Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-01-30
An Ill TIMATUM.
President Harrison's Message
on The Chilean Affair.
CHILE MUST APOLOGIZE.
The Whole Correspondence Sub
mitted to Congress.

All Citizens Must be Protected No
Satisfactory Expression of Regret
Even rendered by the Chilean
Governmental Clear and Concise
View of the Whole Situation in
Both Countries.
President Harrison's message on the
Chilean situation, accompanied by the
documents, correspondence, ETC., in the
case, has been sent to Congress. The
message reviews all the evidence in the case
and says he feels compelled to stand upon the
demands of the note of January 81 to
Minister Egan. These demands are
that the Chilean Government must
apologize and make PREPARATION for the
assault upon the Baltimore sailors, that
the Malta circular note of December Is must
be withdrawn, that the language in the note
must be withdrawn, and the language dis
avowed with as much publicity as it was cir
culated, or diplomatic relations with Chile
will cease, that Mr.. Egan's recall will not be
considered until these matters are disposed
Of. The President in stating his reason for
making these demands advised that they be
confirmed and enforced by Congress. The
President says.
II do not deem it necessary in this com.
munication to attempt any full analysis of
the correspondence or of the evidence A
brief restatement of the international ques-
lions involved and of the reasons why the
RESPONSES OF the Chilean Government are I'M
satisfactory is all tnat deem necessary.
at may be well, at the outset, 10 say that,
whatever may have been said in this coun-
my or in Chile in criticism of Minister
Egan, the true history of this exciting
period in Chilean affairs, from the outbreak
of the revolution until this time, discloses no
act on the part of Mr.. Egan unworthy OF
his position or that could justly be the oc.
casion ofserious animadversion or criticism.
He has, think on the whole, borne himself,
in very trying circumstance, with dignity,
discretion and courage, and has conducted
the correspondence with ability, courtesy
and fairness
1t is worth while, also, at the beginning,
to say that the right of Mr.. E;;cn TO give
shelter in the legation to certain adherents
of the Balmaceda Government. who appii.d
TO him for asylum has not been denied by
the Chilean authorities, nor has any deman
been made for the surrender of these refu-
gees,
"Precedents cited by Mr.. Egan, particu-
larry the case of thu revolution IN Peru in
1865, did not leave the Chilean Government
in position to deny tho right of asylum to
political refugees, and seemed very clearly
TO support Mr. Bgan's contention that a safe
couerct to a neutral territory was neces-
sary and acknowledged incident of the
asylum.
These refugees have very recently, with
out formal safe conduct, but By the acquies-
cence Of the Chilean authorities, been placed
on board the Yorktown and are now being
conveyed TO Calao, Peru. This incident
might be considered wholly closed, but for
the disrespect manifested toward this Gov.
ornment by the close and offensive police
sur reliance of the Legation premises"
The President says further that the most
serious incident was the attack upon tbs
sailors of the Baltimore, and he is still of the
opinion that Cur sailors wers assaulted
beaten, stabbed and killed, not for any
thing they or any one of them
had done, but for what the Govern
ment of the United States had done
or was charged with having DONE by its
civil officers and naval commanders. If that
be the true aspect Of the case, the injury was
to the Government of the United States,
not to these poor sailors who we're assaulted
in a manner so brutal and SO cowardly
The President then goes on to consider the
legal aspect of the case and declares that
our Government must take notice Of the
event as one involving an infraction Of its
rights and dignity. precisely as if its minis
ter or consul, or the flag itself, had been the
the object OF the same character of assault.
Son the 21st inst.," says the President,
~ caused TO be communicated to the Gov
eminent of Chile, by the American Minister
at Santiago, the conclusions OF this Govern
ment after full consideration of all the evil
dence and of every suggestion, affecting this
matter, and to these conclusions | adhere"
These conclusions are given below under
the head ''Tne Ultimatum.l"
In the same note, the message continues,
the attention OF the Chilean Government
was called to the offensive character OF a
note addressed by MIR. Malta, its Minister
of Foreign Affairs, to Mr.. Montt
the 18th ult This dispatch was not
officially communicated to this Gov
arnment, but, as Mr.. Montt was directe
to translate it and give it to the press OF this
country. it seemed to me that it could not
pass without ofiicial notice. 1t was not only
undiplomatic, but grossly insulting to our
naval officers aud TO the Exc utive Depart
ment as it directly imputed un-
truth and insincerity to the reports
of the naval officers and 10 the off 'isl COM
nunications made by the Executive De-
partment to Congress. 1t will be observed
that / have notified the Chilean Govern
ment that unless this note is at once with
drawn and an apology as public as the
offence nadc, | will terminate diplomatic
relations.
The request for the recall Of Mr.. Egau
upon the ground that he was not persona
grata was unaccompanied by any suggestion
that could properly be used in support Of it,
and l infer that the request is based upon Of
fetal acts o. Mr.. Egan which have receives
the approval of this Government. But, how
ever that may be, | could not consent tc
consider such question until it had frs
been settled whether our correspondence
with Chile could be conducted upon basi:
of mutu;,l respect
In submitting these papers to Congress foI
that grave and patriotic consideration
which the questions involved demand, de
sire to say that | ara OF the opinion that tls
demands made OF Chile by this Gov
eminent should be adhered 20 an,
enforced. Il the dignity as well a
the prestige aad inhuanc3 o. the Unite
States ava not to be wholly sacrificed WI
must protecs those who, IN foreign porrs.
display the flag or wear the coiors OF this
Government against insult, brutality and
death. inflicted in resentment of the acts OF
their Government, and not for any fault
C. their own. 1t has been my desire IN
every way to cultivate friendly and intimate
relations with all the Governments of this
hemisphere. We do not coFet their terri.
tory, we desire their peacs and prosperity.
We look for no advantage in our rela.
tons with them, except the increased
exchanges OF commerce upon basis of mu-
inal benefit. We regret every civil contest
that disturbs their peace and paralyzes their
ievelopment. and are always ready to give
our gooi Offices for the restoration of peace.
IL must, however, be understood that this
government. while exercising the utmost
forbearance towar j weaker powers. will ex-
tend its strong and adequate protection to
its citizens, to its officers, and to its humbest
sailor when made the victim of wantonness
and cruelty in resentment, not OF their per-
sonal misconduct, but Of the official acts Of
their Government.
Upon Information received that Patrick
Shields, an freshman and probably British
subject, but at the time fireman OF The
American steamer Keweenaw in the harboF
OF Valparaiso for repairs, has been sub.
iecte1 to personal injuries in that crry-
largely by the poice--I directed the
Attorney General to cause the evidence Of
the officers and crew of that vessel to be
taken upon its arrival in San Francisco.
and that testimony is also herewith trans
United. The brutality AMI even savagery
# the treatment of these poor
sailors by the Gillian police men
would be incredible il the evidence of Shields
was not supportei by other direct testimony
and by the distressing con lition o. the man
himself when be was finally a Die 10 reach his
vessel. The captain of the vessel says: 'tHe
came back a wreck: blacs from his neck 10
his hips from beating, weak and ssuaid, and
is still in a kind OF plralyzsd condition AMI
has never been able to do duty since.n