The President's Special Mes
sage on Chilean Affairs.
STOIiY OF Till! CONTROVERSY.
Injury, I nun It and Hrutallty the ChUf
Point of Often by the Southern Re
public Miiilter Kicau'a Coum Upheld.
The Diplomatic Correspondence.
Washington, Jan. 25. The following
id President Harrison 'a message on the
Chilean situation, sent to congress:
To the Henate and liouoe of Representatives:
In my annual message delivered to
congress at the beginning of the present
elision, after a brief statement of the
facts then in the pot&ession of this gov
ernment touching the assault in the city
of Valparaiso, Chile, upon the sailors of
the United States ship Baltimore on the
evening of the 18th of October last, I
bald: This government is now awaiting
the result of an investigation which has
yoeen conducted by the criminal court at
Valparaiso. It is reported unofficially
that the investigation is alout complet
ed, and it is exjiected that the result will
noon be communicated to this govern
ment, together with some adequate and
satisfactory response to the note by
which the attention of Chile was called
to this incident. If these just expecta
tions should be disappointed or further
needless delay intervene, I will by a
special message bring this matter again
to the attention of congress for such ac
tion as may le necessary.
"In my opinion the time has now
come when i should lay before congress
and the country the correspondence be
tween this government and the govern
ment of Chili from the time of tbe
breaking out of the revolution against
Balmaceda, together with all the other
facts in the jiossession of the executive
department relating to this matter. The
diplomatic correspondence is herewith
transmitted, together with correspond
ence lietween the naval officers for a
time in command in Chilean waters, and
also the evidence taken at the Mare
Island navy yard since the arrival of the
Baltimore at San Francisco.
Kgaii'n Con rite Upheld.
"It may be well at the outset to say
that, whatever may have been said iu
this country or in Chile in criticism of
Mr. Egan, our minister at Santiago, th3
true history of this exciting period in
Chilean affairs from the outbreak of the
revolution until this time discloses not
an act on the part of Mr. Egan unworthy
of his position, or that could justly ba
the occasion for serious animadversion o:r
criticism. lie has, I think, on the
whole, bome himself in every trying
circumstance with dignity, discretion
and courage and has c uducted the cor
respondence with ability, courtesy and
fairness. It is worth while, also, at tlv3
beginning to say that the right of Mr.
Egan to give shelter in the legation to
certain adherents of the Balmaceda gov-
... ..... .i;.i ... 1.;... f..- ......
ClUiUCUt 11U II, 11 1 lil 1U1 - J 1 till!
has not been denied by the Cliilean au
thorities, nor has any demand been
made for the surrender of these ref
ugees.
"That there was urgent need of asylum
is shown by Mr. Egan's note of Aug. 24,
1891, describing the disorders that pre
vailed in Santiago and by the evidenco
of Captain Schley as to the pillage and
violence that prevailed at Valparaiso.
The correspondence disclosed, however,
that the request of Mr. Egan for a safe
. conduct from the country in behalf of
these refugees was denied. The pre
cedents cited by him in the corre
spondence, particularly the case of the
revolution in Peru in 1885, did not leave
the Chilean government in a position to
deny the right of asylum to political ref
ugees, and seemed very clearly to sup
port Mr. Egan's contention that a saf-3
conduct to neutral territory was a neces
sary and acknowledged incident of the
asj lnm. These refugees have very re
cently, without formal safe conduct,
but by the acquiescence of the Cliilean
authorities, been placed on board
the Yorktown. and are now be
ing conveyed to Callao, Peru.
This incident might be consid
ered wholly closed, but for the disre
spect manifested toward this govern
ment by the close and offensive police
surveillance of the legation premises
which were maintained during most of
the jieriod of the stay of the refugees
therein, after the date of my annual
. message and up to the time of the trans
fer of the refugees to the Yorktown.
The legation premises seem to have lieen
surrounded by police in uniform and p
lice agents or detectives in citizen'u
dress, who offensively scrrtinized per
sons entering or leaving the legation and
on one or more occasions arrested mem
bers of the minister's family.
"Commander Evans, who by my di
rection recently visited Mr. Egan at
Santiago, in his telegram to the navy de
partment descriled the legation "a ver
itable prison" and states that the police
agents or detectives were after bis ar
rival withdrawn during his stay. It ap
pears further from the note of Mr.
Egan's of Nov. 20, 1891, that on one oc
casion at least these police agents, whom
he declared to be known to him. invaded
the legation premises, pounding upon its
windows, using insulting and threaten
ing language toward persons therein.
This breach of the right of a minister to
freedom from police espionage and re
straint seems to have been so flagrant
the Argentine minister, who was dean of
the diplomatic corps, having observed it,
felt called upon to protest against it to
the Cliilean minister of foreign affairs.
The Chilean authorities have, as will be
observed from the correspondence,
charged the refugees and the inmates of
the legation with insulting the police;
but it seems to me incredible that men
whose lives were in jeopardy and whose
safety could only be secured by retire
ment and quietness should have sought
to provoke a collision which could only
end in their destruction, or to aggravate
their condition by intensifying a popu
lar feeling that at one time so threatened
the legation as to require Mr. Egan to
appeal to the minister of foreign affairs.
The Baltimore Incident.
' "But the most serious incident dis
closed bv the correspondence is that of
the attack on the sailors of the Balti
more in the streets of Valparaiso on the
16th of October last. We have now re
ceived from the Chilean government an
abstract of the conclusion of the fiscal
general ujion the testimony taken by the
judge of crimen in the investigation
which was made to extend over nearly
three month. I very much regret to be
Impelled to nay that this report d
n.'l enable me to modify the couclus ona
announced in my annual mcsuige. lam
?ui of the opinion that our sailors were
assaulted, beaten, stabbed and killed,
not for anything tin y or any one of
them hal done, but lor what the gov
ernment of the United States hail done,
or was charged with having done, by Ha
civil officers and naval commanders. If
that bo the true asjiect of the case, the
injury was to the government of the
! United States, not to those poor sailors
i who were assaulted in a manner so
1 brutal and so cowardly,
i "Before attempting to give an outline
! of the facts upm which this conclusion
; rests, I, think it right to say a word or
two uion the legal aspect or the case.
"The Baltimore was in the barlior of
Valparaiso by virtue of that general in
vitation which nations are held to ex
tend to war vessels of other powers
when they have friendly relations.
This invitation, I think, must be held
ordinarily to embrace the privilege of
such communication with the shore as
is reasonable, necessary and proper for
the convenience of the officers and men
of such vessels. Captain Schley testifies
that when his vessel returned to Valpar
aiso on Sept. 14, the city officers, as is
customary, extended the hospitalities of
the city to his officers and crew.
International nights luvolred.
It is not claimed that every personal
collision or injury in which a sailor or
officer of such a naval vessel visiting
fchore may be involved raises an interna
tional question, but I am clearly of the
opinion where such sailors or officers are
assaulted by the resident populace, ani
mated by hostilities to the government
whose uniform these sailors and officers
wear, ami in resentment of acts done
by their government, not by them, their
nation must take notice of the event as
one involving an infraction of its rights
and dignity; not in a secondary way,
as where a citizen is injured and pre
sents his claim through iiis own govern
ment, but in a primary way, precisely
as a minister or consul or the flag itself
be the object of the same character of
assault. The officers and s;;ilors of the
Baltimore were in the harbor of Valpa
raiso under tho orders of their govern
ment, not by their own choice. They
were upon shore by the implied invita
tion of the government of Chile and
with the approval of tiieir commanding
officer, and it does not distinguish their
c.ise from that of a consul that his stay
is more permanent or that he holds an
express invitation from the local gov
ernment to justify his longer residence.
Nor does it affect the question whether
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 ou their part to extend
protection, the case would still Ik; one,
in my opinion, where its extent and
character is considered involving inter
national rights.
He reviewed at some length the story
of the assault on the Baltimore's men,
the investigation of which followed ljoth
at Valparaiso, and San Francisco, and
commented, on the same.
Not Satisfactory.
After summarizing the correspondenc ?
up to a certain point, the president says:
"The communications of the Chilean
government in relation to this cruel and
disastrous attack upon our men, as will
appear from the correspondence, have
not in any degree, taken the form of
manly and satisfactory expressions of re
gret, much less apology. The event
was of so serious a character that if the
injuries suffered by our men had been
wholly the result of an accident in the
Chilean port, the incident was grave
enough to have called for some public
expression of sympathy and regret from
the local authorities. It is not enough,
to say that the affair was lamentable,
for humanity would require that ex
pression, even if the beating and killing
of our men had been justifiable. It i3
not enough to say that the incident was
regretted, coupled with the statement
that the affair was not of an unusual
character in ports where foreign sailors
are accustomed to meet. It i3 not for a
generous and sincere government to
seek for words of small or equivocal in
meaning in which to convey to a friendly
power an apology for an offense so atro
cious as this."
Reference is made to the assault by
the mob in New Orleans upon the Span
ish consulate in lMi, and the action of
the government of the United States in
promptly apologizing for it, and it is
contrasted to the present treatment of
our government by Chile. Conf inuing,
the message says:
"la our note of Octorber 23 last, after
receiving the report of the board of offi
cers appointed by Captain Schley to in
vestigate the affair, the Chilean govern
ment was advised of the aspect which
it then assumed and was called upon for
any facts in its possession that might
tend to modify the unfavorable impres
sion which our report had created. Ii
wa3 very clear from the correspondence
that before the receipt of this note the
examination was regarded by police au
thorities as practically closed. It was,
however, reopened and protracted
through a period of nearly three months.
We might justly Lave complained of
tliis unreasonable delay, but in view of
the fact that the government of Chile
was still provisional, and with a dispo
sition to be forbearing and hopeful of a
friendly termination, I have awaited the
report .which has but recently been ruade.
Ou the 21st inst. I caused to be commu
nicated to the government of Chile, by
the American minister at Santiago, tho
conclusions of this government after full
consideration of all evidence and every
suggestion affecting this matter, and
to these conclusions I adhere. They
fctated as follows:
The Demand for Reparation.
"First That the assault was not re
lieved of the aspect which the early in
formation of the event gave it, viz: That
the attack upon the uniform of the
United States navy had its origin and
motive in a feeling of hostility to this
government, and not in any action of
the sailors or any of them.
"Second That the public authorities
of Valparaiso flagrantly failed in their
duty to protect our men, and that some
of the police and Chilean soldiers and
sailors were themselves guilty of unpro
voked assaults upon our sailors were
themselves guilty of unprovoked asanlto
upon our sailors before and after the ar
rest. He (the president) thinks the pre
ponderance of evidence and inherent
probabilities lead t: the conclusion that
Riggin was killed by police or soldiers.
"'third That he (president) was there
fore compelled to bring the case lr.vk to
the p nation takn in the note of Whar
ton Oct. 2-3 last, and ask for a suitable
apology and some adecr.ate reparation
for the injury done to inis government.
In the same note the attention of th?
Chilean government was called to the
offensive character of a aii'lress?.!
by Matta, ex-minister of foreign affaire,
to Montt, its minister at this capital, ou
the 11th ult. This dispatch was not
officially communicated to this govern
ment, but as Montt was directed to
translate it and give it to the press of
this country, it seemed to me it could
not paws without official notice. It was
not only undiplomatic, but grossly In
siilting to our naval officers and to the
executive department, as it directly im
puted untruth and insincerity to the re
lorts of the naval officers and to the
official communications made by the
executive department to congress. It
will bo observed that I have notified the
Chilean government that unless this not e
is at once withdrawn and an apology a3
public as the offense, is made, I will
terminate diplomatic relations.
"The request for the recall of Egan
uion the ground that he is non persona
grata, was unaccompanied by any sug
gestion that could iroierly be used in
support of it, and I infer the request
was based upon the official acts of Egan
which had received the approval of this
government. But. however that may
be, I could not consent to consider such
a question until it had first been settled
whether our correspondence with Chile
could le conducted upon a basis of mutu
al resjHJct.
Chile, Should Ite Hrought to Time.
"In submititing these papers to con
gres for that grave and patriotic consid
eration, which the questions involved
demand, I desire to say I am of the opin
ion that the demands made of Chile by
thus government should be adhered to
and enforced. If the dignity as well
as the prestige and influence of the
United States is not to be wholly sacri
ficed, we must protect those who, in for
eign ports display the flag and wear the
colors of this government, against insult,
brutality and deatli inflicted in resent
ment of the acts of their govern
ment and not for any fault of
their own. It has been my desire in
every way to cultivate friendly and inti
mate relations with all the governments
of this hemisphere. He no not covet
their territory. We desire their jieac-i
and prosperity. We look for no advant
age iu our relations with thorn, except
increased exchanges of commerce upon
a basis of mutual benefit. We regret
every civil contest that disturbs their
peace and parlyses their development,
and are always ready to give our good
offices for the restoration of peace. It
must, however, be understood that this
government, while exercising the ut
most forliearance toward weaker pow
ers, will extend its strong and adequate
protection to its citizens, to its officers
and to its humblest sailors, when made
the victims of wantonness and cruelty
in resentment, not of their iersonal mis
conduct, but of the official acts of their
government.
Our Seamen Muttt. lie Protected.
"Upon information received from Pat
rick Shields, an Irishman, and probab'j
a British subject, but at the time the
fireman of the American steamer Keewa
na, iii the harlior of Valparaiso, for re
pairs, had been subjected to personal in
juries in that city, largely by the police,
I directed the attorney general to cause
the evidence of the officers and
crew of that vessel to be
tiiken ujion its arrival in San Fran
cisco; and this testinionjr is also herewith
transmitted. The brutality and even
the savagery of the treatment of this
poor man by the Chilean police would
be incredible if the evidence of Shields
was not supported by other direct testi
mony and by the distressing condition of
the man himself when he was
finally able to reach his vessel.
The claim for reparation has been
made on behalf of this man, for while he
is not a citizen of the United States, the
doctrine so long held by us, as expressed
in the consular regulations Is: 'The prin
ciples which are maintained by this gov
ernment in regard to protection, as dis
tinguished from relief of seamen is well
settled. It is held that the circum
stances that the vessel is American is
evidence that the seamen on board are
such and in every regularly documented
merchant vessel the crew will find
their protection in the flag that covers
them.'
"I have as yet received no reply to
our note of the 21st inst., but, in my
opinion, I ought not delay longer to
bring these matters to the attention of
congress for such action as may be
deemed appropriate.
"Benjamin Harrison.
"Executive Mansion, Jan. 25, lH'JJ."
The Ultimatum.
The terms of the ultimatum to Chile
have not been correctly given in any j
the dispatches referring to it. Three
subjects are covered by the document.
The assault upon the Baltimore sailors
is iho first. The secretary of state di
rjci.vjlr. Egan to iufoiin the Chilean
government that after a full and careful
examination of evidence of that affair as
submitted by the Cliilean authorities and
as shown in the examination of the Bal
timore's sailors, the president feels com
pelled to stand by the terms of Assistant
Secretary Wharton's instructions to
Minister Egan, given Oct. 23, and to in
sist upou an apology and reparation
therefor.
The second subjec t is the Matta cir
cular note of Dec. 13. This note, the
Cliilean government is informed, is
offensive to the president and other
officials of the United States, and that
unless it is promptly withdrawn and the
language disavowed by the Chilean gov
ernment in equally public form :is that
in which the note was circulated. Min
ister Egan will ask for passports
and diplomatic relations between tho
countries will cease.
The third is proposed the recall of Min
ister Egan. Acknowledgment is made
for receipt of Minister Montt's note,
stating that Mr. Egan is non persona
grata to the government of Chile and
amiouueing the readiness and desire of
that government to receive another rep
resentative of the United States at Santi
ago. Upon this subject the government
of Chile is informed that the note cannot
now be considered. There are other and
weightier matters pending settlement
and when they are satisfactorily disposed
of this government will then consider
the request for the recall of Mr. Egan.
The United States minister was, of
course, notified of the receipt of the note
from Senor Montt, and it is said a mes
sage has been received from him stating
that the members of the Chilean govern
ment authorized to speak upon such
matters have verbally assured him that
they were satisfied with him, and that
similar statements were made to the
ministers from other countries. This
dispatch raises a question of veracity
letween Minister Egan and Senor Montt,
which subsequent correspondence or
vents may aid in settling. Certain it u
that up to the receipt of Mr. Montt's not?
the records do not show -iy indication
of dissiitisf action with Mr. Egan by tin
Cliilean authorities.
..i-UIMATIC COBHE8POMDENCE.
The
Lorn DWcusalon Iletween the
Twe
Countries on the Subject. ,
Washington, Jan. 20. The Chilean
correspondence from the department of
state forms a volume of several hmdred
printed ages. It logins with Minister
Egan's dispatch of Aug. 15, 1HK), notify
ing the deimrtment of the beginning of
the controversy between the executive
and legislative departments of Chilean
government resulting finally in the
overthrow of President Balmaceda.
The success of the revolutionists and
downfall of Balmaceda are covered by
numerous dispatches. From Aug. 27 to.
31 disorder reigned at Santiago attend
ing the change of governments. The
police deserted their posts, the houses of
Balmaceda's supporters were sacked and
15,000,000 worth of property wantonly
destroyed. All the legations, except the
English, which refused to accept an"
were crowded wua reiugees, whiC.
alone avoided a great sacrifice of life.
Sept. 1 Mr. Egan announced the in
stallation of the new government. On
the 4th he was instructed to recognize it,
which he did ou the 5th. During the
excitement the United States legation
entertained neai ly one hundred refugees,
including Balmaceda and hia family.
They remained three days.
Ilrltaln at the Ilottom of It.
Sept. 1 Mr. Egan wrote that ever since
the Itata incident a bitter feeling had
been held against the United States by
the young and unthinking element of
those then in opjtosition to the govern
ment, a feeling which, said Mr. Egan,
the English did all in their power to pro
mote and foster. A manifestation of
this was shown in the charge bv Ver-
gana, who acted as secretary of the army
of the north, who said that on the day
of the lauding ot the northern army at
Quiteros on Aug. 2'J the San Francisco
went to thnt bay and from there carried
back the most important information to
the government authorities at Val
paraiso. Hear Admiral Brown denied
the charge absolutely, stating that the
landing had been effected and was fully
known to thegovernmeut officials lief ore
he left and that he had no communica
tion with them after his return. Sept.
24 and 25 Mr. Egan telegraphed that it
had been intimated tlftit he was expected
to turn the refugees out that were in the
legation to lie prosecuted, but that ho
would iermit them to go out only under
safe condnct to neutral territory; also
that the feeling against the United
States because oi the Itata incident was
being fomented. Secret police sur
rounded the legation arresting persons,
twenty in numlier, for entering it and
placing two of Mr. Egan's servants in
prison. Against this Mr. Egan pro
tested to the minister of foreign affairs.
By direction of the president Mr. Whar
ton telegraphed to Minister Egan Sept.
26 to insist firmly that the respect and
inviolability due the minister of the
United States and the legation build
ings, including free access, be given and
observed fully and promptly by the
Chilean authorities.
Nov. 16, in response to questions, Mr
Egan informed the state department
that he had supjiorted the ref ugees at
the legation at his own exxense, then
amounting to more than $5,000. Nov.
17 he reported that he was compelled to
complain that the secret police who had
been watching the legation for two
weeks had liecome boisterous under the
influence of liquor, and from the street
had used insulting language toward the
refugees. Mr. Matta replied, denying
that the disturbers were police spies and
said drunkards created the disturbance.
He said a report from the intendente of
Santiago showed that Mr. Egan was not
well informed. He charged that per
sons that were employes of the legation
of North America committed indiscre
tions which might provoke replies and
reprisals not jdeasing to the rights or
the decorum of anybody.
Malta's Statement Contradicted.
To this Mr. Egan responded that the
facts he complained of were known to
him personally and were matters of pub
lic notoriety. The drunken crowd gath
ered aliout the doors of the legation, and
sometimes entered it, trying to induce
the refugees to go ourside. That condi
tion of things, Mr. Egan said, showed
want of respect for the legation, and
was not calculated to promote the
maintenance of that spirit of
cordial friendship which was de
sirable to cultivate betweeen the two
countries. Further correspondence took
plnce between Messrs. Egan and Matta
on this subject under dates of Nov. 23
and 30, the latter repeating his insinua
tions that the troubles were caused by
the actions of the refugees in the lega
tion and their agents outside.
To this Mr. Egan replied in spirited
terms, denying the connection of any
person in the legation with the disorders
and insisting that the' were undoubted
ly agents of the public authorities.
The Attack on the Baltimore's Men.
Coming to the attack on tne sailors of
the Baltimore and its consequences, the
first notification was in a telegram
from Minister Egan, dated Oct. 18, the
fight having occurred on the 16th. On
the 19th he transmitted to the depart
ment of state Captain Schley's letter to
Minister Egan and to the intendente,
that to the latter asking an investiga
tion and said: "The general impression.is
that the attack was unprovoked and pre
meditated. Some weeks ago an attack
was made upon a number of the sailors
of one of the German ships of war, re
sulting in the killing of one of the Ger
mans, and it is understood that the at
tack was made because Chileans mis
took the Germans for United States
sailors." Then followed the telegram of
the president to Minister Egan. through
Assistant Secretary of State Wharton,
of Oct. 23, which has been printed, in
which Mr. Egan was instructed to in
form the Chilean government that the
United States government had no doubt
a prompt and full reparation would be
offered by Chile if the facts were as
found by the board composed of the
Baltimore's officers which investigated
the affair.
An Outrage at Valparaiso.
Nov. 7 Mr. Egan reported the ill treat
ment of Patrick Shields, a fireman of
the United States steamship Keewana,
and an American citizen, who, accord
ing to a report from the United States
consul at Valparaiso, was arrested for
drunkenness, a charge denied by him,
kept for several da3's in jail without
process of law, . forced to sweep the
streets and brutally beaten by police
officers. The consul said that" he had
been medically examined and found to
lie in a serious condition and that tho
local authorities had been mnowtrated
Against.
The statement of Shields, the Kee
wana sailor, to Surgeon White and the
reiwrt of the chief of police of Valpar
aiso to Consul McCrwry are included in
the correspondence and confirm the truth
of this statement. In Mr. Egan'c dis
patch later all the documents in the case,
which iire set out in full in the corres
jMindence, were transmitted to Senor
Matta by Mn Egan. in connection with
Shields' chum for $",000 damages. The
following iqioii the question or Shields'
citizenship are suggestive:
Valparaiso, Nov. 'if).
In the cae of Patrick Shield, of the
Keewana, who makes a claim against the
government of Chile for injuries claimed
to have lieen receive 1 at the hands of the
police of this city, I desire to state that
the crew list of tlie steamship shows that
he was born in Ireland, and is a subject of
Great Britain. Wlu.lAM Mi Cki kkv,
United States Couxul.
SANTIAGO Nov. 23.
Sin Keplying to your communication
of the 20th inst., in reference to the case of
1 Patrick Shields, of tne VIi1V'.'a.
steamship Keewana, I beg to refer you to
paragraphs 170 and 171 of consular In
structions, in the latter of which you will
find the following: "The principles which
are maintained by this government in re
gard to the protection hh distinguished
from the relief of seamen are well
settled. It is held that the circum
stance that the vessel is American
is evidence that the seamen on board
are such, and in every regularly docu
mented merchant vessel the crew will find
their protection in the flag that covers
theiu. Shields in therefore iu this ami
and also in the matter of relief, he hav
ing shipped in a port of the United States,
entitled to the same pr otection an if be
were a United States citizen.
Patrick Kuan."
On the same day, Nov. 7, Mr. Egan
reported a public meeting called to de
nounce the United States legation and
to request tho delivery of the reiugees.
This was due to attacks in the press.
Hie government sent a squadron of cav
alry to protect the legation. This meet
ing was called by a proclamation which
charged that the refugees in 1 lie legation
had conspired to kill Colonel Canto.
Alter the meeting the Litentiente issued
a proclamation denj ing the existence of
the. conspiracy, a proclamation which,
Mr. Egan said, would have been much
more valuable before the meeting. Of
this incident Senor Alalia wrote to Mr.
Egan that "the government does not
alarm itself, however it may disapprove
the misdemeanors of speech, spoken and
written, which, as has been observed by
the honorable minister jilenijiotentiary,
were not borne out by the results."
Chile's Insolent Attitude.
Senor Matta's reply Oct. 27 said that
tho government of the United States
formulated demands and advanced
threats that, without being cast back
with acrimony, were not acceptable, nor
could they be accepted in that case or
any other of like nature. Ho did not
doubt the sincerity, rectitude or earnest
ness of the investigation on lioard thr
Baltimore, but would recognize only the
jurisdiction and majority of his own
country to judge and punish tho guilty
on Chilean territory. He said the ad
ministrative and judicial authorities
had been investigating the affair; that
the judicial investigation under Cliilean
law is secret and the time has not yet
arrived to make known the result; when
that time did arrive he would communi
cate the result, although he did not rec
ognize any other authority competent to
judge criminal cases than that estab
lished by the Chilean people. Until the
tiin-J arrived to disclose the result of the
investigation he would not admit that
the disorders in Valparaiso or the silence
of his department should appear as an
expression of unfriendliness toward the
government of the United States which
might put in peril the friendly relations
between the two countries.
Minister Matta's Note.
On Dec. 13 Mr. Egan telegraphed the
state department as follows: "The fol
lowing telegram from minister of for
eign relations, sent Chilean minister,
Washington, with sanction of president,
was read in senate and published in pa
pers today:
Senor Pedro Montt, Washington:
Having read the portion of the report of
the secretary of the navy and of the mes
sage of the president of the United States,
I think proper to inform you that the
statements ou which both report and mes
sage are based are erroneous or deliber
ately incorrect.
With respect to the persons to whom an
asylum ha.- been granted, tLey have never
been threatened with cruel treatment nor
has it been sought to remove them from
the legation, nor has their surrender been
asked for. Never has the house or the
person of the plenipotentiary, notwith
standing indiscretions and deliberate '
provocations, lieen subjected to any of
fense, as is proved by the notes of Septem
ber, October and November. With respect
to the seamen of the Baltimore there in,
moreover, no exactness nor sincerity in
what is said at Washington. The occur
rence took place in a bad neighborhood of
the city, the maintop 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 hundred people on the ground and
it was ten squares or more from the place
where it begun.
Mr. Tracy and Mr.IIarrison have been led
into error in respect to our reople and our
government. Their instructions recom
mending impartiality and friendship have
not been compiied with, neither now nor
before. If no official complaint has been
made against the minister and the naval
officers, it is because the facts, public
and notorious both in Chile i
and the United States, could ,
not, although they were well proved,
be urged by our confidential agent.
This telegram was published in the
official diary and transmitted by tho
Chilean minister at Buenos Ares to all
Chilean legations in Europe. On the
same day the correspondence between
Messrs. Egan and Matta on the Balti
more case was published in all the Val
paraiso papers.
Mr. Egan at once wrote Minister Matta
asking if the published text of the tele
gram was correct, and the latter replied
it was, and added: "Inasmuch as the
telegram is an official act of the govern
ment of Chile 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
the undersigned could add nothing to
its contents, which are to serve as a
guide for Don Pedro Montt at Washing
ton in treating of these matters.' ,
Pending" further instructions Mr.
Egan notified the state department oii
Deo. 17 that he had suspended com-
mnnicatioDi with the Chilean forviign
Dffioo.
Illalne on Matta's InnniA
On tho 8th inst. Mr. Blaine asked
whether all that is jiersonally offensive
to tho president and othei officcrn of the
United States in tho Malta circular
would le withdrawn by tho new gov
ernment; also, wh the, a f.afe conduct
would le granted to the rcfugef who
were still in tho legation, and finally,
whether all surveillance of the h g;itioii
had tieen removed. That day Mr. Kgan
j was at Valparaiso to iiloee on tho United
j States steamship Yorktown two refugee
! who had traveled without safe conducts,
i and consequently did not answer Mr.
r Blaine's inciuiry until the 12th inst..
when ho r ported that Iks had a conver
sation with tho minister of foreign
I affairs, in the courso of which ho so-.
cured for all the refugees permission to
leave the country, and was assured ver
bally that no harm would 1k done them,
but could not obtain a written safe o in
duct; that on the first question h could
only receive a promise for as early a re-,
ply us jiosfible, the absence of tho pr sI-:
clout in Valparaiso making it impossible
for liini to answer at once, and that the
legation was entirely free from espionage.
Mr. Egan's summary of the report of tho
judge of crimes in the Baltimore easy.
Was transmitted the same day. '
J-Shii Fears InceiidlarleM. S
He also reported that xliremen anf
detectives surrounded lwith the United
States and Spanish legations; that sev
eral jiersons had lieen arrested after
leaving the latter; that tho newnpaera
were relentless in their offensive and un
scrupulous attacks, and that it was in
tended to drive out the refugees by at
tempting to burn the legation or adjoin
ing houses. Ho related the ex-
iressioiis of approval from mem
ers of the diplomatic corps, and
said that the British minister com
mended to his government tho Msition
taken by him in 1 ho wholo matter. Mr.
I'gan's son and two gentlemen who h;ul
called at, the legation, wcro seized by tho
police 1 oc. 20-22 as they were leaving
the legation, bnt were reh-ased. Against
this course of action by t lie authorities
tie Argentine minister, as lean of Iho,
diploma! le corps, protected, anil ho was;
piomiseil tli.it ouly tlm regular iini-i
formed lxiiice should be maintained
about the legation. This pioini.se, Mr.i
Ev.an reports, was complied with iu part
only.
Mr. Egan akel, in view of Mr. Mat-;
ta's telegram, if he might attend tho in-'
nuguratioii of President Montt Dec. 20
To this no reply was sent, and on tho
27th he reported that in the absence of;
instructions lie did not attend. j
The transfer in safety of the last five
refugees in the legation to the York-'
town was rejiorted by Mr. Egan on .Ian
Hi. I hey were accompanied by two
refugees from the Spanish legation. 1 ho
Spanish minister and the Chilean min
ister.
Malta MmlcralfH llin Tr.iin. '
Jan. 10 Mr. Egan transmitted a rola-j
lion of the interview which tho minister,
tf foreigu affairs accorded on that day,'
and said that he was told that in view of
Mr. Blaine's position, and on the ground
taken by the former secretaries of state,
Buchanan and Webster, no foreign
Iower, through its representatives, could
make a message of the president of tho
United States the basis of diplomatic:!
representations or controversy; that his
government would not have any objecvj
tion to withdrawing all that might bo'
considered disagreeable to that of tho'
United States in the Matta telegram.)
Mr. rgan added that he expressed ar.!
opinion that an expression of regret for)
such parts of that document as werecon-j
sidered offensive to the president and ;
other officers of the United States would'
be expected to supplement the with
drawal, and that he receive.fl from tho,
ministers positive assurance that the:
Chilean Minister to the United States?
had lx-en instructed to express regret for.
all that might create unpleasantness 1?-'
tween the two governments in the case.'
Pedro Montt s first apitearance was on
Aug. 28, when through Julio Poster he;
wrote to notify Secretary Blaine of tho
surrender of Valparaiso by Balmaceda.!
Dec. 11 he transmitted a long letter con
cerning the Baltimore affair, in which
he said that the report in official docu-i
ments published in Washington were
inaccurate; that Chile would make a
complete statement ef the facts as soott
as the investigation was complete. To this
letter Mr. Montt wrote ejf the lamenta
ble events at Valparaiso, which "my
government deeply de-plores, and further
events like those which took place in
Valparaiso on Oct. 10 are not rare in
ports visited by sailors of diverse nation
alties, and there are no grounds whateva
for attributing to the affair of VabV
paraiso any motive offensive to the
United States. If the result of the ju-
dicial investigation shall show the cul-(
pability of the Chilean citizens, the gov-t
eminent of the Liiited States may rest,
assured that they will be punished con
formably to the laws." .'
Other ducuments furnished the state.
department by M. Montt include the
reports of the Santiago police officials,
upon which Mr. Matta based his notes
to Mr. Egan. that the disturbances about
the United States legation in that city
were due to the occupants and employes
of the legation.
Mr. Montt presente-d no dispatches
from his government alout withdraw
ing the Matta telegram of Jan. Ki that
came through the United States legation
at Santiago.
Jan. 1 Secretary Blaine tent a tele
gram to Mr. Egan reciting the facts in
the Baltimore case and expressing the
opinion that the attack on the American
sailors had its origin and motive in a
feeling of hostility to this government;
that the Cliilean authorities failed in
their duty of protection and that this
government was consequently com
pelled to ask for a suitable ariology and
adequate reparation. Mr. Egan is in
structed to bring these matters to the
attention of the Cliilean government and
to express President Harrison's regret
that from the beginning the gravity of
the questions involved has apparently
not been appreciated by that govern
ment. Coming to the Matta note Mr. Blaine
eays the expressions therein imputing
untruth and insincerity to the president of
the United States and secretary of the
navy are in the highest degree offensive
to this government and demands an
apology. If an apology is not given
diplomatic relations between the two na
tions will lie terminated.
Then follows an intimation from the
Chilean government that Egan should
be recalled, to which Mr. Blaine replies
that the United States can take no such
action pending an ajiology and repara
tion asked from Chili. It is understood
today that the Cliilean minister of for
eign affairs asked one or two days" graco
to consult President Montt, who is at
the. baths iu the interior and that Secre
tary Biaiue has granted the dday.
