The Plattsmouth daily herald. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1883-19??, January 26, 1892, Image 3
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.