The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-29
Egan's Telegram to Blaine.
UNITED STATES LEGATIoN,l
SANTIAGO Chile Ian 81

SANTIAGO, Chile, Jan. %. I
To Hon. james G. Blaine Washington Cfy:-I
have today received this reply to my note OF the
22d inst:
The undersigned has had the honor to receive
your excellency's communication OF date of the
22d inst, received in this department on the
sd, and duly authenticated copies OF
the instructions which the honorable sec
rotary of state of Washington City has sent to
your excellency by cable, under date OF 22d
inst. and 23d o! October, 1901 In the instruc-
tons of the 2lst inst the honorable secretary of
state informs your exeellency that his excel
lency. President Harrison, after carefully ex-
aiming all that has been submitted TO him by
the government of Chile with respect to the
event which occurred in Valparaiso on the
evening of the 10th of October, and taking into
consideration the testimony of the officers and
crew Of the vessel Baltimore and others who
witnessed the event, has arrived at the follow.
ing conclusions:
"First-That with regard TO that assault there
has been no change whatever made in the
character given 70 ii by the first report of the
event, to the effect that ii WAS an attack upon
the uniform OF the navy of the United States,
which had its origin with and motive in feel
ing OF hostility toward that government and
not in any act OF individual sailors belonging
toit
''second-That the public authoritie, of Val
psraiso evidently did not do their duty in pro-
tecting those sailors, and that part of the po-
lice aud some OF the Chilean soldiers ana sailors
rendered themselves guilty OF unprovoked as
sdults on the sailors of the United States before
and after the latter were arrested, and that he
believed that Riggin was killed by the police or
the soldiers, and that he is consequently COM
PEELED to carry the question back 70 the state in
which il was placed by the Hon. Wharton Bar
ker in a communication dated October y. and
to ask for suitable satisfaction and some ade-
quate reparation for the injury done the govern
ment of the United States'
Honorable Secretary OF State Blaine regrets
that the government OF Chile has not from the
very first duly appreciated the gravity OF the
question raised, and that il has attributed to it
no other Importance than that OF an ordinary
quarrel between sailors, adding that no govern
ment which respects itself can consent to civil
or military persons employed in its service be-
Ing maltreated or killed in foreign territory on
account of resentment for the acts which il
may have committed, or which may be imputed
80 IL, without requiring adequate reparation
Honorable Blaine, in this connection, recalls
the TACT that the government Of the United
States has voluntarily recognized this principle
and acted accordingly, when injury has been
committed by its people against any one hold
Ing an official position of foreign country in
consequence Of acts which had aroused resent
menL In such case the United States have
never sought words OF little weight or amb!gu-
Gus meaning in order 70 set reparation, bat
nave condemned such acts in vigorous and
energetic terms snd have never refused to give
other adequate satisfaction.
Honorable Secretary of State Blaine. more
over. states that il is not his intention to dis
cuss the detail of the incident of October is,
but only 10 set forth the conclusion at which
his government has arrived. The honorable
secretary OF state says: 1--WE have given every
kind Of opportunity 10 the government of Chile
to offer explanatory or eXten uatiny eircun-
stances, and we have given due consideration
10 the Tact that the government Of Chile, during
the greater part OF the time which has
elapsed since the 18th OF October has
been In provisional situation" He
then adds tRat he is directed by
his eXceIieucy, President Harrison 10 saw that
be has been compelled to taSe notice OF the in
structioas sent By Malta, minister OF foreign
affairs, 70 the CGlleen minister in Washington
City, under date OF December IL because a.
though they were not officially communicates 10
hsz NEEE OF
possible publicity. and that consequently ne de-
mauls the immediate withdrawal OF said in
stJuc'!oas or those PARTS which he considers
oHtuslNe ana adequate satisfaction, IN order
that the diplomatic relations between the two
nations may rot De Interrupted
Without any intention OF opening discussion
OF the facts referred 20 by the communication
from which have quoted, aud combining him.
SCI 10 the nTsg part OF the instructions OF the
honorable secretary OF state, the undersigned
must state 30 your excellency the regret with
which the government OF Chile sees that his ex-
cGisency the president % the United Ststes ends
resSCn 70 continue TO regard the incident of
octoner 10 as an attack caused by hostile feel
lug toward the uaiform of the navy Of the
United States. That unfortunate occurrence
toes place suddenly in a district where the
sailors OF vessels lying in the bay
@. Valparaiso are in the habit OF as
semoiing, without distilction of nationality
From the nature of the incident il wouie d be i'm
POSSIBLE 70 prove that there was no doubt as 70
the special cause which served as its origin or
psesext, bat the undersigned caa assert that the
Sa1SS NaS IoE a A0@tIte 4eStiug toward the
mica states navy, because the people OF Chile
always esteemed ana respected that uniform
ever since the time when i saw i: figuring hoa-
oTaoy n the ranks OF the soldiers and sailors in
tle glorious struggle which gave II indspend-
eAte snd established this republic
me Undersigned admits taat the occurrence
OF Neto2eT IL Is OF greater gravity than those
EAich usually occur IN the same district be-
tssCA sailors, and which are frequent, and
knowing the fact that two deaths have re-
S.tited from Il among the sixteen wounded men
o. me bailnoEe, HIS sgEIced 70 give il an ex-
EantGiaGry character, and induce the govern
iaent OF Chile 10 adopt measures necessary 10
discover and punish the guilty parties,
ana 70 oder IN due time, IL there
should be grounds fog So doing, such
repaFes4on as miSht be due. The preliminsry
examination COMMANDED On rha Y7,o-u{yr- v b3ah