The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-30
TOBENO WAR WITHCHILE
TIE ACUTE PHASE OF THE sIrUA-
TON PASSED.

T4ON PASSED.
The Protection of Refugees at Consul
lates as Established Under the Prece-
dents OF international Law-The
Right of Asylum to Subjects of Other
Nations Discouraged by Many Sec
retaries.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29.-Apparently the
situation in Chile continues to engross the
attention of the President and the depart
ment of state. Acting. Secretary Wharton
called at the white house soon after
breakfast this morning and re-
maiaed with the President until the
cabinet met about IL o'clock. Returning
to the department of state. he found
cablegram from Minister Egan in response
to one sent to him yesterday asking for
further information as to the situation i'll
Santiago. This dispatch was in cipher and
after it had been translated Assistant Sec
retary Wharton and John w. Foster dis
cussed its contents, which, however, they
did not feel at liberty TO make public.
THE ACUTE PHASE PASSED.
1t is known that the acute phase of the
situation has been passed and no serious
trouble is anticipated. Minister Egan has
maintained the dignity of his legation, and
the refugees remain under his protection.
But it is believed that this has been achieved
through the action Of the junta in yielding
under protest TO pressure brought to bear
by this government, while insisting
upon its right to arrest political
refugees, if not actually within the
precincts of the legation, at least In its
shadow. The contention revives an old and
vexed question of international law, which
itself lis by no means an exact science, aud
the President with his advisers, now COR
ming precedents in our diplomatic history,
have resolved that Minister Egau shall be
supported In every legitimate manner, yet
desirous of making no demand that cannot
be justly maintained.
WHAT PRECEDENT SHOWS.
So far as the protection of refugees is CON
cerned the practice of nations includes cases
widely variant.in principles. Our own his
tory, however, shows that where refugees
seeking an asylum in the legation were not
American citizens, the United States govern
nent has uniformly discouraged their ad-
mission and protection. A case
that appears to be pertinent
occurred In 1850, when Mr.. Clayton, our
Secretary Of State, In note to the United
States miuister to Chile. said: "Acquies-
cence by the government of Chile on former
occasions iu the exercise of the hospitality
of asvlum in its larger sense may
preclude that government from object
ing to continued granting of such
hospitality to some extent. At the same
time if that government makes objection
to the granting of that hospitality to par
ticular political refugee, the minister of the
United States, In whose house such refugee
Is sheltered, should advise him that shelter
can no longer be afforded"
RIGHT OF ASYLUM DISCOURAGED.
Mr.. Seward and other secretaries down to
Secretary Bayard Gn case arising in
HaytD declined to claim any right of
asylum, and indeed discouraged it. But the
real issue in the present case appears to be
interference with free communication be-
tween the legation in Santiago and
the outside world, and in such
cases the provisions Of international
stated, the country to which q minister is
accredited, guarantees that in time of peace
this communication shall not be inter
rupted and that the servants and attaches
of the legation are not to be
molested or any act done that may
tend to impede the transaction of the busi-
ness Of the legation. The United States in
particular has shown itself intolerant of
any such interference, and even in the
Franco-Prussian war protested most eff
fectively against the assumption by the
Germans investing Paris of the right to in
terrupt or detain Minister Washburn's
mail messengers.
NO MORE SHIPS TO BE SENT.
Wild rumors were in circulation this af-
ternoon to the effect that the White Squad
ron and other vessels were to be sent to
Chile, but these stories were inconsistent
with Secretary Tracy's statement that no
more vessels are 10 be ordered thither.
In the cabinet meeting to-day
the subject of Minister Egan's
troubles with the iunta were not
touched upon; and it may again be posi-
lively stated that while American interests
in Chile will be fully projected. the acute
passed, and the existing difficulty is now
likely 20 become simply a subject of ordi-
nary diplomatic correspondence.
Although dispatches from Chile were re-
oeived at the headquarters of the Chilean
congressional ENJOYS in Washington up TO
O'Clock last night they contained no refer
ence TO the reported arrest of American
citizeus In Santiago and the stationing of a
guard of police around the United States
legation building there.
THE REVOLT ON THE PINTO.
HAMBURG, Sept. 29.-The troubles be-
tween the officers aud crew of the Chilean
warship Pinto, which is at present moored
In the river Eloe, near this city, have
broken out afresb. The crew are nutiuous
aud have refused to do their duty. The
captain has appealed for a second time to
the authorities to assist him in confining
the mutineers. His FIRST appeal was re-
jscted, as this second one will probably be
also.