The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-29

adopt an agreement. for arbitration now would
be discreditiag the judgment OF the court in
advance. You always looked 70 the future for a
proposal and acceptance OF arbitration You
say in your note:
took occasion to inform You on the LIST OF
January that my government had authorized
me to conclude any agreement looking 10 arbi-
tration: and that my government subsequently,
approved the agreement concluded BY me.
And yet you do not pretend that q word was
ever written OF the agreement, which you say
was between Us. II IS impossible that ever
sought to bind the government OF the United
States in that way. II would have been in the
highes. degree inprudent for me 10 do 80.
In regard 70 the Malta note. which was
subject of contention between rs, you sum it
up by the following declaration:
added. however, that il was far from being
the purpose OF nay government 70 act IN man
ner az all offensive TO the president of the
United states or any member of his cabinet,
and that the Malta note. Il rightly interpreted,
admitted Of no such construction. efterward
had the honor 20 inform you that had re-
ceiyed instructions from my government TO in
form that OF the United States that consider
ing the views expressed by Buchanan and Web
ster in iS49 and 1850, that messages sent by the
president TO congress are domestic com nuuica-
tons which cannot serve as basis for inter-
probation by foreign powers or their representa-
tfves, my government had no objection TO strik-
ing out Of the note Of December Il such words
as might be considered Gisagreeable by the
United States government
By your own statement You evidently at
tempted 10 justify Malta I certainly could no.
accept your language, and never did accept Ian
guage of that kind as an apology sufficient for
the case. The Malta note was highly diseourte-
Gus to the president aud the secretary OF the
navy, iInputing 10 them untruths ana tnsin-
certify. Such language does not admit OF the
conditional or contingent apology which you
offered. Il could be spologized for only by
r.. kkI Id So
il was a communication between the officers of
your own government, and that it was not proper
for this government TO take any cognizance oft
You quoted the weli-known declaration that
messages TO congress were not subject TO critic
ism in foreign country. You did not see the
great difference involved by your government
sending the Malta circular TO ell the legations of
Chile and requesting its several ministers TO
publish it throughout the civilized world. That
you did not comply with Chiles request to pub
Esh IL here Is the strongest proof OF your own
disapproyal of the note.
With regard TO Egsn you complained many
times and very bitterly 10 me, especially, that he
was deserving of censure as you thought, for
not communicating to his government the
brutal murder of some young men who were
slain by order of Balmaceda. When, the next
day, showed you the dispatch of Egau speak
Ing OF the incident in proper terms, you
knowledged that you were mistaken. thought
You would be satisfied, but you again spoke dis
paragingly of Egan, and said somewhat. vehe-
mently: ''Why do you not demaud his recall. in
stead OF constantly disparaging hm?" intending
thereby not to favor his recall, but to stop the
too frequent mention of Egans name. Re-
ferring 10 this question you remark: 'You were
pleased TO acknowledge that the government of
Chile had right to ask that change be made"
Undoubtedly she has that right, provided she
assigns reason. You are too well skilled in
diplomatic usage to be reminded that when a
nation Is forced to declare that minister is q
persona non gratG she is expected TO assign rea-
son therefor. We have twice had occasion to ask
Great Britain to recall her minister, and in each
case was given the reason why the minister had
ceased to be useful. It is hardly necessary TO
Observe that the conditions which were COM
piled with by ourselves would likewise be ex-
pected of Chile.
/ have thus frankly endeavored to correct
SONS misapprehensions of yours, in order that
the record of the state department of the United
States shall be kept exact and in all its proceed
ings shall be proved consistent. Accept re-
newed assurances of my highest consideration.
JAMES q. BLAINE.