Los Angeles herald., 1892-01-27


Egan's dispatch was submitted to the
cabinet at the meeting today. The entire
question was discussed, and it is under
stood a difference OF opinion was de-
veloped as to the propriety of accepting
the offer without notifications, go far
as it relates to the submission of the
| question of Chile's responsibility for the
| attack on the sailors of the Baltimore
to the arbitration of neutral nation or
to decision OF the United States su-
preme court. Without reaching a de-
| cision the meeting adjourned.
The president will doubtless commu
nicate Egan's dispatch to congress, but
will probably not do 80 for several days,
unless it is called for by the house or
senate.
| LATEST PHASE OF THE QUESTION.
The latest phase in the Chilean situa-
ton, as described in last nights dis
patch from Santiago, was almost the
sole topic of discussion among members
of congress today. There was general
| feeling of relief on all hands, at what
was looked upon as the beginning Of
peaceful ending of the controversy. In
the absence of official information,
many senators and representatives seem
chary OF expressing their their views on
the matter. The general concensus of
opinion was that the answer submitted,
if authentic, was satisfactory TO the
United States, and all that could be de-
manded. The only point mentioned in
our ultimatum not covered by the dis
patch, was the demand for an apology.
On this point the admission that the
Malta note was an error of judgment.
and the promise of its withdrawal, is
considered to be in the nature OF an
apology, and when coupled with the ex-
pressions of deep regret contained in
the telegram of Minister Pereira of jan
uary 4th, and the note of Minister
Mont, December 10th and January Sth,
is regarded as an expression of good feel
ing on the part of Chile, and perhaps all
that ought to be demanded There is
no desire, the members said, to press
the government of Chile, and they were
disposed to accept the offer as entirely
satisfactory. 1t was pointed out that
as Chile, as a government, had disa-
vowed responsibility for, or sympathy
with the attack on the sailors of the
Baltimore, she would naturally be eau
tious as to what she said on the subject,
as the governments connection with
the matter would be one OF the main
questions on which decision, either by
arbitrators or the United States SUI
preme court, would depend in consider
ing the question of reparation. 1t is
generally conceded that the proposition
to refer to foreign arbitration, or to the
decision Of the United States supreme
court the entire Baltimore incident, is a
proposition which cannot we'll be re-
jected by this government.
AN UNEXPECTED CONCESSION.
There is one point in the dispatch
from Santiago, however that is mystify-
ing to all, and that is why the Chilean
government should deem it necessary
to recede from its request for the with
drawal OF Minister Egan. Since that is
not one of the demands contained in
the ultimatum of the United States,
this concession was not expected.
DELAY IN DELIVERING THE DISPATCH.
Up to IL O'Clock this morning Secre-
tary Blaine had not received the answer
from Chile reported in last nights San
tiago dispatch to have been sent from
that country. 1t is expected to be COM
municated through Minister Montt, who
has not called or been heard from on the
subject. The delay is, however, per-
fectly explicable by the amount of time
required to translate the cipher dispatch
into ordinary Spanish and then into
English, and also by the fact that official
calls are not commonly made in Wash
ington before the middle of the day.
While Secretary Blaine was walking
from his house to the cabinet meeting
this morning he was asked ii reply to
the presidents ultimatum had been
received, and he said none was yet re-
ceived as far as he was aware.
THE CABINET IN SESSION.
The cabinet met promptly at IL 80
today and devoted nearly the entire
session to the discussion of the Chilean
controversy. All the members were
present except Elkins and Foster. Tha,
! the Chilean matter was under discus
sion was proved by the fact that mes
senger from the state department brought
about dozen copies of the entire Chi
lean correspondence to the White House
about noon, and were taken into the
cabinet room at once.
The cabinet meeting lasted about two
hours, and at its close there was evil
dence of determination on the part of
JIG IlClAOCln W StFO ilO lulOl uiaIiOA Oh
the Chilean controversy. 1t is gener-
ally expected that the press dis patch
from Santiago will be supplemented by
some sort of official statement, but no
facts of any kind could be obtained.
FOREIGN COMMITTEES MEET.
At the request of members of the
house :. foreign committee, special
meeting was called today for the pur-
pose of considering the presidents mess
cage on the Chilean controversy and the
accompanying correspondence. There
was an informal discussion of a very
general character, but no conclusion was
reached.
The senate committee on foreign rela-
tions held short session this morning,
but the meeting was merely of an in
formal character, and was devoted to
brief exchange of opinions among the
senators regarding the presidents mes
sage and the accompanying correspond
ence on the Chilean affair. A member
of the committee stated that no action
was taken on the correspondence, and
that nothing of Importance took place
at the meeting whatever, relative to the
Chilean matter. 1t is understood if any
report on the message and the corre-
spondence is to be made, it will not be
done until the president has received an