The Sun.
London, England, 1865-11-18 00:00:00

THE CHILIAN DIFFICULTY.

MEETING OF LIVERPOOL MERCHANTS.
A numerously attended meeting of merchants and
others interested in the Chilian trade was held at
Liverpool yesterday, to discuss the present aspect of
Spain towards Chili, and its influence upon British
commerce on the west coast of South America. Mr.
C. Turner, M.P., was unanimously voted to the
chair.
The tIIAIR3IAN said they were met together for
the purpose of considering the position in which the
interests of the commercial community were placed
in consequence of the blockade established by the
Spanish Government over the ports of Chili, and,
further, of considering what 'representations were
desirable on the part of the trade of the great port
of Liverpool to our Government for the protection
of those interests. He did not intend to enter into
any detail of what had taken place, because they
were, most of them, engaged in the South Pacific
trade, and had private sources of information, and
they had also inthepublicpapers full details of what
had occurred. But, as far as their sources of infor-
mation went, it appeared that the blockade which
had been established was entirely without justifica-
tion. It was greatly to be regretted in these civilised
days that a nation standing so high as Spain should
make what they must consider a freebooting attack
upon a weaker State. (Cheers.) It was very much
to be deplored ; but they could not but fear that the
success which attended the Spanish expedition
against Peru, which was in their own minds also
quite unprovoked, had led to this further attack upon
the coast of Chili. (Hear.) Perhaps this was a
question more for Governments than themselves ;
but, inasmuch as their interests were involved, he
thought that the trading community had a right to
ask Government for all the information they pos-
sessed, and further to ask them to take energetic
steps for the protection of their interests, which
were jeopardised, A resolution would be proposed
and a memorial presented for adoption ; and he
would now call upon Mr. Nicholson to address the
meeting.

Mr. NICHOLSON said that of necessity great loss
must accrue to British and other shipowners, because
when warned off the ports blockaded they would
have to lie in neutral ports, at great loss, until the
removal of the blockade. To show the importance
of the Chilian trade, he might state that in 1849 the
total imports and exports amounted t 0588,700,000,
while in 1864 they had amounted to $24,000,000, or
between six and seven millions sterling.
The CHAIRMAN said that Mr. Williamson, who
had just returned from the West Coast, would be
able to give them the latest information.
Mr. WILLIAMSON said that he had travelled over
night, and had only just heard of the meeting ; but

it having been suggested to him that there were
some points upon which he might give information
he very gladly attended. !Hear, liear.) Ile would
touch upon them in this order—first, regarding the
principle or light in which they were to view this
matter ; second, what they were to hope from the
action taken on the West Coast; and, last, in the
event of that action being ineffectual, what it was
incumbent upon them to do. (Cheers.) He would
not say that Chili was altogether blameless in regard
to the questions under dispute, but this they were
all aware of, that those questions were exceedingly
paltry and exceedingly unworthy the attention of a
government occupying the position of that of Spain,
and certainly most unworthy of such treasures the
Spanish Government had thought fit to put into
operation on the West Coast. Mr. Williamson
then alluded to the seizure of the Chincha Islands
and the re-assertion of the right to look upon the
war of independence in Peru as still existing which
was made by the Spanish admiral as very naturally
causing much uneasiness to the Chilians. Feelings
were then expressed in the Chilian press, and the
paper of San Martine used words respecting the
Court at Madrid which, not more severe than those
which sometimes appeared in the newspapers, gave
great offence to the Spaniards. Then Chili declared
coal contraband of war, which, perhaps, should not
have been done. Then it was said that an insult
was offered to the Spanish flag in front of the
Spanish Minister's house at Santiago, but this was
afterwards withdrawn. That was the whole ques-
tion between the Government of Spaiu and that of
Chili. Explanations were demanded by the Spanish
Minister, M. Tavira, and explanations were given
by the Chilian Government to M. Tavira, and he,
on behalf of his Government and in his own name,
expressed his entire acceptance of them. This ex-
planation was dated the 16th or the 29th of May,
he forgot which. Admiral Pareja, however, was
no friend to the Minister, and being in favour with
the new Cabinet at Madrid, which M. Tavira was
not, he expressed his disapproval of the acceptance,
and obtained an order from the Court at Madrid
that M. Tavira was to proceed before her Catholic
Aptloraorjeeeescetodlntogize , a
answer for his conduct. Admiral Pareja
then proceeded to Valparaiso, and sent in an ulti-
matum demanding more detailed explanations, a
which d thhee
was
gChilianlad
toGovernment
tha t
in r
e fu srefusedrefusing
to submit to such a humiliation they had the appro-
val of the whole diplomatic body—(cheers)—of the
Ministers of England, France, the United States,
and other countries—(cheers)—and they told the
Admiral that Chili could follow no other course,
which was a most important point. (near.) Nations
had national life and honour to protect as well as
individuals, and he could not have wished to see
the Government of Chili so humiliated. On the
second question, as to what they might hope from
the action on the West Coast, various meetings had
been held at which the merchants and others had
thete r mdsil diplomatic
body emxpressedd tut mhsaedl vhe
body urging them to take immediate steps—the
seeinn avde drre s ss
ter; nt
tong