The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1892-01-05
LOOKS LIKE WAR.
The Chilean Affair Still in an
Unsettled Condition.
tFrum our special correspondentl

United States appear 10 De more
strained than at any previous time
On December IL, President Moutt
OF Chile, sent TO the Chilean Ministers
in the United States and Europe i
reply 10 President HarrIson's message
10 the Congress of the United States
in relation TO the assault on the
sailors who landed from the cruiser
Baltimore. He declares that the
Chilean authorities have never at
tempted TO evSde in the slightest
particular any responsibility for
which the country may be justly
held, but he insists that the proper
and ordinary forms OF Chilean proee-
dure must be observed.
No acknowledgment has been made
OF the receipt Of the letter sent the
Chilean Government on November
9Th, asking for copies OF the testimony
OF witnesses in the investigation into
the Baltimore affair. Six days sgo 3
reply wsS sent 10 the letter OF Secre-
tary Blaine TO Minister Pedro Moutt
ST Washington, in which the Ameri-
can Secretary OF State says that safe
conducts were granted refugees who
were in the German and French Legal
tons, while the privilege was denied
those who sought asylum in the
American Legation. The reply sent
20 Secretary Blaine declares that no
such permits have been granted, that
no safe conducts have been issued to
auy refugees in any foreign legations,
sud that Mr.. Blaine eau keep himself
well informed through the Chilean
Legation at Washington.
On the 18th OF December, Minister
Of Foreign Affairs Malta sent cireu-
lar TO the Chilean legations in Europe
and America 1t was eouehed in de-
cidedly saucy language, and is 3 gem
eraI denial OF the charges made
against Chile, and lame excuse for
the slaughter of the Baltimore's men.
He attacks Minister Egan, and sc
cuses him Of sending insulting letters
10 the Chilean Foreign Office. Minis
ter Malta closes with the statement
thar nothing will prevent Chile from
fully investigating the Baltimore
affair and Furnishing those found
guilty according 70 the laws of the
land.
Since this circular letter was writ
ten affairs appear TO have grown
steadily worse. On December 18th,
the State Department ST Washington
received 3 cipher from Minister Egan,
in which he says: "The American
Legation Is surrounded by the police
and mob on account of the refugees
here Threats are being made of
burning or blowing up the Legation
TO get them. 4 United States ship is
in the harbor of Valparaiso, and so is
many miles from the Legation. The
refugees cannot fly, but must stay in
the Legation, which is besieged.r
This cablegram caused a sensation
in the Navy and State Departments,
and resulted in more active measures
in the way OF preparing for an emer-
geney in the shape Of war. Steps
have now been taken to secure the
most available vessels in the nIer-
chant marine for possible service in
Chilean waters. Arrangements have
been made IN New York and San
Francisco 70 charter, if necessary,
from thirty TO forty vessels to be used
Is transports and colliers, prepara-
lions, 80 far IS the regular naval YES
seIS were concerned, having been
made IS complete as possible.
The Bureau Of Naval Intelligence,
acting under instructions, has pre-
pared Z list of merchant vessels in
case war aginst Chile Is declared. An
offer from a New York shipowner OF
s score or more of small vessels to
carry coal has met with the thanks OF
the Department, and the request that
he hold his vessels on the coast that
they may be made ready on twenty
four hours notice has been made.
The cruiser San Francisco is fully
equipped for long cruise, and carries
all the ammunition her magazines
will hold. The Government Is mass
ing large percentage of its available
vessels Of war in the ports of Chile, or
near st hand. The cruiser Yorktown
Is st Valparaiso, and the Boston is
expected there any day. The Balti-
more has left Chile, and Is now at
CallaO, Peru, presumably bound for
San Francisco, but ready TO be called
back 20 Chile at q moments notice.
Three large cruisers of the White
Squadron, on the Atlantic, are st Rio
JanierO, apparently watching events
in Brazil, but within a two weeks
voyage OF Chile The San Francisco
Is at Mare Island ready TO sail for
Chile, and the Charleston will await
orders at Honolulu, and it is expected
that her next move will be Chile
II Is generally believed that Chile
Is delaying q response 10 the demands
OF the United States until she Is better
prepared for trouble, and that she
will then be foolish enough to decline
TO give this country satisfaction. HeI
big armored cruiser Captain Platt Is
nearly completed in France, and
work Is being pushed with the great
est dispatch. Arrangements are also
being made to raise the sunker
cruiser Enealada. 4 despatch from
Valparaiso says that there is growing
excitement over the situation be
tween Chile and the United States
and the local authorities are taking
the precaution TO prevent any re
neEal OF insult or injury 10 Ameri
cans. Foreign residents generally
regard the prospects as serious.
Among the South American firm.
IN London, England, there Is a pro
nounced impression that war i i'm,
pending between the United State:
and Chile. The opinion i not basec