Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-13

on account of the extent of their interest:
but for other reasons which are equally
plain, the English residents in Chile were
the most active in their opposition to the
American Minister. Without any attempt
at secrecy, Mr.. Egan endeavored to make
arrangements with the Chilean Govern
ment, which was then represented by Presi-
dent Balmaceda.
American Interests in Nitrate Mines.
inducements would be offered for Ameri-
can capital to become interested in the val
liable nitrate property in the northern part
of Chile. This enterprise had hitherto been
and still Is controlled almost exclusively by
the English. This was the chief one Of the
simproper contracts" with the Balmaceda
government which Mr.. Egan is accuse of
making. He is charged with endeavoring
to make contract for an Exclusive COM
merce in nitrate" Mr.. Egan was perfectly
aware that in view of the large English in
field, such thing was absolutely impossi-
ble The most he could have obtained was
share for any Americans who might care
to enlist in the enterprise.
The negotiations in regard to the nitrate
business form only one incident of this
kind. Mr. Egan endeavored to agitate the
establishment of an American steamship
line on the west coast of South America,
and he was also instrumental in having an
American cable line extended to Valparaiso
There were other measures of similar ma
ture which he undertook, and in all of these
efforts he met with the same opposition and
the same criticism. All this occurred be-
fore the revolution.
Mr.. Egan's Alleged Partisanship.
When the civil war broke out last JAN
uary q majority of the American residents
in Chile declared themselves more or less
openly in favor of the Congressional party
Mr.. Egan did not do so for the very plain
reason that he was accredited to the gov
ernment which was represented by Presi-
dent Balmaceda
The state of feeling which prevailed
among the insurgents at that time and all
during the war admitted of but one princi-
pie, and that was that all persons who did
not declare openly in their favor must be
opposed to their cause. The idea of strict
neutrality, as it is understood in the United
States, was unknown to them, though the
feelings which the most sensible men in
their party entertain, now that the war is
over, have undergone considerable change.
One fact, however, which was very plainly
noticed, was that Mr.. Egan was never ac-
cused Of visiting Balmaceda or any repre-
sentative of his Government, and after
wards declaring openly that he was in
favor of the insurgents and expressing the
hope that they would win. This is charge
which if brought against certain other
foreign Ministers in Santiago, particularly
against the representative of Great
Britain, Mr.. Kennedy, would doubtless not
result very favorably to the parties con-
cerned.
Minister Kennedy an Avowed Partisan.
The opinions of MI. Kennedy and other
foreign diplomats, were expressed SO openly
in favor Of the insurgents that they were
known to every one, including President
Balmaceda himself Whether or not Min
lister Egan remained perfectly neutral dur
ing the whole progress of the war is a
matter which can be demonstrated by refer
ence to the official correspondence of the
past few months, which is now on file in the
State Department at Washington and in
the legation here. Mr.. Egan expresses
himself as perfectly willing that this cor
respondence should be published, and that
an official investigation of his conduct
should be held. The Americans in Chile
still believe that the American Minister
and the American Government preserved q
digniied neutrality during the whole prog
ress of the war.