The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-11-03
ORDERS TO The YANKEE ADMIRAL.
He Was to Remain Neutral In the
chilian Conflict,
while Ready to Act Promptly II Amer
leans Suffered.
Secretary Tracy Says Instructions
Were Carefully Followed.


tatively stated that no complaint has been
received by the State Department from the
Chilian Government of the con duct Of Mr..
Egan, and his recall has not been considered
by the President or the Secretary of State.
The instructions issued by the Secretary of
the Navy to the United States squadron on
the coast of Chill, at the beginning of the
Gillian disturbance, are made public. Sec
retary Tracy says: "These instructions
have been vigorously adhered to throughout.
In no single instance have they been depart
ed from. They prove conclusively that the
charges Of partiality made by English news
papers are untrue have been invent
ed in order to prejudice Chilians against the
United States for commercial purpo 'es."
The instructions are as follows:
NAVY DEPARTMENT..
WASHINGTON, d. o., March 26. 1891,
Sir:-When the United States flagship San
Francisco is ready for sea, you win proceed
with her to the waters Of Chili, South Amer
lea, and relieve Rear Admiral w. X. McCann
Of command Of that part Of the Pacific sta
tion and protect American interests. The
duty thus imposed upon you calls for the ex-
ercise of great discretion. Owing to the
stoppage OF communication, the department
Is without authentic details In reference to
the condition Of affairs in Chilli. You will,
therefore, be compelled to rely chiefly upon
your own judgment in the execution Of its
orders, in view Of the facts, as you shall as
certain them. The Chilian Minister at
Washington has sent the following commu-
nication to the Department Of State:
Of the he rsspub o GS
on the 7tn of this month. My government has
declared the reyolted squadron o1tlawed and in
stucts me to inform you that it Is not answerable
for the acts Of the rebels in regard to foreigners
or citizens.
On the 4th of March, the Department.sent
Rear Admiral McCanD, Dy telegraph, the
following instructions in cipher:
Insurgent vessels, although outlawed by the
mitting acts Of piracy. Observe strict neutrality.
Take no part In the troubles further than to pro-
tect American interests. Take whatever meas
surgents' vessels to the lives or property o: Amer
lean citizens, including American telegraph
cables. Endeayor to delay bombardment by the
insurgents until American citizens and property
are removed using force II necessary but only as
last resort and when serious injury is threatened
American vessels seized by the insurgents with
out satisfactory compensation are liable to be
recovered fOrcibly, but you should investigate the
matter fully before taking extreme measures and
possible.
AS further and more explicit guide for
your action, you are directed to abstain from
any proceedings which shall be In the nature
of assistance to either party in the disturb
ance or from which sympathy with either
party could be inferred. in reference to
ships declared outlawed by the Chilian
government, if such ships attempt to CON-
init injuries or depredations upon the per-
sons or property of Americans, you
are authorized and directed to interfere in
whatever way deemed necessary 10 prevent
such acts. You will not Interfere unless for
the protection of the lives or property Of
American citizens. Vessels or other prop
erty belonging to our citizens, which may
have been seized by the insurgents upon the
high seas and for which no just settlement or
compensation has been made, are liable to
forcible recovery but the facts should be as
certained before proceeding to extreme meas
ures and all effort made to avoid such meas
ures. Should the bombardment of any place
by which the lives or property Of Americans
may be endangered, be attempted or threat
ened by such ships you Will, If and when
your force is sufficient for the purpose. require
them to refrain from bombardiDg the place
until sufficient time Is allowed for placing
American life and property In safety. You
will enforce this demand II 1t Is refused, aud
II granted, will proceed to give effect TO
measures necessary for the security of such
life or property.
In reference to granting asylum, your
ships will not, Of course. be made q refuge
for criminals. In the case of persons other
than criminals, they will afford shelter,
wherever it may be needed. to Americans
first OF all and to others, including
political refugees, SC far as the claims OF hu-
manity may require, and the service upon
which you are engaged will permit. The ob-
legation to receive political refugees and af-
ford them an asylum is, In general, one Of
pure humanity. But Ii should not be con-
tinued beyond the urgent necessities OF the
situation, and should, in no case, become a
means whereby the plans of the contending
fQafinna hof laad 70 fato VI.
are not to invite or encourage such refugees
to come on board your ship. Should they
apply to you, your action will be governed
by considerations of humanity aud the exig
encies OF the service upon which you are en-
gagged. When a political refugee has en-
barked In the territory Of third power on
board an American ship as passenger for
purposes OF innocent transit and 1t appears
upon the entry OF such ship into your terrific
rial waters, that his life is in danger, it is
your duty to extend to him the offer of asy-
lum.
Referring to paragraph IS, page 1877, of the
Navy Regulations Of 1866. which Is as fol
lows:
If any vessel be taken acting as vessel OF wal
OF priysteer, without having proper % commission
pirates, and treated accordingly,
You are informed that this paragraph does
not refer to vessels acting In the interest OF
the insurgents and directing their hostilities
only against L16 SJaL6 whose authority
they have disputed. Only when such vessels
commit piratical acts are they to be treated
as pirates. Unless their acts are of such
character. or are directed against the persons
or property of Americans y you are not author
lied to interfere with them. In all cases
where 1t becomes necessary to take forciblt
measures force should only be used as a last
resort and then only to the extent necessary
to effect the object In view.
The U. S. S. Baltimore. now en- route t.
| the Pacific, is assigned to duty on the statier
under your command.
- Very respectfully
B. F. TRACY,
Secretary of the Navy.
| To Rear Admiral George Brown, N. S. N
U. S. Flagship San Francisco, Navy Yard
Mare Island, Cal.
On February 22d last, at Talcahuano
Chilli, Admiral McCann issued proclama
nation eDjoining the officers and enlisted
men of the United States naval force on tn,
west coast of South America to abstain from
discussing or criticising the unfortunate
state of affairs in Chilli and from in any way
expressing any sentiment or opinion, eithe
| favorable or unfavorable to either side.
Powerful Vessels Nearing Conple'