Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1892-02-05
Important Points in the Diplomatic
Correspondence.


The voluminous Chilean correspon dence
from the Department Of State co mprises
the details of all the events, heginn ing with
the Balmaceda insurrection, up to the pres
ent time. Concerning the Itata affair, Mr.
Egan reports the acting Minister Of Foreign
Affairs as admitting that the United States
could not have taken any other position in
regard to that vessel and that bitter feel
ing was being fonented by the English.
During the negotiations for peace, Mr. Egan
had instructions from the State Department
to insist that the revolutionist ENJOYS have
the ordinary protection Of a flag of truce;
and accordingly he protested against the
order of NJ. Godoy that their safe conduct be
withdrawn. This order was disavowed by
President Balmaceda.
On August 20 Mr.. Egan wrote that, hear
ing of reported threat TO search the legation
for refugees, he had personally notified the
Government that ne would discuss the
question of asylum on a proper basis, but
he would shoot any one trying to search
the legation. The Chilian President
assured him direct that there was
no such intention. Later on, Mr.. Egan
telegraphed the particulars OF the surround
ing of the American legation with secret
police, the arrest of twenty persons for en-
tering the legation, and the arrest of two of
the legation servants, against which MIR.
Egan had protested. The espionage on the
legation was kept up, but no further arrests
were made.
Mr.. Egan reported that it had been init
mated to him that to avoid personal unpopu-
larity and inconvenience, he ought to have
the refugees leave the legation and seek con-
cealment elsewhere; he would not adopt this
course because of its inhospitality and inhu-
manity. Mr.. Egan commented on the very
different treatment accorded the refugees at
other legations. Minister Malta twice re-
fused a safe conduct to the refugees.
On October Mr.. Eagan was advised that
President Harrison desired to establish and
maintain the most friendly relations with
Chiles but the right of asylum having been
tacitly allowed to other legations and exer
cised by our Minister with the old Govern
ment for the protection of the ad-
herents of the Congressional party,
the President regarded the application
of another rule and the manifestation of
disrespect to the legation of the United
States as the manifestation Of an unfriendly
spirit. Mr.. Egan was instructed to prevent
abuse of the right Of asylum, and to
limit the communications Of those enjoying
1t with the outside world to necessary and
innocent matters.
Minister Malta assured Mr.. Egan that no
disrespect was intended to the legation, and
that the police must have misunderstood
their orders. He promised an investigation
The Americans arrested at the legation were
S. MAIDEN, a commission merchant
twice arrested), and Mr. Raycroft.
Later, Minister Malta again, ex-
pressed regret at the action Of the police,
who. he said, should have left access to the
legation free; but he refused safe conduct to
the refugees on the ground that it would be
an unjustifable irregularity, though he said,
if it was possible he would grant it as
proof of amity to the legation.
Mr.. Egan in reply quoted international
usage and the practice OF Chile Ill 1866. Mr..
Egan also notifiei Senior MaGta that he
would give the facts to his Government
for decision, and that the '1nterpre-
tation of the United States of the
and consideration cannot be cause of sur
prise" \ few days later a public meeting
was called to denounce the United States
legation and to request the delivery OF the
refugees. The Government sent squadron
of cavalry to protect the legation.
Mr.. Egan, up to November Is, had spent
$4,000 in entertaining the refugees. On
November 10 he complained that the secret
police while drunk, had used insulting
language to the refugees from the street.
To this, Senior Malta replied that the
disturbers we're not police spies. He
charged that employees of the legation ''com-
mitted indiscretions which might provoke
replies and reprisals not pleasing to the
rights or decorum of anybody" In further
correspondence Mr.. Eagan renewed his
charges. and Minister Malta insisted
that the disturbances grew out of
the conduct of the people connected with
the legation and the refugees. Reporting
this to the department. MI. Egan said that
every complaint of his had been met with
these insinuations. But no direct charge
had been made. for the good reason that no
al bcen committed.