Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-18
KEPT ON THE YORKTOWN.
Chile Refuses to Allow Them to Go North on
Other Vessels.

Cniie kscfuses TO Allow Them to Go North on
Other Vessels.
Special cable dispatch to the New York Herald.
VALPARAISO. Chilli, via GALVESTON, TEX, Jan.
l6, 1Ss2-Defnite instructions were yesterday
| cabled Minister Pedro Montt at Washington
directing the withdrawal Of Matta's offensive
note. 1t was presumed that this had been done
before, but it is now known that the withdrawal
had not been made.
HOLDING THE REFUGEES.
new complication arose today with regard
to the Ealmacedists who sought refuge in the
American and Spanish legations, just after the
fa!l or the dictator's government, and who we're
permitted to go on board the United States
cruiser Yorktown a few days ago. Since the
Chilean government has madc no effort to pre-
vent the departure of the refugees and they
had been permitted to travel unmolested from
santiago to Valparaiso it was supposed they
6ou,a get away today in safety. and that there
would be no further embarrassments growing
out OF the protection granted them by the Amer
'can and Spanish legations.
REFUSED A SAFE CONDUCT
At the last momeLt, however, the Chilean
government refused to guarantee the safety Of
the refugees while going from the Yorktown to
the departing steamers. or even to agree that
the steamers upon which they took passage
should not be searched
This decision of the Chilean government sur
priseo the refugees, who had hoped to get away
from the restraint under which they have
rested Tor months, but il was a still greater
surprise to Minister Egan and the officers of
the yorktown. Minister Egan had every reason
70 beIeve the Balmacedists would be unmo-
tested. de had been tacity assured by Senior
Pereira, Chilean minister of foreign affairs that
those to whom he had given an asylum would
be permitted to leave Chile. Acting upon these
assurances they had purchased their passage
tickets and had prepared to sail today.
UNSAFE TO SAIL
The refusal OF the Chilean authorities to
guarantee the safety OF their late foes made it
unsafe for them tc sail. In order to obtain a
promise that their flight would not be pre-
vented they offered TO tako any steamer sail
Ing either north or south from Valparaiso. but
the oher was not accepted. without the guar
artee of safety they were liable to arrest by
the Chilean authorities or assault by Chilean
moo Under these circumstances they did not
hesitate to remain on board the Yorktown.
capt Evans, who commands the cruiser. has
cabled the Navy Department at Washington
for instructions. 1t is believed that instructions
Will be forwarded directing that the refugees
be taken to Mallendo, Peru on board the York
town Whether the cruiser will be ordered to
san before some other war ship OF the United
States arrives here seems doubtful.
WANT THEM PUNISHED.
1t Is not difficult to understand the cause of
the sudden change Of front on the part of the
Chilean authorities. The cabinet has no doubt
been swayed by the opinions of various lead
ers OF the conservative and radical parties who
desire to punish some of the refugees, especially
the Mckennas, who are especially distasteful to
these politicians. They deprecated the action
OF the cabinet in silently permitting the Balma-
cedists to leave Santiago.
While it is not publicly acknowledged, the fact
Is well known that the action of the cabinet in
permitting the refugees to leave Santiago and
go aboard the Yorktown. combined with the
unconcealed desire of the conservatives and
radicals to gain control of most of the Offices
came near preclpitating a crisis in the cabinet
There Is no doubt that the request to guarantee
the safety OF the refugees was refused to avert
trouble in the cabinet.
FIRE IN THE SPANISH LEGATION
Fire broke out this morning in the Spanish
legation, on Monedo and Estado streets, in
Santiago. The building was burned. but the
archives were saved. The fire spread rapidly
and is still burning. The loss will be fully
S250.0O
Minister of Finance vergara proposes to Law
duties upon nitrates and iodine, payable in
nlnety-day bills at the rate of 81 and % pence,
respectively, per metric quintal. thus placing
the government in the position Of sellers of ex-
change instead of buyers. The plan is opposed
by brokers and others. chiefly English, because
they think it would operate against their specu-
Iative profits