The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-12-30
Especial to the Press

WASHINGTON, December 29.-The Chill
ian situation remains in status quo. There
have been no new development, today
and, until some answer comes from Chill,
no more may be expected from this end.
President Montt has not yet formed his
cabinet. When he does and the cabinet
has been fairly installed into Office, it will
be time enough to look for news from
Chill. The Navy Department has done
about all it can do in preparation for hos
tilities and it is now waiting to see what
the outcome win be.
This being cabinet day, Secretary Tracy
spent but little time at the depart
ment, but before he went to the White
House, Senator Allison, chairman of the
appropriations committee. and Mr.. Lodge
Of Massachusetts, of the House naval COM
mittee, called upon him by appointment.
The naval authorities from the Secretary
down, still maintain their recent attitude
of talking peace tor publication and keep
Ing the mails and wires hct with martial
orders. An official of very high rank in
the department and who has on more than
one occasion been the acting secretary, at
tempted to minimise the preparations
which the department has been making
it is the aim of the department.
always to be prepared for what might hap
pen but he significantly added that. at
some times the department was just little
bit better prepared than at others.
At the cabinet meeting the Chilian COM
plicatiOns were discussed at considerable
length, but the discussion brought out no
new facts or change of programme the
administration has made as to the course
to be pursued and until the next move is
made by Chilli there is nothing for the
Washington government to do except to
wait and be ready to act when the
decisive moment arrives. That will not
now be long delayed.
An Engltshman, now in this city, who is
well qualified to speak about the ways Of
the British foreign Office, when told about
the rumOr of an English Chilian alliance,
gave the PRESS correspondent interesting
information about the way in which Down
ing street looks at diplomacy when British
interests are concerned. He said: "The
secret of Great BrItain's diplomacy is con-
mercial and not political. That is what
has made England so powerful in the
affairs of the world. The taunt of NapO-
leon The First, that England was nothing
but notion of shop keepers was the
greatest axiomatic truth ever delivered.
England is first, last and all the time a
commercial nation. Her diplomacy is con-
Quoted with the great aim of enlarging her
commercial power. She has acquired ter
r1tOry because every new provipce means
another outlet for her manufactured goods
and her surplus capital. 1t means that the
transactions which the trade involves will
be settled in London. Other nations seek,
through diplomatic means, to gain politi-
cal advantage. Great Britain wants some
thing represented by those cabalistic let
ters l.. S. d. and the nation having the
largest bank account is generally
the most powerful. That was
why England short time ago
surrendered Heligoland to Germany,
and in return got an empire in Africa. The
HeligOlanderS don't use much cotton or
cheap Brummagem goods. The Africans
do. There are large English interests in
Chilli. The nitrate trade is in the hands of
London houses. OF course we want to hold
on to it and not have 1t go to New York.
That Is business. But when you talk about
England backing up Chilli, you make great
mistake. England has now pretty much
every thing Chilli can give her and can get
nothing more by war, and it would cost
her a great deal of money. You
may rest assured that England will do
nothing more than lend her moral support
to Chill"
Gen. Miles is in Washington but he de-
nies very positively that he was ordered
here by the War Department and that he is
going TO assume command of the army of
invasion. He is related to the Sherman
family, and as tomorrow Miss Sherman is
to be married to Dr. Paul ThOrndike of
Boston, the general came to Washington
to witness the ceremony.