The Helena independent., 1891-11-03
M0s sALLs Is ON TRACY.
The Chilian Represents Charged
With Being Green in Diplo-
matte Business.
Tracy Thinks the Chilian Dispute
Does not Justify the Talk
Of War.
Business Man From Valparaiso Gives
Evidence Against Admiral Brown
-Egan's Partisanship.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2.-FlaQging interest
in the Chiian affair was revived in a
measure this morning by the visit of Senor
Don Pedro Montt to the navy department.
He remained with Secretary Tracy for an
hour. There was some comment upon tho
call Of Montt upon Secretary Tracy, as for
eign ministers observant of official proprie-
ties usually transact any business they
may have with the government to which
they are accredited solely through the Soc
retary of state. Tho departure from the
usual practice by Senor Montt to-day is
accounted for on the ground of mex
perience in diplomatic formalities. There
.is reason to believe that Senor Months
visit had reference to the inquiry now being
made at Valparaiso into the assault upon
the Baltimore's sailors and that in behalf
of the Chilan government he sought to
secure the testimony OF some American
sailors as contained in the re-
port of Capt. Schley. As the
Chilian inquiry is being conducted
in secrecy and as Captain Schley was not
permitted to have one of his officers present
during the examination of the arrested
American sailors, the United States gov
ernment felt bound to decline to permit its
sailors to give further testimony. If, how
ever, the conduct Of the investigation of
the charges and the proceedings are made
public, Captain Schley will allow testimony
to be taken by Chilian authorities aboard
his vessel. or will send his sailors ashore to
testify, in his desire to establish the truth.
Secretary Tracy to-day said there WAS no
warrant for sensational, war-like dispatches
at this time. The United States govern
ment requested an investigation of the as
sault upon the Baltimore's sailors and the
investigation is being made. Nothing
could be done until the result were known.
He saw no reason for any apprehension in
the mind of the American public. The sec
retary's views are evidently shared by otil-
cials of the department OF state. who look
with amusement upon what they regard as
the clumsily disguised efforts of certain
element in the English press to foment
serious trouble between the United States
and Chilli i'll an effort to undo the advance
made toward the establishment Ct close po-
| litical and trade relations between the
| United States and South American repub-
! lies by the American conference and its
correlative movements.
The ordnance bureau announced this
morning that in four months the harbor
defence vessel Monterey now being built
at san Francisco, would be roady for
service. She now lacks her guns and armor.
The former are furnished at the foundry in
this city and her twelve-inch rifles will be
tested this week at Indian Head. Armor
plates are being delivered and tested. The
Monterey, in the opinion of naval authori-
ties, will be the most formidable craft in
the American navy, with the possible excep-
ton of the Monitor Puritan. also nearly
completed.
Senior Montt left Washington tonight
for New Orleans, to be gone until next
week. He declined this afternoon to say
ANYTHING respecting his visit to the state
and navy departments, but he expressed
the belief that matters were progressing
satisfactorily and again deprecated the
publication of sensational and trouble
breeding stories.