The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-01-26
Special 10 THE MoRNIV7 CAl,.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 25. l.

WASHINGTON, Jan, ., 1892.
To the Senate and House Of Representa-
tires: In my annual message delivered to Con-
gress atthe beginning of the present session.
after brief statement Of facts then in the
possession Of this Government touching the
assault in the streets uf Valparaiso Chile,
upon sailors Of the United States steamship
Baltimore on the evening Of the 10Th of
October last, I said: This Government is
now awaiting the result Of an Investigation
which is being conducted by the criminal
court at Valparaiso. It is reported unoffi-
cially that this investigation IS about com
pleted, and it is expected tie result will
soon be communicated to this Government,
together with some adequate and satisfac-
tory response to the note by which the al
tenton Of Chile was called to this incident
If these just expectations should be disap-
pointed, or further need delay intervene,
I viii by a special message bring gthis matter
again to the attention Of Congress for such
action as may be necessary"
In my opinion the time has now come
when l should lay before Congress and the
country the correspondence between this
Government and the Government Of Chile.
from the time Of the breaking out of the
revolution against BaImaceda, together with
all other facts IN possession Of the Execu-
tive Department relating to this matter
The diplomatic correspondence herewith is
transmitted, together with some correspond
ence between the naval officers for a time
in command in Chilean waters and the
Secretary Of the Navy, and also evidence
taken at Mare Island Navy-yar1 since the
arrival Of the Baltimore at San Francisco
1 do not deem it necessary in this commu-
nicaton to attempt any full analysis Of the
correspondence or of the evidence. A brief
res'atemeut Of the international questions
involved and the reason why the responses
Of the Chilean Government are unsatisfac-
tory is all deem necessary.
EGAE CoAIPLINENTED.
It may be we'll at the outset to say that
whatever may have been said in this coun-
try OF Chile In criticism Of Mr.. Egan, our
Minister at Santiago, the true history of
this exciting period in Chilean affairs, from
the outbreak Of the revolution to this time,
discloses no act On the part Of Egan un-
worthy Of his position or that could Justly
be the occasion Of serious animadversion or
criticism. lie has. 1 think, on the whole,
borne himself, in very trying circumstances,
with dignity, discretion and courage, and
has conducted the correspondence with abil-
ity, courtesy and fairness.
1t is worth while also at the beginning to
say the right Of Egan to give shelter in the
legation 10 certain adherents Of the Bama-
ceda Government who applied to him for
asylum has not been denied by the Chilean
authorities, nor has any demand been made
fOIthe surrender Of these refugees. That
there was urgent need Of an asylum is
shown by Egan's note Of August "a, 1891,
describing the disorders that prevailed in
Santiago, and by the evidence Of Captain
Schley as to the pillage and violence that
prevailed at Valparaiso. The correspond
ence disclOses, however. that the request Of
Egan for safe conduct from the country IN
behalf Of these refugees was denied.
The precedents cited by him in the CORE
bpondence, particularly the case of the rev.
olution in Peru in 1865, did not leave the
ChileaS Government in a position to deny
the right Ct asylum to political refugees,
and seemed very clearly to support Egan's
contention that safe conduct to neutral ter
Titory was necessary and acknowledged
incident OF asylum. These refugees have
very recently been without formal safe con-
ducts, but By the acQuiescence Of the Chi