Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1892-01-30
Re Says the Chilean Government
Must Apologize and Make Repa-
ration for tho Assault Upon
the Baltimore's Sailors.
Tho Malta Circular Note Must be With
drawn and the Language Disa-
vowed, or Diplomatic Relations
with Chile viii Cease.
MIR Egnn's Recall Will Not bc Considered
Until These Matters are Disposed Of
Tho President Gives Ills Reasons
Tor Making These Demands and
Advises that They bo Con-
hrmed and Enforced by
Congress.

the Chilean situation sent to congress
yesterday:
To the senate and house OF representatives
In my annual message, delivered to congress
at the beginning OF the present session after q
brief statement OF the facts then In the posses.
eion OF this government touching the assault in
the streets OF Valparaiso, Chile. upon the sail
ors OF the United States steamship Baltimore
on the evening OF the 10Th OF October last, said
NThis government is now awaiting the result Of
an investigation which has been conducted by
rhc criminal court of Valparaiso. 1t Is reported
tinofiicially that the investigation is about COM
pletcd and IL is expected that the result will
soon be communicated to this government, to-
gether with some adequate and satisfactory re-
sponse to the note by which the attention Of
Chile was called to this incident. II these just
expectations should be disappointed or further
needless delay intervene, will by special mes.
sage bring this matter again to the attention OF
congress for such action as may be necessary"
In my opinion, the time has now come when
should lay before the congress and the country
the correspondence between this government
and the government OF Chile from the time of
maccda, together with all other facts In the pos
session of the executive department relating to
Shis matter The diplomatic correspondence is
herewith transmitted. together with some cor
.-espondenco between the naval officers for the
time in command in Chilean waters and the sec
rotary OF the navy and, also the evidence taken
at the Mare Island navy yard since the arrival
OF the Baltimore at San Francisco. do not
temptan full analysis OF the correspondence
or Of the evidence. A brief restatcmcnt OF the
International questions involved and of the rca.
sons why the responses ~ 'ba Chilean govern
'ment are unsatisfactory Is all that deem ncces-
gary.
II may be we'll at the outset, to say that what
ever may have been said In this country or in
Chile In criticism OF Mr.. Egan, our minister ut
SANTIAGO the true history OF this exciting period
i'm Chilean affairs from the outbreak OF the rev.
'olution 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 an
imadversion or criticism, He has, think. on
the whole borne himself in very trying circum-
stances with dignity discretion and courage,
and has conducted the correspondence with
ability, courtesy and fairness
1t is worth while also at the beginning to say
that the right OF Mr.. Egan to give shelter in the
Legation to certain adhcrcnts of the Balmuceda
government who applied to him for asylum has
not been denied by the Chilean authorities, nor
has any demand been made for the surrender OF
these refugees. That there was urgent need OF
asylum Is shown by Mr.. Egans note of August
"a, 1891. describing the disorders that prevailed
in Santiago and by the evidence OF Capt Schley
as to the pillagc and violence that prevailed at
Valparaiso. The correspondence discloseS how
over, that the request OF Mr.. Egan for u safe
refugees, was denied. The precedents cited by
him In the correspondence, particularly the case
of the revolution in Peru in 1865, did not leave
tho Chilean government in n position TO deny
the right of asylum to political refugees and
iseemed very clearly TO support Mr.. Egan's con.
tention that u safe conduct to neutral territory
was n necessary and acknowledged Incident OF
the asylum These refugees have very recently,
without formal safe conduct, but by the acqucs-
board the Yorktown aud are now being con-
veyed to Callao. Peru. This incident might be
considered WHO'LL closed. but for the disrespect
manifested toward this government by the close
and 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 annual message and up to
the time of the transfer Of the refugees to the
Yorktown, the legation promises seem to have
been surrounded by police, in uniform and police
agents or detectives. in citizens dress
who extensively scrutinized persons enter.
ing or leaving the legation and, on one or more
occasions. arrested members CT the minister's
family. Commander Evans who by my direc.
tion recently visited Mr.. Egnn at Santiago in
his telegram to the navy department, described
that the police agents or detectives were, after
bis arrival, Withdrawn during his stay. 1t ap.
pears further, from the note Of Mr.. Egan OF Nov.
Do 1891. that on one occasion Mt least these police
agents whom he declares to be known to him.
.ns ea1sh
This 0seash Of the right ''@a Of a ansrein %in:
and restraint seems ''' to % have espD''so BEEN SO
hagrant that the Argentine minister. who was
dean of the diplomatic corps having observed It.,
felt called upon to protest against II to the
Chilean minister Of foreign Affairs. The Chilean
authorities have. as will be observed from the
correspondence charged the refugees and the in.
mates of the legation with insulting the police:
but II seems to be incredible that men whose
dives were In jeopardy and whose safety could
only he secured by retirement and quletness
should have sought 10 provoke a collision which
could only end In their destruction or TO aggrn.
vate their condition by ntensifying u popular
feeling that. ut one time. so threatened the ega-
tion as to require Mr. Egan to appeal to the
minister of foreign AFFAIRS.
But the most serious incident disclosed by the
correspondence is that OF the attack upon the
sailors OF the Baltimore In the streets OF Val.
paraiso on the 18th OF October last. In my an
,nuai message, speaking upon the informati tion
then In my possession, said $50 far as have
yet been able to learn, no other explanation of
this bloody work has been suggested than that
sailors OF the United States wearing the uni
form OF their government, and not in any indi-
yidual act or personal animosty."
we have now received from the Chilean gov.
ernnent an abstract OF the conclusions OF the
fiscal general upon the testimony taken by the
Judge OF crimes In an INVESTIGATION which was
made to extend over nearly three months
very much regret to be compelled to say that
this report does not enable me to modify the
conclusion announced in my annual message.
Am still OF the opinion that our sailors were as.
.saulted, beaten, stabbed and killed, for what
the government OF the United States had done
or was charged with having done. by its civil
officers and naval commanders. II that be the
true aspect OF the case the injury was to the
government OF the United States. not TO those
poor sailors who were assaulted in u manner SO
brutal and so co'Yardy
Before attempting 10 give an outline OF the
facts upon which this conclusion rests. thinl,
IL right 10 say word or two upon the legal as
pect of the case. The Baltimore was In the hnr,
Dor OF Valparaiso by virtue OF tlat general invi
gtation which nations are held To extcnd to the
war vessels OF other powers Win which they
have friendly rel;ptions This invitation,
think, mus, be held ordinarily TO embrace the
privilege Of such communication with the shore
as IL reasonable. necessary and proper for
the comfort and convenience of :he oiicers
and men OF such vessel Captain Schley
tes9Tes that when his vessel returned
TO Valparaiso oil September "A the city
officers. rs Is customary, extended the
thospitalities OF the city 10 his officers and crew
Itisnot claimed that every personal collision
or injury In which u sailor or officer OF such
naval vessel visiting the shore may he involved
raises an intcr,Il lion;l question: but am clear
ly Of the opinion that where such sailors or on
GERS are assaulted by resident populaee ant
animated by hostility 10 the government who's,
uniform these sailors and officers wear and II
resentment of acts done by their government
mot by them, this natlon must take notice o
rthe event as one involving an infractio
,of ity rights and dignity: not IN
secondary way. as where u citizen is In
1ured and presents his claim through his owl
60, eIoment, but IN Il primary way, precisely o
u lis minister consul or the flag itself ha
k.I. lh.. lilnl.I II the slnln IllL r.lcier of ~