The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-29
OUR LITTLE WAR CLOUD.
BLAINE AND MONTr BOTH ANx-
IOUS TO AVOID a CLASH.

Chile on Record as Opposed to Arbi-
tration on Principle but She Nav Be
Forced to Seek That Way Out of
Her Present Bad Box-Cans That
Caused Talk.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2S.-Minister Montt
received to-day the official notification nv
cable of the inauguration Of the coustitu-
tional government Of Chile, coupled with
the official assurance that 1t would consider
Immediately the demand for reparation
made by the United States. Armed with
this he went up to the state department and
had another talk with Secretary Blaine, in
which, it is understood, Secretary Blaine
hinted to him the necessity Of not only
prompt considerati on by the new Chilean
administration, but prompt and favorable
action as well. Minister Montt could only
renew his oft-repeated assurance that
President Montt and his cabinet
would do what was rioht
in the matter. Secretary Blaine
told him, it is understood, that while this
government did not expect the Chilean
government to satisfy its demands on the
very first day of its official existence it did
expect definite indications of Chile's inten.
tions during the first week of the new ad-
miplstration.
ARBITRATION NOT FAVORED.
According to Minister Montt, nothing was
said about submitting the questions at issue
10 arbitration, indeed he inbimated that that
method Of settling international difficulties
would not, in his judgment, be applicable to
the present case either by the government
0t Chile or the government of the United
states, as 1t is well-known the re-
pugnance of Chile to the principle of
arbitration caused her Representatives in
the pan-American congress to oppose the
agreement to settle all disputes between the
American republics by arbitration so vigor-
ously that 1t became necessary for Secre-
tary Blaine to go himself personally to the
congress, cut Off debate and carry the
agreement through. the Chileans voting
against it to the last with the Argentines, and
then practically Withdrawing from the
congress because 1t mad been adopted.
GUILE MAY HAVE TO SEEK ARBITRATION.
While this fact, however, might make it
awkward for the Chilean government to
suggest settlement of tho pending contro-
versy by arbitration, it is not improbable
Of course. that it may yet be driven TO this
resort. But up to the present time the
alternative OF war or arbitration has not
been definitely considered. The negotia-
lions proceed on both sides upon the theory
that an amicable settlement can be reached.
All the outgIvings officially of the admins
tration and of the Chilean legation are to
the effect that this amicable settlement will
be reached and that neither government
desires war aud both governments will
work together to secure peace, meantime, OF
course, making all necessary preparations
Tor tho possibility of war.
EGAN IN THE WAY.
1t is understood that Minister Montt re-
terred again, in his conversation with Sec.
retary Blaine to-day, to Minister Egan as
the chief obstacle to the peaceful conelu-
sion Of the present difficulty, instancing his
conduct on Saturday in absenting himself
from the inauguration as evidence of his
Unfortunate unfriendliness. Secretary Blaine
is understood to have disavowed
any responsibility on the part
Of this government for the absence of
Minister Egan from the inauguration, and
to have pointed out that he could not in
the nature of things have been superseded
up. to the present time by man more agree
able to the Chilean government. He did
not have to remind Minister Montt that
the real negotiations with Chile have been
carried on through him and not through
Minister Egan.
BLAINE WANTS PEACE.
There can be no doubt that Secretary
Blaine personally desires peace more
strongly than the rest of the administra-
Eon, just as President Montt desires peace
more strongly than other Chilean officials
This is why Secretary Blaine and Minister
Montt get on so particularly well together.
1t is also why, if he has 10 choose between
arbitration and war Secretary Blaine will
throw all his influence in favor of arbitra-
ton.
TRACY's CALLERS.
By the associated Press.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2S.-Secretary Tra-
cY's Office presented busy scene this morn
ing. Within an hour he saw Senator Alli-
son, chairman of the Senate committee on
appropriations, Senator Cameron, chair
man Of the committee of naval affairs, Sem
ator Butler, a member of the same commit
tee, Senators Frye and Hale, Chief Con-.
structor Nelson. Chief Engineer Melville,
Capt. Phillips, who is to command the new
cruiser New York; Lieut.. Mason, executive
officer of the same vessel; Commodore Fol-
ger, chief of the ordnance bureau; Com
mander Chadwick, and, lastly, Charles
Cramp, the ship-builder.
DANGER OF WAR DENIED.
Notwithstanding this sign Of official ac-
tivity and reports that are printed OF un-
usual work at the navy yards the officials
OF the navy department deny that there is
the least speck of war cloud in the diplo-
matte horizon. Assistant Secretary Soley
"AOh dsASu WuSTc GBb N1u RI6uCtSCO 40
bound declined to give a definite answer,
but when he was reminded that the last time
she was out for ''gun practice as reported
by the department., she had next been heard
OF at Valparaiso, he said that the vessel had
no orders for Chile. A naval officer
who should know, when asked if the cruiser
was bound for Acapulco, replied that she
would not go as far south as Mexico. He
also stated that the Baltimore was now
probably north Of Panama on her way to
Ban Francisco.
Commodore Folger, chief of the ordnance
bureau. added to the general denials by
saying that there was no unusual activity
at the naval gun factory.
Ship-builder Carmp said none OF his men
worked Saturday, and nearly his whole
days.
CRAMPS WORK.
Mr. Cramp also insisted that his force
was not working faster or longer than usual.
de said that he had received no instruc-
tlons from the department to hurry work
on the naval vessels now building at his
yards. Commodore Wilson, chief of con-
struction, had gone over to Philadelphia to
Inspect the progress of the naval work, and
on Sunday had not found q single man
OF the 5000 employees at work.
moreover Mr.. Cramp did not believe that
ualI or his force was at work to-day, as
sney were keeping the holiday season.
SERENITY IN BLAINE's DEPARTMENT.