The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-01-28
THE CHILEAN FUSS.
President Harrison's Message on the
Trouble With the Chileans Goes
to Congress,
With Its Proof That the United States
Has Been Repeatedly lnsnlted
by Chile.

WASHINGTON, JAN 25.-The following is
The full text Of President Harrisons mes
sage on the Chilean trouble sent to congress
to-day:
TO the Senate and House OF Representatives:
In my annual message, delivered to congress at
the beginning OF the present session, after brief
statement OF, the facts then i'll the possession OF
this government touching the assault in the
streets OF Valparaiso Chile, upon the sailors Of
the United States steamship Baltimore, on the
evening OF the 18th OF Octo Der last, said VI
This government IS now awaiting the result
OF an INVESTIGATION which has been conducted by
the criminal court at Valparaiso 1t is report
ed unoitcially that the Investigation is about
completed, and it is expected that the result
will soon be communicated to this government
together with some adequate and satisfactory
response to the note by which the attention OF
Chile was called to this Incident. If these lust
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 the
breaking out OF the revolution against Balma-
Ceda. together with all other facts III the possess
sion OF the executive department relating to this
matter. The diplomatic correspondence is here
with transmitted. together with some CORE
SpOndence between the naval officers for the
time i'll command on Chilean waters and the sec
rotary OF the navy. and also the evidence taken
at the Mare Island yard since the arrival of the
Baltimore at San Francisco l do not deem it
necessary in this communication attempt
any full analysis OF the correspondents or of the
evidence \ brief restatement of the interna.
tional questions involved and OF the reasons
why the responses OF the Chilean government
are unsatisfactory is all that 1 deem neces-
sary.
EGAN's ACTIONS APPROVED
1t may be we'll at the outset tosay that what
ever may have been said in this country or in
Chile III criticism OF Mr.. Ega,l. our minister at
Santiago the true history OF this exciting period
NofE1 ip fpnJn hA Thpao l-off h.,,.
olution until this time. dlscloses no act on the
part OF Mr.. Egan unworthy OF his position or
that could justly be the occasion of serious an
imadvers:ons or criticisms. He has think on
the whole borne himself in very trying crcum-
stances with dignity. discretion and courage and
has conducted the correspondence with ability
courtesy ana fairness.
1t is worth while also at the beginning to say
that the right OF Mr.. Egan give shelter in the
legation to certain adherents OF the Bamaceda
government who applied to him Tor asylum has
not been denied by the Chilean authorities, nor
these refugees. That there was urgent need OF
asylum is shown by Mr.. Esan's note OF Aug 24
1891 describing the disorders THAI prevailed in
Santiago. and by the evidence of Capt. Schley
as to the pag. and violence that prevailed at
Valparaiso. The correspondence discloses
however, that the request Of Mr.. Egan for a safe
conduct from the country. in behalf OF these
refugees. was denied. The presidents cited by
him in the correspondence. particularly the case
OF the revolution i'll Peru in 1865. did not leave
the Chilean government i'll position to deny
the right of asylum to political refugees and
seemed very clearly to support Mr.. Egans
tention that Il safe conduct to neutral territory
was d necessary and acknowledged incident OF
the asylum. These refugees have very recently,
without formal sale conduct, but by the acqui,
escencc OF the Chilean authorities. been placed
on board the Yorktown and now being con-
veyed to Callao. Peru. This incident might be
considered wholly closed
BUT FOR THE DIsREsPECT
manifested toward this government by the close
aud offensive police surveillance Of the legation
premises. which was main aimed during most of
fcfl therein
After the date OF my annual message and up to
the time OF the transfer of the reu gees to the
lorkton. the legation premises seem to have
been surrounded by police. in uniform. and
police agents or detectives. in citizens dress,
leaving the location and. on one or more occa-
slons. arrested members OF the minister's family.
Commander Evans who by my direction, re-
Gently visited Mr.. Egan at Santiago, i'll his tee-
gram to the navy department.. described the
legation as Il "vertable prison." aud states
that the police agents detectives were after
his arrival withdrawn during his stay. 1t APP
pears further. from the note of Mr. Egan OF
Nov 20, 1891, that on one OCCASION at least
known to him, invaded the legation
premises, pounding on its windows ana
using insulting and threatening LANGUAGE toward
minister to freedom from police espionage and
restraint seems to have been so fragrant that
the Argentine minister who was dean of tile
diplomatic corps. having observed it, felt called
upon to protest AGAINST it to the Chilean minis
ter OF foreign affairs. The Chilean authorities
ence. charged the refugees and the inmates of the
legation with insul ting the poce but it seems
to me Incredible that men whose lives were i'll
jeopardy and whose safety could only be Sc
cured by retirement and quietness. should have
sought to provoke a collision which could onlv
end in their destruction. or to aggrayate theiI.
condition by intensifying apopular feeling that
at one time, SO threatened the legation as to re.
qure Mr.. Egan to appeal to the minister of for
eigu affairs.
THE BALTIMORE ASSAULT
But the most serious incident disclosed by the
correspondence is that OF the attack on the
sailors OF the Baltimore in the streets of VAL
paradise on the 10th OF October last. In my an
nual message, speaking upon the informa
ton then Ill my possession. I said:
$50 far as I have yet been able to learn no
other explanation OF this bloody work has been
suggested than that it had it's origin in hostility
to these men as sailors OF the United States
wearing the uniform Of their government, and
not i'll any individual act or personal ami
mostly"
We have now received from the Chilean gov.
ernment 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 1
very much regret to be compelled to say that
this report does not enable me to modify the
sssass ann ss III in tns o saa
that our sailors We're assaulted. beaten,
stabbed and killed. not for anything they or
n
ment OF the United States had DONE or was
charged with having DONE by its civil officers
and naval commanders. If that be the true as
pect OF the Case the Injury was to the govern
nent OF the United States. not to these poor
sailors, who were assaulted III a manner so
brutal and so cowardy. Before attempting to
give outline OF the facts upon which this con
cllsion rests, think it right to say a word or
two upon
THE LEGAL ASPECT OF THE CASE
The Baltimore was in the narbor of Va,ar-
also by virtue OF that general invitation which
nations are held to extend to the war vessels of
other powers with which they have friendly re-
1ations This invitation, III must be held
ordinarily to embrace the priv - OF such com
muncation with the shore as is reasona pe
necessary and proper for the comfort and COL
venience of the officers and men OF such vessels
Capt. Schley testifies that when his vessel re-
turned to Valparaiso. Sept. ID, the city officers
as is customary, extended the hospitalites OF
the city to his officers and crew. 1t is not
claimed that every personal collision or injury
jim which sailor or officer of such naval vessel
visiting the shore may be Involved raises III,
international question: but / am clearly
OF the opinion that where such sailors officers
are assaulted by Il resident popnace animated
by hostility to the government whose uniform
these sailors and officers r. and iii resent
anent OF acts done by their government. not by
them, their nation must take notice OF the event
AS one invol wing iniraction OF its rights and
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