Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-01-26


until this time. disclosos no act on the
part OF Mr. Egan unworthy OF his posi-
ton. or that could Justly be the occasion
Of scr. Gus animadversion or criticism. He
has, think, on the whole. borne himself,
in very trying circum stances with digni-
", discretion, and courage. and has con
Quoted the correspondence With ability.
courtesy. and frmness.
rHE EIGHT OF ASYLUM.
I. s worth while also NJ the beginning
10 say that the night Of Mr.. Egan 10 give
shelter IN the Legation 10 certain adherents
OF the Balmaceds Government VINO applied
% him for asylum has not been denied by
the Chilean authorities. nor has any ne
man1 been made for the surrender OF
these refugees. That there was urgent
need OF asylum is shown bv Mr.. tgans
note oi August "A, 1891. describing the dis
orders that prevailed IN Santiago and by
evidence Of Captain Scbley a. to the uil-
lage uud violence that prevailed at Nalpa-
raisO.
sArE coNDUoT DEsIED.
The correspondence disci0ses. however.
that the request OF Mr.. Egan for o sate
conduct from the country in BEHALF OF
these refugees was denied. The prece-
dents cited by him in the correspondence,
Peru in 1866. did not leave the Chilean
Government in a position 70 deny the
right OF asylum 10 political refugees and
seemed very clearly TO support Mir. Eean's
contention that safe conduct 20 neutral
territory was y necessary and ac6nOw-
ledeed incident Of the asyluu. These
refugees have very recently. without
formal safe conduct. but by the acauies-
cence os the Chilean authorities been
placed on board the Yorktown and are
now being conveyed to Cailao. Peru.
SURVEILLANCE OF THE LE0ATToS.
This incident might be considered
wholly closed but tor the disrespect mani
tested towards this Government by tho
close and offensive police surveillance OF
tho Legation premises which was man.
tained during most of the period OF the
stay of the refugees therein. After the
date of my annual message and up 70 the
time of the transfer of the refugees to the
Yorktown the Legation premises seem to
have been surrounded by police in uni
torn and police agents or detectives in
citizens dress. who extensively scrutlniZed
persons entering or leaving the Legation,
and on one or more occasions arrested
members Of the Minister'S family. Com
mander Evans who, by my direction, re-
Gently visited Mr.. Egan at Santiago. IN his
telegram 10 the Navy Department des-
cTibed the Legation as " q veritable prl-
SON. and states chat the police agents or
detectives were after his arrival Withdrawn
during his stay. 1t appears further from
the note of Mr.. Egan of November ~,
1881, that on one occasion at least these
police agents. whom he declares to be
known 20 him. invaded the legation
premises. pounding upon ITS windows and
using insulting and threatening language
towards persons therein.
TLAGRASr BREACH OF RIGHT.
This breach OF the right Of n minister
TO freedom from police espionage and re-
straint seems 10 have been so fragrant that
the Argentine Minister. Who was dean of
the diplomatic corps, having observed 1t,
felt called upon to protest against It to
the Chilean Minister of Foreign Affairs
The Chilean authorities have, as will be
observed from the correspondence, charged
the refugees and the inmates of the Lega-
ton with insulting the police. but itseems
10 me incredible that men whose lives
were in jeopardy and whose safety could
only be secured by retirement and quiet
ness should have sought 10 provoke col
lision which could ONLY end IN their de
struction. or To aggravate their position
by intensifying q popular feeling that at
one time so Threatened the Legation as TO
require Mr.. Egan to appeal to the Minister
of Foreign Afiaire.
THE BALTIMORE ATTACK.
But the most So rious incident disclosed
bv the correspondence is that Of the at-
tack upon the sailors of the Baltimore in
the streets of Valparaiso on the 10th of
October last. In my annual message,
speaking upon the information then in my
possession, | said $50 far az | have yet
been able TO learn no other explanation of
this bloody work has been suggested than
that il had its origin in hostility TO these
men as sailors OF the United States. wear
ing the uniform of their country. and not
in any individual act of personal ami
mostly.
THR CHILEAN REPORT UNSATISFACTORY.
We have now received from the
Chilean Government an abstract of
the conclusions of the Fiscal Gene
raj " Upon the testimony taken by the
Judge of Grimes in an investigation which
was made to extend over nearly three
months. very much regret TO be CON-
PEELED TO say that this report does not en-
able me to modify the conclusion an
nounced in my annual message. j am still
of the opinion that our sailors were as
saulted, beaten. stabbed, and killed, not Tor
anything they or any one of them had done.
but for what the Government 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 were assaulted in
manner so brutal and 50 cowardly.
LEGAL ASPECT OF THE CASE.
Before attempting TO give an outline of
the facts upon which this conclusion rests
/ think IL right to say word or two upon
the legal aspect of the case. The Balti-
moro was in the haTbOr of Valparaiso by
. AL ,. Il.
tions are held TO extend TO the war vessels
of other Powers with which they have
friendly relations. This invitation, /
think. must be held ordinarily 10 embrace
the privilege of such communication with
the shore as is reasonable, necessary, and
proper for the comfort and convenience OF
.he officers and men of such vessels. Cap
tain Schley testifes that when his vessel
returned 10 Valparaiso on September 14th
the city officers. as IL customary, extended
the hospltalities of the city 10 his officers
and crew.
WHY THE INJURY IsNATIoNAI.
Ii is not claimed that every personal
collision or injury in which a sailor or
officer of such naval vessel visiting the
shore may be involved raises an iDterna-
tional question but | am clearly of the
opinion that where such sailors or officers
are assaulted by a resident populace. AMI
mated bY hostility 10 the Government
whose uniform the officers and sailors
wear, and in resentment of acts done by
their Government, not by them, their na-
tion must take notice of the event a. one
involving an infraction of Its rights and
dignity, not in secondary way, as where
citizen Is injured and presents his claim
through his own Government. but in
primary way. precisely as If its Minis
ter or Consul or the flag itself had
been the object of the same character of
assault. The officers and sailors of
the Baltimore were in the harbor of Val
paraiso under the orders of their Govern
ment, not by their own choice. They were
upon the shore by the implied invitation
OF the Government of Chile and with the
approval of their commanding officer.
and il does notdistinguish their case from
that of consul whose stay is more per-
msnent or that he holds the express inyi-
tation of the local Government to justify
his longer residence, nor does it affect the
question that the injury was the act of a
mob. If there had been no participation
by the police or military an this cruel
work, and no neglect on their part to ex-
tend protection, the case would still be
one, in my opinion. when its extent and
character are considered, involving inter-
national rights.