent to you con
tain the truth, the whole truth,
in connection with what lias taken
place in these matters, in which ill will
and the consequent words and preten
sions have not been maintained from
this department. Mr. Tracy and .Mr.
Harrison have been led into error
in respect toourpeople and government ; 1
the instructions recommending impar
tiality have not been complied with,
neither now nor before. If official com
plaint has not been made against the
minister and the naval officers it is be
cause the facts, public and notorious
both in Chili and the United States,
could not, although they were well
proved, be urged by our confidential
agents. Proof of this is famished by
the demands of the Baltimore and the
concessions made in June and July, the
whole Itata case, the San Francisco at
Quiutero and the rebel companies.
"The statement that the North Amer
ican seamen were attacked in various
localities at the same time is deliber
ately incorrect. As the preliminary ex
'animation is not yet concluded, it is no
yet known who and how ninny the
guilty parties are. You no doubt have
the note of November'.), written in re
ply to Minister Egan. in which 1 re
quest him to .furnish testimony, which
be would not give, although he sam
that he bad evidence showing who the
murderer was and who the other guilty
parties of the lllth of October were.
t hat and all the other notes will he pub
lished here. You will publish a trans
lation of them in the United States.
Deny in the meantime everything
that does not agree with these state
ments, being assured of their exactness
as we are ot the right, dignity and final
success of Chili notwithstanding in
trigues which proceed from so low a
source, and threats which come from so
high sources. '
In a telegram on December 11 Mr.
Egan informs Mr. Blaine that he lias
transmitted the lollowin ; to toe Minister
oi Foreign Relations:
lion. Manuel A. Matta.
Sir: Having learned today ot the
interrogation put yesterday in the hon
orable Senate applying to the relations
between the United Slates and Chili, 1
desire to know, officially, and at the
ear. iest moment possible, if iho telegram
diiected by your excellency to senor
Don Pedro Montt in Washington, and
which your excellency read in the Sen
ate, is the same as that published in the
Ferro Carrill of today, a copy of which 1
have the honor to send herewith. In
this telegram your excellency, as Min
ister of Foreign Relations of Chili, re
ferring to the message of the President
of the United States and the report ot
Secretary of the Navy, says (translation) :
'The statements on which both report
and message are based are erroneous
and deliberately incorrect, with respect
to the seamen of the Baltimore. There
is, moreover, no exactness nor sincerity
in what is said at Washington.'
Referring to my note of October 20th,
your excellency characterizes it as (trans
lation) 'aggressive in purpose and viru
lent in language.' With regard to the
summary examination begun on the lKth
of October, your excellency says that,
(translation) 'it haB been delayed owing
to the non-appearance of the officers oi
the Baltimore and owing to undue pre
tensions and refusal on the part oi Mr.
Egnn himself.' Alluding to the testi
mony regarding the summary, vour ex
cellency said (translation) 'you no doubt
have the note of November, written in
reply to Minister Egan, in which 1 re
quest him to furnish testimony which
he would not give, although he had said
that he had evidence show ing who the
murderer was and who the other guilty
parties of the 10th of October were.'
And your excellency concludes this tele
gram by Buying (translation) 'deny
in the meantime everything that dues
not agree with these statements. We
feel confident of their exactness, as we
do of the right, the dignity and the final
success of Chili, notwithstanding the in
trigues which proceed from so low a
source and the threats which come from
so high a source.' I beg your excellency
to be good enough to lavor me with a
reply regarding the authenticity of the
telegrams to which I refer and
which your excellency has read to
the honorable senate with, as stated by
your excellency, the special authority ol
ilia excellency the president of the re
public, and! after having consulted with
the other members of the honorable
cabinet. With the due expression of
my consideration, I remain your excel
lency's obedient Bervnnt,
I'atiiiiik Egan.
Senor Matta replies to his inquiries in
the following terms: "in reply the
undersigned has the honor to state that
with the exception of a very slight dif
ference of words or letters the said text
is the same that was transmitted by the
department of foreign relations. The
copy of the newspaper enclosed in your
note is herewith returnod to you and to
the end that acotnparison may be made,
the undersigned incloses the official
journal of the 12th, wherein you will
tind the genuine text of that telegram
and contents ot a series of notes which
have passed between the United Slates
legation and this department in relation
to the riot of October loth and to the
case oi the persons to whom an asylum
has been granted. Inasmuch as that
telegram is an official act of the govern
ment ol Chili, whereby it communicates
instructions to its envoy extraordinary
and minister plenipotentiary in the
United States of North America any ex
planation or dissertation on the part of
(he undersigned could add nothiug to
its contents which are to serve as a
guide for Don Pedro Montt at Washing
ton in treating of these matters. Youi
note being thus answered the under
signed renewe to you us usual, the as
surance of high considerations and signs
himself, etc."
December 17, Mr. Egnn reports that
pending further instructions he has sus
pended communication with the foreign
office, lie further states that the news
papers are relentless in their relentless
and unscrupulous attacks and that he
learns from different sources, and on
rumors, which seem to be well founded,
that it is intended to drive out the ref
ugees by attempting to burn the lega
tion or adjoining bouse. He relates the
expressions of approval from members
of the diplomatic corps and says that
the British minister has commended to
his government the position taken by
him in the whole matter.
December 22, he reports that the Ar
gentine minister made representations
oi the previous day (relative to the
action ol the police at the American
legation) to the minister oi foreign i to Congress at the b
affairs as dean of the diplomatic corps ; present sen-ion, a:ter a
that the minister promised that only of facta then n po-ses-police
in uniform would be left around : ernment touching the
the l-gation, and that the detective ', street of Valparaiso, C
should be with drawn. He states that i of the United s-.aus
annoyances have been abated but not
removed, and the promise made by the
loreign office complied with in part only.
Dec. 30, Mr. Egau reports that the
Chilian government have received lrom
Urace A Co., information to the in
tention of the United States government
to deliver an ultimuru and that the
British minister under instructions re
ceived from his government in conse -
quence oi similar news, called at tne
foreign offices this day aud urged a
course of conciliation upon the minister
of foreign affairs, who however, inain-
, , ,, i,
1 def.an.,, the
mined with iirmiie-s ;u
attitude asMine-d hv him.
,lan. 1st, Mr. I-lgan aniioum-.
tormation ot the new cabinet
Itlio
He
ava at lea-it two oi th.s lie cabineiu ot-,
licers have openly disapprove i the tele-:
grain sent to Cum s representative in
Washington by the .Minister ol loreign
alluirs ; that is strongly condemned by j
public opinion and Unit t will now be
in his opinion no difficult matter lo
have U.o term disavowed or telegram
itself withdrawn, lie also thinks that
all tiie questions oi -ae conduct lor the
refugees, assault on the Baltimore men,
and disrespect to the legation, will he
completely settle 1.
January 12 he sent the following tele
gram : ".Mr. Egau reports that be had
a conversation with the minister of for
eign allium this day, in the course of
which he seemed lor all tiio reiugees
permission to leave tiie country and was
assured verl ady that n i harm would be
done them, but c ould not obtain a writ-
ten safe conduct, Unit on the lirst ques-
ti tion lie coiil i oniy receive a promise for
as eany a repiy as pn-Moie, me ii'-aenee
of the President from Valparaiso mak
ing it imoo-silile lo itn-wer at once and
that the' legation is now entirely free
from espionage. January 12, .Mr. Egan
summariz-d the report of tiie Judge of
Crimes, winch is of gr-'iit length.
January Kith Mr. Egau transmits a
relation of the interview which the
minister oi foreign affairs accorded
on that day, and says that be
was told that in view ol Mr. Blaine's
indications and on tiie ground
taken by the ioi m -r secretaries of Stat-',
Buchanan and Webster, that no foreign
power, Uirutigi! its represenial.ve, couid
make the message ot a pre-i-leui oi the
United States the basis of diplomatic
representui ion or controversy, his gov
ernment will not have sure objections
to withdrawing ioi Unit m.iv he con
sidered disagreeable to the governmeu
oi too United Stales in telegrams sent
to their reiue.-oiitattve in Washington
by the lormer miii.sler oi foreign affairs,
lie adds that he expressed an opinion
ihiU an expression oi regret for such
parts of lliat doeuui 'iii as were considered
offensive to the President and otner offi
cers of the l'iiit-i Stales -.veiild he
expected to complement the with
drawal, and that he received from tiie
minister a positive assurance that the
Chilian minister lo me I'u.tol Stales
hail be. -n instructed to espre-is regret
for all til it might create unpleasantness
between tiie two governments in the
case, lie wishes to know what action
lie is to lake.
Mr. Blaine's reply is in ihe following
terms: Washington, i). ( '., Jan. Hi, 1WI2.
Mr. Biaine points to e-seuiial differ
ences between anything maintained by
Mr. Webster and what was done by Mr.
iMiitta, when m his message ot the llJih
oi December he instructed .Mr. Moult to
have that document printed in the Uni
ted States an I reierrmg ihe palpable in
sults found m it against t he president an 1
otiier officers oi the L'nite I States,
says that in his opin.on the transmis
sion of the ci.etilar was unprecedented,
lie declares thill the desired ivitiidraw.il
by President Mohit oi everything oi a
discourteous character should be done
freely and in suitable terms by Chili,
lie enjoins prompt action."
The second division of the correspond
ence is between the Chilian minister at
Washington, Seller fucano, and the
department, oi Stale, it does not con
tain much of interest at tins time, as il
relates nanieiy to the evenis attend
ing the revolution, efforts to
prevent, the purchase of arms for the
revolutionists in .New York, the
potency oi Ihe b.-n-itade propose 1 to be
made by the fi.tlmaeedu government
and that tiie reouesi lor the detention
of the lltita and the Hubert and Minnie.
January -l, S.-nor Monti uan-iniUe-.l
to Sccreiary Biaine the following tele
grain lie had received iroin Minister 1'er
reria, the new minister oi loreign rela
tions : "IntortniUion : In orm the
Un ted States government ti.at a sum
mary of tiie attorney general's report
relative lo tiie occuneuce ot October 111.
which Chili has lamented and does
sincerely lament, wiii be sent on the
.Monday, tbe -1th inst. January 8, Mr.
Montt, in a note to Mr. I'-lnine, trans
mits to him the result oi the prelimin
ary investigation at. Valparaiso, and in
forms iitiii thiit the next step is the
training of an indictment based on it
against tiie re-ponsible person-. Tne
prosecuting attorney brought accusation
against those who from Ihe suniario
appear to be guiliy and they are: Carlos
(iomez, Fredrieo Rodngiuz and Ahud
inah, Chilians, an 1 iavid-on, American,
and has asked that upon them he im
posed the penalties assigned by the law,
namely; Upon Uoiue. ol IJ to 5 years
penal imprisonment: Rodriguez from 2
to 18 mouths and Ahuinad and Davidson
20 to 40 days' imprisonment."
Upon the conclusion of the sumario,
the prove lure prescribed by Ihe law is
to coiiiinunic ate to the criminals the
indictment ii.iuied by the prosecuting
attorney and to set down the
case tor dial within a period.
Thereupon the sentence is
pronounced which must be rev.eived bv
the superior court. Considering the
bulk of the record of the proceedings,
which exceeds 1100 folio-, Uiu necessary
investigations to discover cuipriis,
the numerous witnesses whose dep
ositions have been UiKen, and
the delay in the appearance of
seveia! oi them, of which you have
knowledge, the activity shown by the
criminal ju Ige ot Valparaiso in" this
matter, to the end that iu-lice should he
8peedil
lone, has been
it men I .
'o received ,-pcclal
lo tile goverlii
-tales that the
tistactoiv to
my gover
1 have in
to state
United t
oi Chili
gret ' lor
instructions (
lut
government
lis felt very
the un'oiiiiuate
1 i-'c ' - i e
events
on the
"lent- ol
i .fts t're-
which oeetirr d in Valpavai
liitli oi October. Aitnoti :ii in
this nature are not rare in
quented by sailer- o
ties ; the fact that
were caused in this
with w hich the Co
accustomed to watc.
security ot all who
var.ous i : -i : u
de. ilh- and m
.h--! nlMiii-e. Un
.ia. i authoriih
i ocr tlie per
nali
un ,ls
zeal
in I
tread its termor
the fact that persons employed in the
service of a friendly nation were
concerned and the train; desire
for American coritainy uaich my
government entertains nave leil
n eoruiany to ueptor
turbanee, lo do every
toward the trial an i
guilty parties.
1 1 1 e
iiil.1
a ,n
e-aid d,s
its power
: oi the
1't
To the Senate and lieu. -cot K
atives In my arnica! message
re.-eiit-iivered
; lining oi the
'.!: .-tateinent
n oi this gov-a-sau
; m the
:1 , upon satlors
eaio-'itii I'.alti.
more on the evening oi i ictot-er 10 last
I said :
"This government is now awaiting the
result oi an investigation which lias
been con lucfd iiv ihe criniinut court at
Valpa-aiso. Il
the inve-liga;li
aud it is exp.v e
be commuiiicau
i- I'.yn.-ie.l iiuoiii -:.i;ic
n i- about eoitip.eted,
1 t ', result win soon
I to this government,
ii ' " ie unite an.! satis
to U,. note bv which
1 together with so
laciory respau
the attention of Chili was called to this
incideut. If these ju-t cxpeclaiions
should be disappointed, or further need-
, , . , , i ...in i,v Hoeciul
delay jn e we .l JHSe
, ,.h , i ion as
attention ol Congress for in. h action
may be necessarj .
"V ! ,,, V.,"n,rro and
" lien i tnoi iu lay :
the country
u,ivui...t- ,
'. tni. I
f do not deem it
neceositi in
communication
to
attempt any lull
analysis of the correspondence or evi
dence. A brief restatement of the in
ternational questions involved and the
reasons whv the responses ot the
Chilian government are unsatisfactory is
all 1 deem necessary. It may be well at
the outset to say whatever may
have l.een said in this coun
rthiii in criticism ol
lan to our minister at Santiago, the
true history of this exciting period in
Chilian affairs from the outbreak ol the
rev
ution until tins lime iiiamu""
act on
the part ol Kgan unwoiw m
position
that couiu juoiiy
serious
..niioa.K-Mi-sion or criticism, lie
has l think, on the whole, borne luui
seif'in verv trying circumstance, with
dignity, discretion and courage, aud has
condii'tte.. the correspondence with abil
ity, courtesy and fairness.
'it is worth while, aiso, at the begin
ning to s.iv the rigbt of Egan to give
shelter in the legation to certain adher
ents of Baimaceda's government, who
applied to him for assistance, could not
lie denied bv tiie Chilian authorities,
nor has any demand been made for him
to surrender these refugees. That there
was urgent noed of asylum was shown
bv Kuan's noteot August 24, 1801, de
scribing the disorders that prevailed m
antiago, and by tiie evidence ol cap-
tain Sclilev as to the pillage and violi
that prevailed in Valparaiso. The
loieuut-
cor-
resnondence discloses, however, that tne
request oi Egan for eate conduct lrom
ihe country in behalf of these reiugees
was denied.
Precedents were cited by lnm in the
, roJ,o,l,.ni.n narticnlarlv in the case
oi the revolution in Peru, in 1805, which
did not leavo the Chilian government
in a position to deny the right of asvluni
10 political refugees and seemed very
clearly to support Egan's contention
that sate conduct to neutral territory
was a necessary ami acknowledged in
cident of asv.uni. These refugees were
given very recently without formality
safe conducts and by the acqitiesence of
the Chilian authorities were placed on
hoard the Yorktown and are now being
conveyed to Callao, Peru.
liHr'Ci to till (lovnrnnlftiit.
This incident might be considered
wholly closed, but for the disrespect
niaiiitested toward this government by
close and offensive police surveillance of
the legation premises maintained during
most of the period of the stay of the
reiugees therein. Alter the date of my
annual message and up to the time oi
transfer of reiugees to the Yorktown,
tne legation premises seem to have been
surrounded by police in uniform and by
police agents" or detectives in citizens'
dress, who offensively scrutinized per
sons entering or leaving the lega, ion,
and on one or more occasions arrested
members of the minister's family.
Commander Kvuns, who by directions
recently visited Egan at Santiago, in his
telegram to the navy department de
scribed the legation as a veritable prison
and states the police agents or detectives
were, after his arrival, withdrawn dur
ing his stay.
it appears iurther from the note to
Kgan of November 1 that on one
occasion at least thesis police agents
wham he declared to be known
to him, invaded the legation premises
pounding on its windows and using in
sulting and threatening language toward
persons therein. This breach of the
rights oi the minister to freedom from
espionage and restraint seems to he
flagrant, and the Argentine minister
having observed it, felt culled an to pro
test against it to the Chilian minister of
loreign affairs.
The Chilian authorities have, as will
be observed from the correspondence,
charged the refugees anil inmates with
insulting the police, bin it seems, to me,
incredible that those whose lives were
in jeopardy and whose saiety could only
be secured by retirement and quietness,
should have sought to provoke a collision
which couid only end in their destruc
tion, or so aggravate their condition by
intensifying popular feeling that one
time so threatened the legation as to re
quire Egan's appeal to the minister of
foreign affairs.
Hut the most serious incident dis
closed by the correspondence is that of
the attack on sailors oi the Baltimore at
Valparaiso on October 10th.
In my annual message, in speaking
upon the information in my possession,
I said as far as I was able to learn no
other explanation oi this bloody work
had been suggested than that it
had its origin in the hostility
to the-o men as sailors of the
United States, wearing the uni
loini of their government, and not
in any individual actor personal ani
mosity. We have now received from
the Chilian government an abstract of
the conclusions of the fiscal general on
the testimony taken by the judge of
ciiines during the investigation, which
he ma le to extend over nearly three
months. 1 very much regret to he com
pelled to say that, this report does not
enable me to mo lifv the conclusion an
nounced in my annual message.
1 am still in the opinion that our sail
ors were as-anlted, beaten and stabbed,
and kilied not for anything that they or
tiny one oi them had done but for what
tbe I'm ted States had done
or was charged with having done by its
civil officers and naval commanders.
It that be ti ne as to the fact, of th
t i...
injury was to the United
tes not to these poor sailors nU
won- assauiie.i in a manner so brutal
and cowardly.
Belore attempting t0 give an outline
oiuieiacts upon which this conclusion
re-ts, I th.nk it right to snv n word n
tw o on the legal aspect of the case. The
I'.al mi
1 was in the harbor at Valpa
i it tie o: the irenerrd invitoti.
i r:n-o bv
wh.eh nations held to extend to war
vesse.s ot other powers with which thev
bavo trieudiy relations. This invitation"
1 ttunk, must ordinarily embrace the
pr.v.lege ot such communication with
lb" snore us is reasonably necessary
. ,iu,-i no me convenience of Hip
officers in
Sehiev le
d men of our vessel. Ca- tain
titles that when h
i turned to alpamiso on September 14
, ttie city officials, as is customary ex
' ten 1-1 the hospitalities of the city to his
! 1 " 's noi claimed
eK.'en I
sun.!, collision or inquiry in which
the
sailors and officers of such naval ves
ts may be visiting, may be involved
wises an iiiiernattOlia Ollestmn ht i
am clearly of the oninion th '..n..
such sailor:
officers are assaulted
populace animated by
i governmnnt. .!,..
.....v uoi e
by i he res ident
hostility to thi:
"utiorm these sailors aud officers wear
and in resentment of tha ,.. j " t
their
their
uuoe oy
government and not hv th,"
nation
must take noli t
the event as one involving the in '
,,,;,..
not in a
ze:is are
injured and presents their
claim th
rough own government bi t ir
v way. ureciaeh- o.n ..'. '" ln !
a primar;
ter or
r consular flag itself had been tw I '
ctiou, the same character t '
ult. The officers and the sailors o i
obje-
ussa
the Baltimore
were in the
harbor i
barbor oi
condarv wav as wh i.Vlm??.M 'ney passed the Chilian Bailor.
Valparaiso under the orders of their
government and not by their own
choice. They were upon me snore Dy
,ied yinvittttion1' of the govern-
mellt of Chili, with the approval oi their
commanding officers, and does notdis-
,inuj8, tnejr ca8e from that of the con-
,. ,.-., ha liia Rtav la mora nr.
marent or that he hold an express
invitation of the local government
lo justify his longer reeidence;
nor does it alloct the question that the
injury was the act of a mob. If there
had been no participation by the police
or military in this cruel work and no
neglect on their part to extend protec
tion, the case would still be one, in my
opinion, when its extent and character
are considered, involving international
rights.
The Origin of the Troubla.
The President then tells the atory of
the attack on the sailors of the Balti
more as related in the testimony of
Captain Schley and others at the inves
tigation, snowing inai liio miura were
sober and behavinz themselves, which
the evidence further show by the
fact that the Chilian police made
no arrests, and says its remark
able protracted investigation by the
judge of crimes did not enable him to
assign a more satisfactory account of it
origin than that it wbb between drunken
sailors, lie then quotes the testimony
oi Apprentice Talbott that the trouble
originated by the Chilian sailor spitting
in Talbott's face, for which Talbott
knocked him down.
Then followed a general attack on Tal
bott and R-ggin, with the result already
known. The President continues : There
is nothing in the report of the Chilian
investigation to the United State that
seriously impeaches this testimony. It
appears from Chilian sources that al
most instantly, with a suddenness that
strongly implies meditation and prepar
ation, a mob, as stated by the
police authorities, at one time
that numbered zouu aim at an
other 1000, engaged in an assault upon
the sailora who are represented as re
plying with stones, clubs and bright
arms. Hie report oi me inienuenie oi
October 30, states that the fight began
at 0 p. m. in three streets which are
nnined; that the information was re
ceived at the intendency at 6:15 and
tnat the police arrived on the scene at
6 till), a full half hour after the assault
began. That time he says a mob of
2,000 men had collected and that for sev
eral square there was the appearance
of a battle Held. The scene at thi
point is very graphically set before ua by
Chilian testimony, the American sail
ors, who after so long an examination
have not been found guilty of any
breach of peace, bo far as the Chilian
authoriiies are able to discover, unarmed
and delenseless are fleeing for their
lives pursued by overwhelming number
and lighting only to gain their own ea
ci pe lrom death or to succor some mate
whose life is in greater peril. Eighteen
of them are brutally stabbed and beaten
while one of the Chilians seems, from
the report, to have suffered aome
injury, but how serious or with
what character of weapon or whether by
missle or thrown by our men or by som
of his fellow rioters in not ascer
tained. The pretense that our men were fight
ing with stones, clubs or bright arms in
view of these facts is incredible. It ia
further refuted by the fact that the
prisoners w hen searched were absolutely
without arms, only seven penknives be
ing found in the possession of the men
arrested, while more than 30 stab
wounds were received by our men,
every one of which was inflicted
in the back. Almost every contused
wound is on the back of the head.
The evidence of the ship's officers of the
day is that even the jacknives of the
men were taken from them before leav
ing the ship. As to the brutal nature
of the treatment received by our men,
the President quotes an extract from
the account of the affair by La Patria, a
newspaper which he says cannot
be regarded as too friendly. It
tells how our men were pursued
with staves and missiles and beaten
down as has already been told many
times. Message continues that no ac
count of evasion or subterfuge ia able to
c'ond our clear vision of this brutal
work. It should be noticed in thia con
nection that the American sailora ar
rested, after examination, were within
4 days following their arrest, every one
discharged. No charge or any breach of
peace or other criminal conduct having
been sustained against a single one of
them.
Judge of Crimes Foster, in a note to
the intendente under date of October
2,'J, before the dispatch from this govern
ment cf the following day, which
aroused the authorities of Chili to
better sense of the gravity of affairs,
says : "Having presided over thia court
temporarily in regard to the seaman of
the United States cruiser Baltimore who
have been tried on account oi deplorable
conduct, which took place, etc."
The noticeable point is that our sailor
had been tried before the 22d of October
and the trial resulted in their acquittal
and their return to their vessel. It ia
quite remarkable and quite characteris
tic of the management of thia affair that
after the trial by the Chilian polic
authorities that we ahould now be ad
vised that Seaman Davidson, of the
Baltimore, had been included in the
indictment. His offense being, ao
far as 1 have been able to ascer
tain, that he attempted to de
fen, 1 his shipmate against an assailant
who was striking him with a knife. A
pertect vindication of our men ia fur
nished by this report. One only ia
found to have been guilty of criminal
fault and that for an act clearly justified.
As to the part taken bv the police in
the affair, the case made by Chili is aleo
lar from satisfactory. The point where
Riggin was killed is only three minutes
walk from the police station and not
more than twice that distance from the
intendencia, and, according to their
official report, full half an hour passed
alter the assault began before the police
were upon the ground. It has been
stated that all but two of our men have
said the police did their duty.
The evidence taken at Mare Island
shows that if such a statement
was procured from our men that it waa
accomplished from requiring them to do
it in writing in a language they did not
trndei stand and by their representation
that it was a mere declaration that they
had taken no part in tbe disturbance.
Lieutenant McCrea. who acted as iu-
terpreter, says in his evidence, that
viueu our sudors were examined before
the court, the subject of the conduct of
the police was so carefully averted that
he reported the fact to Captain Schley
on his return to the vessel. Thia evi
dences the existence of animosity toward
our sailors in the miuds of the aailora of
the Chilian navy and the populace of
aiparaiso so abundantly a to lea
doubt in the mind ot anvone, who will
extmine the bapers auhmitted. a
I aaa '"anifested itself i
t has IlianitesK.ll itsnlf in IknulDn.
Kbo.uioq wu.
L I 1Ur9! lhe' did not admit but
T 9 thuBut. w" the explanation
of the assault. At that time several of
I me,n soullt security from the mob
.7 -uih a comPlete or partial change in
a" would conceal the fact of
. .u ?K renien ol the Baltlmort,
and th.ey found it then powlbl. to WUk