The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-01-17
But Pointed Out the Strategic Advan-
tage of a Canal Across the lsthmus.
Members of the House Committee on Foreign
Affairs Call on Blaine-Rumor that Torpe-
does Will Be Placed in Magellan Straits.
Minister Montt Loses His Temper in an
Interview with Reporter.
Officers of the Baltimore Accused of Working
Up Sentiment Against His Country, and
the Sailors Charged with Fslsehood.
THE CHILEAN ROW.

THE CHILIAN ROW.
Secretary Blaine Talks About the Impor-
tance of Buiidine the Nicaraeuan Canal.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16.-Five Of the men,
bers of the House committee on foreign
affairs called at the Department of State.
before noon. to-day. to pay their respects
to Secretary Blaine. This visit was in pur-
suance of q long-established custom.
whereby, at the BEGINNING of each
Congress, the committee of the House
which has to deal with foreign relations
calls upon the Secretary of State. Usually
these visits are purely formal. and par
ticularly is this true when Q major
ity of the House is politically opposed
to the Secretary. But the call made by the
committee to-day was awaited with inter-
est. fer it was expected that the strained
would be touched upon by the Secretary.
The five mbers of the O.. lmittee were
Chairman BlOunt and Messrs. Hooker.
Geary, ODonnel and Harmer. and. accord
ing to their statements. Secretary Blaine
did not make single direct allusion
to our relations with Chilli. To the
surprise of the committee he dId call to
their attention the necessity for speedy ac-
tion by Congress upon the Nicaragua canal
project. The Secretary was fully equipped
with facts. He was eager to support his
reasoning, and very fuently described the
political Importance of the canal, the
volume of traffic which would prob
ably pass through it and the
advantages 20 accrue from retention OF
&c ox,A
hands. Incidentally it was made clear to
the committee that the possession of snoh
q waterway between the Atlantic and Pa
cific oceans would be of enormous strategic
advantage, 1T 1t should be necessary to
transfer our naval vessels from one side of
the country to the other. But of the Chill
ian troubles the Secretary said not o word
directly.
Several Senators and Representatives
called upon Secretary. Blaine during the
forenoon. One of the former, who is from
an interior Western State. said that he had
heard nothing recently from tho Secretary
relating to Chilli. but he did feel that this
country should now assert Its dignity and
spank the bumptious little South American
republic.
CHILI's WAR PREPARATIONS.
The reported preparation of the Chilian
government for war is viewed with deep
concern at the Navy Department. The re-
ported shipment of torpedces through
Montevldeo to Chilli, has had the effect OF
warning the naval officers that in the event
ds f war armed they with t1 the be Se.s ms' SS
weapons. Other unmistakable prepara-
tions are to be discerned, it is said.
such as the reported dispatching of
q feet of three cruisers and torpedo boat
was reported from Chilli through private
sources yesterday. 1t is the prevailing
opinion at the Navy Department that this
fleet is bound for the straits of Magellan,
which may be regarded. to certain ex-
tent, as the gateway to Chill. A con-
armed vessels. advantageously placed
In these straits. could, in the
opinion of naval experts hold that impor-
tant passage against large feet. To be
sure. this would not necessarily prevent
the ultimate rounding of Cape Horn by an
American squadron bound for Chilli, as two
days steaming almost would carry the
ships into the Pacific by an outside route.
The theory ls. however, that 10 Is the do
sire of the Chilian government to afford
supply station at Porto Cabello. in the
straits. The capture of this station weuld
be a serious blow to Chill. and might
ultimately be made an object Of campaign
in southern waters in case Of hostilities.
As it is. the Chilian vessels. supposing the
straits to be their stination. can easily
reach that point before Admiral Walker,
who 10 now at Montevideo with the Chi
cagO. Atlanta and Bennington. The Con-
cord is also on her way to Montevideo.
Other vessels are stationed on the Pacific,
as follows: The Yorktown at Valparaiso;
the Boston at Callao, Peru; the Charleston,
San Francisco and the Baltimore at Cali
fornia ports. Besides these new ships there
are the Essex and Yantio at Montsvideo.
Members of Congress are awaiting with
considerable interest the publication of
the Chilian correspondence. The members
of the House foreign affairs committee have
followed the matter closely, but generally
with little to guide them In forming con-
newspapers. There is belief en-
tertained by some members who
have watched tho developments with
more than ordinary closeness and interest
be found. and that, while the situation ie
grave, war will not result. lt 10 understood
at the capital that the position assumed by
the United States is that an apology must
be made by Chilli and that thore will then
follow the question of indemnity to the
the Baltimore. and TO the kin of those killed
in that attack.
QUESTION OF DIGNITY.
1t is believed by many Representatives
that Chill will acknowledge the wrong done
and that the reason for her delay in this
respect is to be found in the disproportion
in the strength OF the two countries. lt is
expected that Chilli, after asserting her dig.
nifty by q sufficient delay to show that
though an UNEQUAL combatant in the
event Of war she Will not be hurrledly
forced into giving way, will make the
amends due to the United States. Then
will arise the question of indemnity. and
arbitration is looked forward to as the
probable outcome of this phase of the case
IT is pointed out by mem bers who have
made study of diplomatic affairs that an
apology having been previo usly made1 this
would not be an arbitration of q question
of honor. but merely settle mont of dam
ages to be awarded.
History, it is said, ls full of instances OF
resort to arbitration in cases where the
previous utterances or actions of nations
had apparently estopped them from invok-
ing this method of settling disputes and OF
cases in which where nations themselves
could not take the initiative In propo sins
arbitration they had acQuiesced in sug.
gestions of friendly third power tha,
arbitration take the place of bloodshed al
q means of settling the dispute.
Some fear IS entertained that Chilli, in as
serting her independence and freedom
from outside pressure may. by procrastina
tion bring about a state of things which
will terminate in q rupture of relations be-
tween the two countries and that hostil
tiles may then ensue. though this latter II
regarded as unlikely and improbable. The
members who express themselves in tbil
pacific manner also intimate very plainly
however. that they will not be backward
in upholding the administration In stepi
necessary to q maintenance or natlona
dignity aid self-respcct.
One Senator called attention TO the IN.
tense national pride Of tho Chihsn people