The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-06-21
PEACE ALMOST IN SIGHT
WHEN BoMB-THRowERS BROKE UP
THE NEGOTIATIONS.
Minister Egan's Mediation to Stop the
Bloodshed in Chilli Foiled by Revo-
lutionary Plotters - Wild Scenes in
Santiago.

A private letter received from Santiago under
date of May IA contains much interesting in
formation concerning affairs in Chilli. of which
the following is an abstract:
Through the clever intervention of Mr..
Egan, the United States Minister, conference
had been brought about between the Govern
ment and the revolutionists which might have
resulted in the end Of the war but for an un-
fortunate episode which occurred yesterday
evening, whereby the lives of the Minister of
the Interior and several other distinguished
men of the Government were jeopardized
This has opened the wounds which the salve
OF good counsel was trying to heal, and there
is no telling when the war will end.
"The members of the Government declared
that no proposition for peace would be enter
tanned that did not come from committee of
which the United States should be party
This arose, l think, partly from the friendly
attitude of the United States, bu' largely from
feeling OF personal regard and confidence in
Mr.. Egan. He has throughout acted with con-
summate tact, keeping up friendly relation
with the Balmaceda party, while at the same
time he has afforded an asylum to certain
prominent revolutionists. In the language of
one OF these, he has acted in a manner to re-
tain the respect of the Government by display
ing no interest in any measure save peace and
the interference of European power upon this
continent and of the revolutionists by pre-
senting them the spectacle of a neutrality with
no axe to grind.
1.-The English and German Ministers tried
to be secret mediators between the belliger-
ents, but the Government at Santiago de-
clined to accept the good Offices of the Euro
pean Ministers and declared its intention to
treat only through the representatives of the
three great Republics of the world, France,
Brazil, and the United States.
"When this decision was reached Mr. Egan
obtained safe conducts for the revolution
ary leaders, who were in hiding, and after
-hran 1nxvc
late and discuss propositions of peace.
1.-The first propositions were presented by
the revolutionists, and they were contained in
moderate, dignifed, and laudable document,
simply asking to have the constitution re-
stored, and let all who would come back in
the fold. There were no recriminations or
demands or promises, but simply proposition
that Balmaceda should accept their interpreta-
ton of the constitution, which would, of
course, deprive him of his dictatorial powers
1.-The conferrees-that is, the French, Bra
lillian, and American Ministers--had long
interview with the President who demanded
that the document should be shown him. This
the mediators declined to do, and insisted that
they should first know the requirements of
the Government and compare the two in order
10 see If they could bring about a compro-
mise. There seemed to be most favorable
condition of things all around, and it looked
as If the negotiations were to terminate favor
ably. The President had taken time to con-
slider and formulate his conditions of peace
ard at O'Clock the mediators were to meet
him again to receive the document. At that
hour they repaired again to the iMoneda' (the
palace, where they found the passages and
courtyards crowded with excited officers and
soldiers, with cavalry dashing here and there
with aids and orderlies arriving and going
with the greatest speed and in the greatest
excitement, and everything in utter con-
fusion.
notwithstanding their high Office the
Ministers with difficulty crowded their way
through the excited throng and it was many
minutes before they could obtain an audience
with Mr.. Godoy, the Minister of the Interior,
who is the medium by which communication
with the President is obtained. They found
him white with rage and trembling with agi-
taton. The cause of his excitement was soon
explained. AS he and several of his fellow
officials were returning from the Chamber of
Deputies to the Government building a few
moments before, two roughly-dressed men,
~ ''ponchos' and 'sombreros,' and otherwise
disguised, stood beside two fine horses AS
the Minister and his party approached these
men they suddenly mounted, plunged their
spurs into their horses sides, and each threw
bomb at the Minister as they rode at full
speed away. One bomb went beyond its
mark and exploded. The other failed to ex-
plode, and was picked up later. Nobody
was hurt, but everybody was greatly fright
ened, and the rage of the Government knew
no bounds. Cavalry squads and mounted
policemen were sent in all directions. with
orders to shoot the assassins as soon as they
were caught.
"The Minister of Foreign Affairs announced
The determination of the President to refuse
Ell further attempts at peace, on the ground
that the reyolutionists to whom safe con-
ducts had been given were involved in the
conspiracy for assassination.
"Mr. Egan and his fellow-mediators knew
mat this was untrue, but learning that the
President had ordered the arrest of the
revolutionary leaders regardless of their safe
conducts,' started at once to extend their
personal protection over the suspected men
'!he French, Brazilian, and United States
Ministers each took charge of one or more of
the revolutionist leaders, and afforded them
shelter and asylum in their respective lega-
lions. In the mean time all ideas of nepotia-
lions and all hopes of peace have gone m In
the steam of boiling blood.
1--WE hear to-day of the escape of the Itata
from San Diego. A bloody fight seems de-
termined upon by both the Government and
the reVolutionists, and that may be the best
way 10 settie the dlnculty---Lhe Government
has sent letter of explanation and Apology
for its action in revoking the safe Conducts
OF the reVolutionists, who were engaged in a
treaty for peace, and the Ministers from Brazil
and the United States have accepted the same
but up to the present time the French Minister
has refused TO be comforted The Fnglish
Minister offered the Warspite to carry away
al the representatives of the opposition after
their safe conduct was Cancelled, but Mr.
Egan hearing of this, slipped down to Val
paralso and mad talk with Admiral McCann.
which resulted in the offer of the Baltimore TO
carry them to Callao. Three OF the revolu-
uonary leaders who had come to treat for
peace accepted the offer; two of them de-
Aahueu 10 De landed In Iquique, but the Gov