Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-26

WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 25-Accom-
panving the Presidents message to Congress
TODAY was the correspondence concerning
the relations of the United States and Chile.
1t dates back as far as August Is, 1890, and
is of such great volume that 1t would fill
more than 100 columns of a newspaper. 1t
is divided into three portions, the first COM
prising correspondence between Mr.. Blaine
and Mr.. Egan, or Mr.. Wharton in Mr..
Blaine's absence, correspondence with
Senor Lazcsno, the Chilean Minister under
the Balmaceda administration, and lastly
notes exchanged between Secretary Blaine
and Don Pedro Montt, the present Chilean
Minister to Washington.
The Egan correspondence begins August
10, with the statement of the changes in the
Balmaceda Ministry, which constituted a
precursor to the revolution. Many chap
tiers of this correspondence are now ancient
history, and therefore of little interest at
the present juncture. The one fact that is
established is that Minister Egan had an
abiding faith up to the last moment in the
ultimate triumph Of Balmaceda over his
enemies and the downfall of the insurgent
cause March 9, 1891, Mr.. Egan transmit
ted to Secretary Blaine a request by the
Chilean Government that the United States
permit one Of its ships to carry from Val
paraiso to Montevideo a sum of about
g, ,0OO, 900, bar silver, which is required for
the payment of the interest on the national
debt abroad; that the Chilean Government
fears its capture by revolted fleet if the sum
is sent in the regular course of business.
March II, in dispatch describing the san
culinary battles in the neighborhood of
1quique, the Minister says that the revolu-
tion had the undivided sympathy and the
active support of the English residents in
Chile; that the English superintendents of
the nitrats works urged their men to join
the revolutionists, and Colonel North con
tributed the sum of $1,000 in its support.
April IA, the Minister tells of an effort of
the Chilean Government to collect duties on
exports from insurgent ports the protests
made by the German and British Ministers,
and the assurances he has received that
American vessels will not be subjected to
any inconvenience. April 81 he telegraphs
that the Chilean Government urgently re-
Minister for the purchase of Inan-of-war
from the United States be favorably con-
sidered.
Egan's Efforts a Peacemsker
Mr.. Egan began his efforts as a peace
maker April "a, when he telegraphed for per-
mission to act with the Brazilian Minister
and French Charge, in an effort TO restore
peace. the indications being that mediation
would be accepted by both parties The
next day he received Mr.. Blaine's Dermis-
sion to act as mediator. May "a Mr.. Egan in
forms MIR. Blaine that the good offices of the
United States, Brazil and France have been
most cordially accepted by the Government
fNf 10 nd ha plufin -
England and Germany having been declined
. The ltata incident first appears in the cor
respondence in connection with the declarl-
tlon sent by Mr.. McCrearV, the Consul at
Valparaiso, to the State Department here
(Mr. Wharton being then the Acting Secre-
tary in Mr.. Blaine's absence( that the South
American Steamship Company insists that
the ltata is their property, and has been
taken from them by force by the insurgents
The same day Mr.. Egan notifies the State
Department, at the request of the Chilean
Government of the presence of the Itata in
California waters. May IA Mr.. Wharton
alarmed by threats current in WASHINGTON
that Balmaceda threatens to shoot the en-
voys who appeared before the mediators in
sists that under the circumstances :hey
should have treatment of flag of truce
Two days later in answering, Mr.. Egan dis
claimed any such intention on Balna ceda's
part. Then follows long history of the at
tempt of the medators to secure peace in
Chile, winding up with an account of the
breaking OFF of negotiations as the result of
the attempt to assassinate Senior Godoy one
of Balmaceda's Ministers.
May Is, Mr.. Wharton enclcses to Mr. Eran
for his Information a copy OF letter from
Mr.. Davis, of Lima, Peru, quoting rumor
that Mr.. Egan had advised Balmaceda TO
grant letters Of marque to privateers as A
war measure On the lss of June, Mr.. Whar-
ton instructs Mr. Egan that, prompted SOLELY
by r desire to restore peace, and entirely
disinterested, the President desires him in
formally and discreetly to ascertain whether
the good offices of this Government can in
any way be used for the termination or the
conflict in Chile.
Acting in the Interest of Mediation,
On the same day by telegraph Mr. Whar-
ton informs Mr.. Egan that the expectation
was entertained of the return to the custody
of the United States courts of the arms on
the Itata and of the ship herself In answer
TO the Presidents suggestion that he renew
his efforts of mediation, Mr.. Egan teiegrnnhs
June that while the revolutionists were
not inclined to make any reasonable neace
propositions the Chilean Government is
well disposed to entertain any that might be |
made. Rear Admiral McCann figured in the !
negotiations at this stage and he then at |
lQulque, approached the revolutionary
leaders at Mr.. Egan's instance. in the inter
est of mediation. June l2 he writes Mr. |
Egan as follows:
Il have to regret that in my note to Senior |
ErraZuriZ l incautiously quoted too freely |
from your letter of the I'd inst. esneciaIiy |
that line in which you express the opinion |
that the Government at Santiago cannot be |
disturbed The consequence of this mad |
vertence on my part (being unaccustomed to !
diplomatic fencing) will be seen in the |
declaration of Senior Errazuriz." He also
ADDS that the loss of the Itata and arms at !
that time excited great animosity against |
the United States at Iquique. July % he
comes out with an unqualified contradiction
of the story that he has advised the issue of
letters OF marque to privateers, or that he
has given Balmaceda any suggestions as to
the conduct of the war. He adds that he has
main tanned cordial relations with the Gov
ernment, "and at the same time I have the
assurance that / have retained the friend
ship and confidence of the leaders of the OBJ
position" In proof of this latter statement
ne cites the fsct that the peace negotiations
were conducted at his legation
As this point is OF Importance in view OF
the changed relations OF the parties later on,
1t may be OF interest to add that Mr. Egan !
then wrote: "Since the commencement of |
the revolution ! have been requested on
Ssrlo occasions BIZ the opposition, to ex-
>rcsse good ofiices on their behalf IN favor
OF the liberation OF prisoners, the mittgnti ntion