St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-01-14
Belief at Washington That a
Conflict With Chilli Is I'm
avoidab,e.
Revelations at Vallejo Have
Given a Serious Phase to
the Matter.
No Ultimatum Yet Sent to
Chilli, But Harrison Is on
the Alert.
Negotiations Have Reached a
Critical Point, and Quick
Action Likely.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13.-Representa-
tive O'Neill, of Missouri, is reported as
having said today: You may say that
there will be war. Don't put any ifs or
butts to it. Make the statement broad
and unqualified" A prominent officer
of the army, who received letter from
one of the naval force at Valparaiso
yesterday, said: ''In six weeks a de-
tachment of the army will be moving on
Chill. l thoroughly believe what l
say"
Mr.. O'Neill's statement is regarded as
evidence of change of feeling on the
part of some OF the Democrats in the
house, who feel that they cannot afford
to let it be known that President Harri-
son is in favor of maintaining an adj
vanced position upon the question of
asserting and defending courageous
American position, and that the major
ity of the house of representatives are
not inclined to back him up in it. The
officer quoted has exceptional opportu%i-
ties for knowing just what is the sentf-
ment of the people ofChili as manifested
to the officers of the United States yes
sells in the harbor of Valparaiso and is
undoubtedly honest in the expressions
he made.
Uneasy at the Capital
There can be little doubt that the
developments of the last few DAYS in
the investigation now being conducted
at San Francisco by Judge Advocate
General Remey into the attack upon the
Baltimore's crew; the publication of
the testimony in the Shields case, and
the ugly demonstration at Valparaiso
against the Yorktown's gig crew, have
had the effect to create very uneasy
feeling.
Senators and representatives who
have all along derided the idea Of any
serious result following the Gillian cor
respondence. and have had the greatest
confidence that Chill would soon tender
an ample apology and make reparation
for the miSdeedS of her citizens, are
now willing to admit privately that the
situation is full of the grayest difficult
ties. e,.4 ,,...,.e.-...
One omin0us sign is the great In,
activity OF congress in the matter.
Heretofore it has been customary,
whenever matter of the smallest pub
lie interest is the subject of diplomatic
NOAAOoSOhNShNSS -AOA ObO VI SHO WV
houses of congress to call upon the
president for all the information in the
possession of the state department in
relation to these matters.
Solons Have Held OFF.
But no senator or member has been
venturesOme enough to introduce res
OlutiOn calling for Chilean correspond
ence, although it has been apparent to
all of them that the relations of the
United States with Chilli have been
strained nearly to the point of rupture
within the last few weeks.
The very gravity of the situation ap-
pears to have had repressitive effect
upon congress. The Republicans are
indisposed to embarrasS Republican
president by calling for the cOrreSpo nd
ence, having in view his signfic ant
promise to transmit it to congress at an !,
early day. The Democrats are fearful |
of interfering with the negotiations, and
thereby precipitating trouble that may
then be chargeable to their action.
Of course, the president might de-
cline to accede 10 request for the cor
reSpondence, as he has done in other
cases, on the ground that it would not
be eXpedient or in the public interest
to publish it. but he would find it hard
to do so after the strong expressions
nual message to congress.
Very naturally the senators and MEM
bers who are on committees having the
foreign relations of the government in
their charge are unwilling to express
themselves at this juncture upon the
merits of the controversy, which they
may soon have to deal with officially,
but from their
Private Expressions
it is clear that no party lines are to be
drawn, and that the president will have
the united support of congress in the
adoption of any measures he feels to be
necessary for the preservation of the
dignity of the United States,
Senator Morgan, who is the leading
Democratic member of the senate COM
mittee or foreign relations, is particu-
larly indignant at the revelations in the
case of Patrick Shields, the fireman of
the American steamer Keweenaw, who
was so cruelty treated in a CHILEAN
prison. He declares that Shields is I'M
doubtedly entitled to the protection of
the American government, as he was
serving OH an American vessel: He
predicted that the CHILEAN government
would never raise the question of
Shields citizenship, as had been sug-
gested, in view Of the fact that he is an
lrlSnman, ana mas not D6en naturallZeu,
as plea for refusing reparation.
In the house the members of the for
eign affairs committee has discouraged
all who spoke 20 them in favor of call
ing for the correspondence. but there
has been no consultation among the
members of the committee as a whole
on the subject. Members of the COM
mittee said that 1t would not be wise to
precipitate a discussion in the house
while the correspondence was incom-
plete, for fear that ill-c0nSidered utter
ances or action might result in embar-
RAISING negotiations, if indeed it did
not prevent an honorable understand
ing from being reached.
No Ultimatum Vet
1t can be authOrltatively stated that
no dispatch has been sent to Minister
Egan conveying the ultimatum of the
United States or indicating any impa-
thence on the part of this government
with the attitude of Chill. 1t Is not time
for this, unless the United States is
ready to precipitate conflict while ne
gotiations are pending, and certainly no
such intention has been credited to any
official of this government, whatever
may have been the expressions of opin-
ion upon the subject.
President Harrison is devOting much
of his time to a careful study of the cor
reSpOndence that has been furnished
him from the state department.. and
which is kept up closely day by day. 1t
is said he has analysed it so far as to be
able to show cOncuSively the inSincer