The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-10-30
CONSIDERS THE CASE
President Harrison COnSultS His
Cabinet.
The Defiant Answer Of the Chilean Govern
melt Discussed.
Probable Action Of the United Stat6S-The
Situation WaT-ShipS In Readi-
neSS-FOTeisl Comments.
Erecial TO THE MORNING OALu.

morning at the State Department, but it
was nearly noon before the cablegram was
translated and laid before the President.
An hour afterward messengers were dis
patched TO Secretary Blaine and Secretry
Tracy. requesting their presence at the
White House. The Secretaries promptly
responded to the Presidents summons.
Secretary Tracy remained an hour at the
White House and then returned to the Navy
Department, but he had not been there long
when he was recalled. Naturally these
movements gave rise to all kinds Of more or
less wild speculation as 10 the nature Of
Egan's dispatch and the intentions of the
Government. When Secretary Tracy again
emerged from the White House he refused
to make any statement whatever respecting
the Chilean correspondence, on the ground
that the Department of State had the mat
ter in charge.
Secretary Blaine appeared in good spirits
when he came out of the White House and
stepped into his carriage to go home. He
had nothing to say about Egan's message,
but intimated that when the proper time
had elapsed the public would be Informed
of the facts. Soon after o'clock this even
ing an official statement of the contents Of
Minister Egan's dispatch was made public.
1t reads as follows:
CHILE's DEFIANT REPLY.
1.-THE Department of State received a tele-
gram from Minister Egan, dated Santiago,
October 2Sth. in which he gives the follow
ing as the reply of the Chilean Government
to the Presidents telegram of October PSI
asking for reparstion for the murder of
American sailors in the streets of Valparai-
SO: The Minister OF Foreign Affairs replies
that the Government Of the United States
formulates demands and advances threats
that, without being cas- back with acrimOny,
are not acceptable nor could they be ac-
cepted in the present case or IN any other
of like nature. He does not doubt the sin
eerity, rectitude or expertness of the inves-
tigation on board of the Baltimore, but will
recognize only the jurisdiction and authority
of his own country to punish the guilty in
Chilean territory He says the administra-
tive and judicial authorities have been in
YeStlgauDg the affair; that the judicial IN
VestigatOn under the Chilean law is secret
and that the time is not yet arrived TO make
known the results. When tnat time does
arrive he wall communicate the result, al
though he does not recognize any other
authority competent to judge criminal cases
tHaH that established by the Chilean people,
Until the time arrives TO disclose the result
of the investigation he cannot admit that
the disorders in Valparaiso or the silence OF
his department should appear as an eX-
preston Of uufriendliness toward the Gov
eminent If the United States which might
put in Ieril the friendly Teiatlons between
tue two countries"
A FORMAL DEMAND PROBABLE.
Up to the hour when the above statement
was made public no reply had been made to
ii. What viii be the nature Of Secretary
Blaiue's reply is altogether matter Of con-
lecture. The most plausible theory ad-
vanced is that the suggestions, cOurteousiy
and automatically conveyed in acting Sec
retary Wharton's dispatch, that this Gov
ernment had no doubt out that an in
vestigatOn would be made and repara-
tOn afforded, will now be renewed In
the shape of stern and formal demand for
some Immediate assurance OF proper action
on the part of tile Junta, and II these are
not forthcoming Minister Eagan viii take
passage on the Baltimore for the United
States, thus severlng the diplomatic reta-
tions between the United States aud Chile.
AN ENGLISH PRECEDENT.
The State Department has given out for
publication the recital of a precedent estab-
iishtd by Great Britain in her dealings with
weaker nations. The facts as thus recalled
are in the nature Of e reply TO some recent
criticisms by the newspapers of London,
which have assumed that the United States
had taken or would take haSty and over
bearing action toward Chile on account Of
the assault on the sailors of the Baltimore.
In 1863 British bark named the Prince
of Wales had claim against the Brazilian
Government. At the same time three Off
GERS of the British frigate Forte were ar
rested while ashore in a Brazilian town, and
while in civilian dress, for drunkenness
and GisOrderly conduct. The British Min
lister at Rio de JaneIrO at once demanded
payment OF 5000 This sum not being forth
coming four British men-of- war sailed away
from the haTbOr of Rio.
In q lew days one OF them returned with
the information that number of Brazil
ian merchant vessels had been captured by
the English men-of-war. Upon this the
Brazilian Government authorized the Minis
ter at London to pay the $1,000 demanded
under protest, and the dispute was referred
to the King Of the Belgians for arbitration.
1t was afterWard decided that the British
flag had not been insulted by the arrest Of
The naval officers. Diplomatic relations be-
tween the two nations were, however, inter
Tupted for two years.
THE YORKTOWN REACHES BRAZIL.
The United States steamer Yorktown ar
rived at Bahia, Brazil, to-day. She will
stop few days tU coal, then proceed to the
Pacific Station, reaching Chile in about
three weeks. The United States steamer
Petrol was to-day ordered TO sail Immediate
- AiNt4t ~ ~ ASAA AOA NAA4AA" " WoJ u bAAS
SueZ Canal.
THE SITUATION SERIOUS.
New YORK, Oct. 29.-It is generally ac-
knGwledged by merchants interested in the
Chilean trade that the present CRISIS is an
exceedingly grave one. The Evening sun
says; But little business was transacted by
shipping men and by those interested in the
Chilean situation this morning. The whole
topic Of conversation and speculation is
what this country would do in the event OF
war with Chile. Most Of them are inclined
TO ScoH at the idea OF her going IN the lace
of the United States, but the feeling pre-
walls widely that the Chileans are ready to
fight.
Several prominent downtown business
firms who have commercial relations with
Chile were called upon this morning with
view of ascertaining the feeling in respect
to nossibe outbreak of hostlities between
the United States and Chile. I'VE have
received no adyices whatever from our cor
respondent In Valparaiso in regard to this
affair."" said Charles X. Flint, ''and so long
as the matter is in diplomatic negotiation /
do not think any serious consequences need
be apprehended." At the office of Grace &
Co. it was said the trouble would no doubt
be settled in few days.
The local Chilean shippers are feyerish
over the situation. and To the most casual
observer II is easily seen that exciting and
important news is expected within the next
twenty-fOur hours. But little business was
Iahsacteu Dy shlpplug nen anu thoSe III
terested in Chilean affairs. The whole topic
of conversation and speculation in business
circles downtown was what this country
would do in the event Of war with Chile.
Most were inclined to scoff at the idea at
her going in the face OF the United States,
but the feeling prevails that the Chileans
are ready for a fight as they are flushed
with the victory they have just achieved
Then they feel sure, s id one merchant, that
England will be at their backs. The En-
glish have too many interests in Chile, and
they would not let the United States do as
they pleased with her. A war between
Chile and the United States would probably
throw the whole or greater part of South
America into quarrel.
CABINET OFFICERS COUNSEL CAUTION.