Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-01-26
TO CONGRESS.
The ChiIian Question Handled
by the President.
OUR DEMANDS TO BE ENFORCED.
The Chilian Government Must Apollo
gize to Uncle Sam or Take
the Consequences.

men of the United States Steamship
Baltimore Is Also Demanded---The In
sulting Malta Letter Must Be OfhciaIIy
Withdrawn---Review of the Cores
pondence Between the United States
and Chill Since the Outbreak of the
Revolution.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 25.-The following is Presi-
dent Harrison message on the Chilian situa-
tion sent to Congress Monday:
To THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTA-
TIvEs: In my annual message delivered to
congress at the beginning of the present ses-
sion, after a brief statement of the facts then
in the possession of this government touching
the assault in the streets OF Valparaiso. Chill,
upon the sailors Of the United States steam
ship Baltimore on the evening of the 18th of
October last, said: ''This government is now
awaiting the result of an investigation which
has been conducted by the criminal court at
Valparaiso. 1t is reported unofffcially that the
Investigation is about completed, and it is ex-
pected that the result will soon be communi-
Gated to this government, together with some
adequate and satisfactory response to the note
by which the attention of Chill was called to
this incident. If these Just expectations should
be disappointed, or further needless delay in
tervene WILL by special message, 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 Chill. from the time of
the breaking out of the revolution against Bal
maceda, together with all other facts in the
possession of the executive department relat-
ing To this matter. The diplomatic correspond
ence is herewith transmitted, together with
some correspondence between the naval Off
l,s.T.-
and the Secretary of the navy, and also the
evidence taken at the Mare Island navy yard
since the arrival of the Baltimore at San Fran
cisco. / do not deem it necessary in this com
munlcatiop to attempt any fun analysis of the
correspondence or of the evidence. A brief re-
statement of the international questions in
volved and of the reasons why the responses of
the Chilian government are unsatisfactory is
all that deem necessary.
Egan's Course Upheld.
1t may he well at the outset to say that
whatever may have been said in this country
or in Chill in criticism of Mr.. Egan, our minis
ter at Santiago the true history of this exeit-
ing period in Chilian 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, I
think. on the whole, borne himself in very try
ing circumstances, with dignity, discretion and
with ability, courtesy. and fairness.
It is worth while also at the beginning TO say
that the right of Mr.. Egan to give shelter in the
legation TO certain adherents of the BalmRceda
government who applied TO him for asylum
has not been denied by the Chilian authorities
nor has any demand been made for the sur
render of these refugees That there was ur-
gent need Of asylum was shown by Mr.. Egan's
note of Aug. st 1891, describing the disorders
that prevailed in Santiago and by the evidence of
rfat.4 10 tha lIoo Il r-sr
that prevailed at Valparaiso. The correspon-
dence discloses, however, that the request of
Mr.. EgHn for a safe conduct from the country
in behalf of these refugees, was denied. The
precedents cited by him in the correspondence
particularly the case of the revolution in Peru
in 1885, did not leave the Chilian government in
position to deny the right Of asylum to politi-
cal refugees and seemed very clearly to support
Mr.. Egans contention that a safe conduct to
neutral territory WAS necessary and ac-
Rnowledged incident of the asylum These
refugees have recently without formal safe
conduct, but by the acquiescence of the Chilian
authorities, been placed on board the Yorktown
and are now being conveyed to Callao, Peru.
A Veritable Prison.
This incident might be considered wholly
closed but for the disrespect manifested to-
ward this government by the close and often
sive police surveillance of the legation prem
ses 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 premises seem to
have been surrounded by police in uniform
and police agents or detectives in citizens
dress, who extensively scrutinized persons
tering or leaving the legation, and on one or
more occasions arrested members Of the min
ister's family. Commander Evans, who
by my direction recently visited Mr..
Egan at Santiago. in his telegram TO
xhn Ill
legation as "A veritable prison and states
that the police agents or detectives were, after
ihis arrival. withdrawn during his stay. It ap-
pears further. from the note of Mr.. Egan of
Nov. sfth, 1891. that on one occasion at least
these police agents. whom he declares to be
known to him, invaded the legation premises,
pounding upon its windows and using insulting
and threatening language towards persons
therein. This breach of the right of a minister
to freedom from police espionage and restraint
seems TO have been so fragrant that the Argen-
tine minister, who was dean of the diplomatic
corps having observed it, felt called upon to pro-
test against it to the Chian minister of foreign
affairs. The Chilian authorities have, as viii be
observed from the correspondence, charged the
refugees and the inmates of the legation with
insulting the police; but it seems to me incredi-
BILE that men whose lives were in jeopardy and
whose safety could orly be secured by retire
ment and quietness should have sought to pro-
woke q collision which could only end in their
destruction or to aggravate their condition by
intensifying popular, feeling that, at one
time. so threatened the legation as TO require
Mr.. Egan to appeal TO the minister of foreign
affairs
The United States Was Injured.
But the most serious incident disclosed by the
correspondent is that of the attack upon the
sailors of the Baltimore upon the streets of
Valparaiso Oct. 16 last. In my annual
message speaking upon the information then
in my possession, said: 80 far as have yet
been able TO learn. other explanation of this
bloody work has been suggested than that it
had its origin in hostility to these sailors
OF the United States wearing the uniform of
their government, and not in any individual
act or personal animosity."
We have now received from the Gillian 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.
very much regret TO be compelled to say that
this report does not enable me to modify the
conclusion announced in my annual message.