Los Angeles herald., 1891-10-30
THE JUNTA'S RETORT.
Chile Shows a Very Ugly
Disposition.
An Acrimonious Reply to the
Presidents Note.
What Is the Administration Going
to Do About 1t?
Harrison, Blaine and Tracy in Consulta-
tion-Activity at the Navy Yards.
Plenty of Ships Available
in Case of War.
Associated Press Dispatches.

Associated Press DISPATCHES.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 29.-There was no
excitement in official circles this morn
ing over the Santiago press cablegram
announcing the receipt by Minister
Egan OF an unsatisfactory response from
the junta to the representations of the
United States, and saying the BAlti-
mores crew were practically boycotted
at Valparaiso. The naval officials dis
credit the latter statement, and believe
its foundation lies in the prudent course
adopted by Commodore Schley respect
ing the granting of liberty to its sailors
during the present condition of excite
ment. No word has been received at
the navy department from the commo-
dore reporting any new phase in the
situation.
A CABLEGRAM FROM EGAN,
A cipher cablegram from Minister
Egan was received this morning at the
state department. 1t was nearly noon
before it was translated and laid before
the president. An hour afterwards mes
sengers were dispatched to Secretary
Blaine and Secretary Tracy requesting
their presence at the white house. The
secretaries promptly responded to the
presidents summons. Secretary Tracy
stayed an hour at the white
house and returned to the navy
department, but had not been
there long when he was recalled.
Naturally these movements gave rise to
all kinds of more or less wild specula-
tions as to the nature OF Egan's dispatch,
and the intention 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
matter in charge.
BLAINE IN GOOD SPIRITS.
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.
Sson after 6 O'Clock an official state
4nent of the contents of Minister Egan's
dispatch was made public. 1t read as
follows:
''The department of state received
telegram this morning from Minister
Egan, dated Santiago, October 2Sth, in
which he gives the following as the reply
of the Chilean government to the presi-
dents telegram of October 23d, asking
reparation for the recent murder of
American sailors in the streets of Val
paraiso:
THE JUNTA's REPLY.
'tThe minister of foreign affairs re-
plies that the government of the United
States formulates demands and advances
threats that, without being cast back
with acrimony, are not acceptable, nor
could they be accepted in the present
case, or in any other of like nature.
He does not doubt the sincerity, recti-
tude or expertness of the investigation
on board of the Baltimore, but will rec
ognize only the jurisdiction and authori-
ty of his own country to judge and pun
ish the guilty in Chilean territory. He
says the administrative and judicial
authorities have been investigating the
affair; that a judicial investigation
under the Chilean law is secret,
and the time is not vet arrived to
make known the results. When that
time does arrive, he will communicate
the result, although he does not recog-
nize any other authority competent to
Judge criminal cases than that estab-
lished 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 expression of unfriendliness toward
the government of the United States
which might put i'll peril the friendly
relations between the two countries.
WHAT WILL BLAINE DO?
Up to the hour when the above state
ment was made public, no reply had
been made to it. What will be the ma
ture of Secretary Blaine's reply, is a
matter of conjecture. The most plaus1-
BILE theory advanced is that the sugges-
tions courteously and automatically
conveyed in Acting Secretary Wharton's
dispatch that this government had no
doubt an investigation would be made
and reparation afforded, will now be re-
newed in the shape of stern and for
NAL demand for some immediate assur-
ance OF proper action on the part OF the
junta, and if this is not Forthcoming,
Minister Egan will take passage on the
Baltimore for the United States, thus
severing diplomatic relations between
the United States and Chile.
LITTLE TALK OF ACTUAL TROUBLE.
New York, Oct. pa special from
Washington says the conservative mem
bers OF the cabinet favor taking no de-
cisive action in the Chilean matter until
the new government recently started is
established, to pay little heed to the
junta and give the government ample
time to investigate and make reparation.
There is little talk in official circles oi
actual trolble.
THE CRISIS A GRAVE ONE.