The National tribune., 1892-01-28
PRESIDENTS ME.sAGE.


In my annual message, delivered 10 Congress
at the beginning Of the present session, after
brief statement Of the facts then in the pos
session Of this Government touching the assault,
in the streets Of Valparaiso, Chile. upon the
sailors OF the United States steamship Balti-
more, on the evening of the 10th of October
last, / said:
This Government Is now awaiting the result Of
m investigation which has been conducted by tie
criminal court At Valparaiso. IL = reported un-
official y that the investigation j. about completed,
aud Is expected that the result will be
muuicatcd to this Government, together with some
adequate aud satisfactory response 60 the note
by which the attention OF Chile was called To this
incident IL these just expectations should he dis
appointed or further needless delay intervene,
will. 10y special message, bring thi- matter again
10 te attention Of Congress Tor such action rs may
be necessary.
! In my opinion tho time has now come when
should lay before the Congress aud the country
the correspondence between this Government
and the Government Of Chile from the time Of
the
BREAKING OUT OF THE REVOLUTION
! against Balmaceda. together with all other
4 facts in possession Of the Executive Depart
ment relating TO this matter. The diplomatic
correspondence is herewith transmitted, to-
gether with some correspondence between the
naval officers for the time in command in
/ Chilean waters and the Secretary of the Navy,
and also the evidence taken al the Mare Island
/ Nayy-yard since the arrival Of the Baltimore at
San Francisco DO not deem IL necessary in
! this communication TO attempt any full analy-
sis of the correspondence or Of the evidence. A
! brief statement of the international questions
/ involved and Of the reasons why the responses
Of the Chilean Government are unsatisfactory
is all that deem necessary.
IL may be well, at the outset, 20 say that,
whatever may have been said in this country
or in Chile in criticism Of Mr.. Egan, our Min
lister at Santiago the true history OF this excit-
ing period in Chilean affairs, from the outbreak
/ Of the revolution until this time, discloses no
act on the part OF Mr. Egan unworthy Of his
position or that could justly be the occasion of
serious animadverson or criticism. He has, l
think, on the whole, borne himself in very
| trying circumstances, with dignity, discretion
and courage, aud has conducted the correspond
ence with ability, courtesy and fairness.
IL is worth while also at the beginning TO say
that the right Of Mr.. Egan to give shelter in
the legation 10 certain adherents Of the Bal
maceda Government who
APPLIED TO HIN TOR ASYLUM
has not been denied by the Chilean authorities
/ nor has any demand been made for the sur
render Of these refugees. That there was urg-
ent need Of asylum is shown by Mr. Egan's
/ note Of Aug. %, 1891, describing the disorders
that prevailed in Santiago, and by the evidence
4 Of Capt Schley as % the pillagc aud violence
that prevailed az Valparaiso. The correspond.
cnce discloscs, however, that the request Of Mr..
/ Egau for safe conduct from the country In
/ behalf Of these refugees was denied. The pre-.
cedents cited by him in the correspondence
/ particularly the ease Of the revolution IN Peru
/ in 1865. did not leave the Chilean Government
iu position to deny the right Of asylum n
political refugees and seemed very clearly "a
| support Mr. ERan's contention that safe con.
duct 10 neutral territory was a necessary and
Acknowledged incident Of the asylum. These
I refugees have very recently, without formal
safe conduct, but by the acquicsceuce Of the
Chilean authorities, been placed on board the
/ Yorktown, and are now being conveyed 4
Callao, Peru. This incident might be consd
cred wholly closed, but for the disrespect mani
tested toward this Government by the clos,
aud
OFFENSIVE POLICE SURVEILLANCE
Of the legation premises which was maintained
during most Of the period Of the stay Of the
refugees therein. After the date Of my annua
message and up to the time of the transfer o
the refugees TO the Yorktown tho legation
premises seem 10 have been surrounded by
police, in uniform, and police agents or detect
ives, ia citizens dress who Extensively scru
tnizcd persons entering or leaving the lega
ton, and on one or moro occasions, ARRESTED
members Of the Minister'S family. Commando
/ Evans, who, by my direction, recently VISITED
=
Navy Department described the legation a
"a vcritabe prison." and states that the polio
agents or detectives were, after his arrival
Withdrawn during his stay. il appears further
from the note Of Mr. Egan Of Nov. %, 1881
that on one occasion at least these polio
agents, whom he declares 10 be known 10 him
invaded the legation premises, pounding upol
its windows and using insulting and threaten
ing language toward persons therein. Thi
breach Of the right Of Minister 10 freedom
from police espionage and restraint seems &
have been 50 fragrant that the Argentine Min
lister, who was Dean Of the Diplomatic Corps
having observed il, felt called upon TO proles
against IL 10 the Chilean Minister Of Forcig
, Affairs. The Chilean authorities have as vii
be observed from the correspondence, charges
4. the refugees and the inmates Of the Legation
= with insulting the police but IL seems 10 m
incredible that men whose lives were in jeor
4. ardy and whose safety could only be secured b
: retirement and quietness should have
SOUGHT TO PROVOKE CnLLIsoN.
i which could only end in their destruction, o
10 aggrayate their condition by intensifying
= popular feeling that at one time. 50 threatone
the legation as 10 require Mr. Fgan 10 apBes
o 10 the Minister of Foreign Affairs
i But the most serious incident disclosed b
the correspondence is that Of the attack upo
n the sailors Of the Baltimore In the streets ,
!. Valparaiso on the 10th OF October last In m
annual message speaking upon the informatiU
= then IN my possession. ! said:
" So FAR as have yet been able 10 learn no 9th,
explanation Of this bloody work har been suggest,
than that u had IT. origin ia hostility 10 these inc
n sailors 81 le United states wearing tie uuifgr
81 their Government. aud not la any individual a.
or personal animosity.
a We have now received from the Chilean Go,
" eminent an abstract Of the conclusions of n
Fiscal General upon the testimony taken /
?. the Judge Of Crimes in an investigation wbit
~ was made 10 extend over nearly three month
b i very much regret 30 DO compelled 10 say Tn
this report does not enable me 10 modify n
y conclusion announced in my annual messag
se ] am still Of the opinion that
OUR SAILORS WE'RE ASSAULTED.
In beaten, stabbed and killed not for anythir
"a. they or any of them had done, but 4
y what the Government of the United States IA,
Is. done, or was charged with having done, by
civil officers aud naval commanders. III ia
y be the true aspect Of the case, the injury W.
a. 20 the Government Of the United States not
VI these poor sailors who were assaulted in a ma
ner so brutal aud so cOwardly.
40 Before attempting 20 give an outline Of d
facts upon which this conclusion rests. / thin
at u right 20 say word or two upon the legal q
rs poet of the case. The Baltimore was in q
hafbor of Valparaiso by virtue of that geneT
ID invitation which Nations are held % extend
w the war vessels Of other powers with Whit
they have friendly relations. This iuyitatio
nd think, must be held ordinarily 10 embrace 4
privilege Of such communication with 4
y shore as is reasonable, necessary aud proper
w the comfort and convenience Of the officers al