The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-01-28


Egan writes "the English
government has placed the war
ship Espiegle at the service
f,the Balmaceda government in con.
veying silver treasure to England"
Next day he comes out with an I'M
qualified contradiction of the story.
He advised the issue of letters marque
to privateers, and the giving Bal
maceda any suggestions. as to con-
duct of war. He adds he maintains
cordial relations with the govern
ment, and at the same time | have
the assurance that have retained the
frien lsdip and confidence of the lead
ers of the opposition. In proof Of
this latter statement he cites the fact
of the peace negotiations conducted
at his legation. AS this point is of
Importance in view of the changed
relations of the parties later on, it
may be of interest to add that Egan
then wrote, "since the commencement
of the revolution have been requested
on various occasions by the opposi-
ton to exercise my good offices in
their behalf in favor of the liberated
prisoners, mitigation of punishment,
preservation of converts, schools and
clerical colleges from military occupa-
ton, and other similar matters, in all
of which cases every intimation L
made the government most cordially
received and in almost all cases
promptly acted upon. In the present
terribly excited condition of public
feeling here, when every act and word
is closely criticized and often dis
torted, it is extremely difficult to avoid
being misrepresented, but so far | can
congratulate myself upon having been
able to keep this legation clear of all
entanglements."
August 8, Egan transmits state
ment current in Santiago to the effect
that an English war vessel was help
ing the revolutionists by carrying
mails and endeavoring to secure the
surrender Of a torpedo vessel belong
ing to Balmaceda TO them.
August 30 he writes that
he Sheltered in the legation
two Of the opposition leaders,
Edwards and Malta; that it was
threatened the government would
search the legation building, but upon
his protesting President Balmacida
disavowed such intention. In half
dozen dispatches he tells the well
known story of the downfall of the
Balmaceda government, and describ-
ing the scenes consequent on the capt
ure of Valparaiso and Santiago, and
announced he has in asylum eighty
refugees, including the wife of Balma-
ceda and four children. He says the
Spanish legation has about the same
number of refugees, French, German,
Argentine and Brazilian Legations
more or less, and the only legation
that closed its doors and denied an
asylum was that of England.
Sept. 4.-Wharton dictates Egan to
recognize the new government and
open communication with it's head;
and Sept. Egan telegraphs that he
has done so, and the relations with
the new government are entirely cor
dial.
Sept. 17.-Egan writes that since
the Itata incident the young and I'M.
thinking Chilean element had bitter
feelings against the United States, and
the English element, as has always
been the custom in this country, will
do all in their power to promote ano
foster this feeling. Hesays reasonable
men in power admit the United States
could not consistently have taker
any other course than the one
adopted, and that Errazaui,
when acting minister of foreign rela
latiOns two weeks ago so stated tC
him without reservation. In this re
lation the minister alludes to the
charges that the United States steam
er San Francisco carried news to Bal
macedists of the congressional landing
and encloses unequivocal denial of the
charge by Admiral Brown. The min
lister tells of Balmaceda's suicide. and
then begins the recital of his efforts
lasting through many months, to pro
tect the refugees in his legation
september "a he telegraphs he eX
pected to terminate the asylum and
send the refugees out to be prosecuted
but to do so would be to sacrifice
their lives and he refused to permit
them to 60 out of the legation except
under safe conduct to neutral terri
tory.
He says: "On account of the Itata
and other questions bitter feeling
has been fomented by the government
supporters against the Americans
Secret police surround the legation
with orders to arrest visitors. Two
of my servants were arrested and are
now in prison. Against this disre-
spect to the legation l have addressed
my protest to the minister Of foreign
affairs.n
A few days after Egan telegraphed
the department that in the matter OF
asylum he acted strictly in the spirit
Of the department instructions
in the Barrundia affairs. He adds:
"Three notes have been received
from the minister of foreign affairs in
which he charges that the refugees
have abused the rights of asylum
and for this reason defends his action
towards the legation
Egan informed the minister that the
charge was absolutely and entirely
untOunded and asked safe conduct for
the refugees.
A long correspondence then took
place between Egan and Malta and
this government which continued up
to the time of the Baltimore incident,
which was reported by Egan to the
state department Oct. IS. He said:
$50 far Capt. Schley has not ascer-
tanned the cause which led to the dis
turbance but the general impression