The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-09-29
Detachments of Marines to Be Sent to
Santiago to Guard Our Legation.
Citizens Of the United States Arrested BY the
Junts as Suspects" Must Be Released-Ac.
tion Taken on Adyices from Minister Egan.
PROTECTION FOR AMERICANS.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2S.-War with Chilli.
That was the subject discussed not only by
Washington to-day. but by the President.
Secretary Tracy. special counsel John w.
Foster. Assistant Secretary OF State Whar-
ton and Commodore Ramsey. chief Of the
Bureau OF Navigation. Navy Department.
But we will have no war with Chill. That
much is as good as settled. President Har-
rison has set his foot down upon the provo
cation for it. and the revolutionary govern
ment must right itself.
The President was given an opportunity
to institute vigorous foreign policy, and
he immediately accepted the opportunity.
The conference alluded to was occasiOned
by one or two lengthy cablegrams from
Minister Egan, at Santiago. stating in
brief that an armed force conGregated
about the headquarters of our legation and
demanded him to give up a number of
Balmaceda's followers, who had taken
refuge in his house and the legation head
quarters. and sought protection under our
flag; that he had demanded of the Chilian
authorities the dispersement of the force
and in its place a Gordon of police had
been posted. The officers were interfering
with the ingress and egress of those who
had business with our legation, and for the
present not only was our business at o
standstill, but the neighborhoOd of tho
legation had become q bedlam, the priv
ileges of our representatives were restricted
and the family privileges of the minister
completely cut off. All appeals of Minister
Egan were drowned IN the din Of the
<ha nf xha
within our doors. Minister Egan's cable
grams made n full report of the situation at
present, and briefly reviewed the condition
of affairs during the past few weeks.
THE PRESIDENT DECIDED PROMPTLY.
The communications of Minister Egan
were in cipher. They were pointed, how
ever. and, in the opinion of the officials
who considered them, exonerated him
from any blame which may have been
charged against him for acts done or left
undOne. He asked for instructions, and
the question uppermost before the Presi-
dent and his counsel was: How far shall
we demand the right of asylum within our
gates at Santiago!" 1t took President
Harrison but few minutes to conclude
that the Chilians had made of our minister
prisoner In effect, and that IN violation of
the most vital of American principles. The
President said that the right of asylum for
refugees in times of war had never been
questioned in our country; It was guar
anteed in all countries, however it was not
respected in the south American republics.
If similar condition of affairs existed in
the United States We would, beyond doubt,
give protection to the refugees. Would
we not guarantee to American citizens
abroad or others within our gates as much
protection as we would give foreigners in
our own countryf Wac not our legation
headquarters in Santiago bit Of United
States territory for the momentf Espe-
cially it was the duty of our government to
protect our own citizens In foreign lands at
all hazards. There was left. therefore, but
one thing for this government to do. and
that was to instruct Minister Egan to de-
mand the release of American citizens who
had been arrested and cast into prison
on suspicion of being spies or sym
pathizers with the enemy of the iunts.
This instruction was at once cabled Minis
ter Egan. and every preeaution taken pos
sible to preserve the lives and liberties of
tho American citizens and those seeking
protection within our doors at Santiago.
Minister Egan has reported that many per.
sons seen going out of our legation had
been arrested for no particular reason. but
were held as suspects" These must all
be instantly released. The environments
thrown around the legation must be re-
moved. There must be freedom for all to
come and to GO who would visit the United
States legation. There must be no cate
chIsm OF detention of any ono within the
precincts of our legation.
MARINES TO PROTECT THE LEGATION.
AS precautions the President directed tn at
the San Francisco. which wei ghed anchor at
Calloa yesterday, be recalled and ordered
to proceed at once TO VALPARAISO. for trans
port of her marines to guard our citizens
and interests there; also that the marines
of our new man. of war Baltimore, now at
Valparaiso. then proceed overland to San
taigo and put themselves in Harmonious
action with those from the San Francisco.
Communications were also sent to the COM
mander of the White Squadron to keep
within call of our diplomatic and naval
representatives at Santiago and be ready
TO put into the nearest port on moments
notice all ships at his command. The ma
rines of the San Frrncisco and Baltimore
will form the Gordon around our legation at
Santiago In the place of the Chilian police.
American faces will be seen there hereafter
and guarantee TO our citizens their rights.
The menscing attitude of the new authori-
ties will be repressed. This all will be
communicated 10 the new President of
Chill by Minister Egan tomorrow, if it has
not been told him already.
There is no fear of war with Chilli. The
rights which belong 10 our people and our
legation there will be preserved In such q
straightforward way now that the junta
will not care TO question our purposes. If
this programme should be resisted, there
would, of course. be clash of arms. but it
could not be q war, for the new govern.
ment of Chilli has not the resources to make
a contest with the United States rise TO the
dignity of war.
An Associated Press dispatch says: It 10
conjectured here that the matters under
consideration at the conference to-day
were statements from Minister Egan and
Captain Schley, of recent occurrences in
Chilli, which are also conjectured TO accord
with the special dispatches from Val
paraiso printed the New York Herald
this morning. Just what Captain Schley
had to communicate to the Navy Depart
ment cannot be learned from any
Of the officials but it is sur
missed that it related to the treat
.nent Of refugees or that the bitter
anti-AmeriCan sentiment in Chill, resulting
from the seizure of the ltata. has revealed
itself In hcstile or unfriendiy demonstra-
tions towards the officers and men of the