Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-01-14
ECAN AS ESCORT
Great Britain Quietly Investigating
the United States Prepare
lions for War.
As a Result lHer influence Is Being
Exerted in Favor of
Peace.
Balmaceda Refugees &c to the Balti-
more Under Our Minister'S
Protection.

WASHINGTON, Jan. f1.-Great Britain,
If not using her infiue nee TO make Chile
apologize to the United States for the
Baltimore outrage, as reported, is at
least showing deep interest in the pre-
parations for war being made by our
naval authorities Although Their in
vestigations have been conducted with
the utmost secrecy our naval officers
have not failed to discover that the two
naval attaches of the British Lega ton
in this city-Capts. William Fl. Way
and G. c. Langley have been watching
every movement of the Navy Depart
ment since the talk of war with Chile
commenced. What these two officers
have learned has. of course, been duly
communicated to the home govern
ment and their reports have doubtless
been the means of convincing the
British authorities that the United
States is in dead earnest in it's demand
for reparation.
It is noticeable to those who have
watched the course of events in the
Chile matter that the English inf1u-
ences in the direction of peace COM
menced to operate just after the naval
attaches began inquiring into the re-
ports of active warlike preparations by
the Navy department. These attaches
have made personal visits to different
places throughout the country where
work on war materials is in progress
Diplomatic Triumph for Egan.
The news from Valparaiso that MIN
lister Egan has escorted three of the
Balmaceda refugees, members of Bal
maceda's cabinet, ON board the York
town without molestation confirms
what has been heretofore stated Pres
ident Harrisons administration gave
its ultimatum on this point. The Chilean
government had either to guarantee
the safety of the refugees if given up
for trial and to see that if convicted no
sentence was enforced against them or
else it had to take the responsibility
for their safe conduct aboard an Amer.
lean vessel. 1t chose the latter.
Officials here smile at the statement
that President Months cabinet granted
no safe conduct. They intimate that
such talk is for home consumption, but
they are not disposed to cavil so long
as the refugees are not molested. It is
expected that the remaining six will
be in safety very soon. The result is a
distinct diplomatic triumph for Minister
Egan. He has done no more for the
Balmacedists than he did for Pedro
Mcntt, Malta and others of the then in
surgents, but powerful influences were
set to work to keep him from doing this
much.
The Cause for Irritation Removed.
The concession of the Montt govern
ment on this point is expected to re-
move one of the causes of irritation be-
tween the two countries. In the cable
grams that have been flying between
Washington and Santiago for the last
few days the intimations on both sides
have been that such course would
tend to promote a better feeling on the
part of the United States. The ques-
ton of the refugees is entirely distinct
from the Valparaiso incident; it's set
Element does not in any manner lessen
the responsibility of the Chilean au-
thorities for the killing of the BaIti-
mere sailors.
But the Chileans believe that by
yielding on this point they may secure
time for more explanations in regard to
the main trouble. Much of the diplo-
matte correspondence which the Presi-
dent intends to lay before Congress re-
lates to the refugees Minister Egan's
part of it is very spirited. The CORES
pondence is ready to go into Congress
tomorrow, if necessary; but if a salts
factory solution could be found for the
controversy concerning the refugees, it
may be assumed that the Baltimore in
cident, unpromising as the outlook is.
may yet be cleared up to the satisfac-
ton OF the United States, At least the
Chileans hope SO, and are striving to
ward off immediate action by President
Harrison's administration.