Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1892-01-28


factory response TO the nutn by which the at.
tention Of Chill was called 10 this Incident II
these iust expectations should be disappointed
or further needless delay intervene viii by a
speciaisfnessage 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 I
should lay before the congress and the country
the correspondence between this government
and the government OF Chill, from the time uf
the breaking ont OF the revolution against Bal
maceda, together with all other facts in the pos
session Of the executive department
relating to this matter. The diplp-
matte correspondence is herewith trans.
mitted, together with some correspondence be
tween the naval officers for the time in com
mand In Chilian waters and the secretary Of the
navy, and also the evidence taken at the Mare
Island navy yard since the arrival OF the Balti.
mOre nt San Francisco do not deem IL neceH-
knry in this communication to attempt any full
analysis OF the correspondence or of the eri'
dence brief re-etat. ment pt the ihtefhation-
oil questions involved and the feasons why the
response OF the Chilan government is unsatis
factory n all deem necessary.
II may be we'll AZ the outset to say that what
ever mas have been said in this country or in
chit m criticism Of Mr.. Egan, our minister at
Santiago, the true history Of this excited period
in Chilinn affairs from the outbreak Il the rev
olution until this time, discloses no act un the
part OF Mr.. Egan unworthy OF his nosltioh or
that could Justly be the oocaHioh OF serious ami
madversOn or criticism. He has, l think, on
the whole borne himself, in very trying circum-
stances, with dignity, discretion and cchrage,
und has conducted the correspondence with
ability, courtesy and fairness
II Is worth while also at the beginning 20 say
that the right oi Mr. Egan TO give shelter in the
legation 10 certain adherents TO the Balmlcedan
not been denied by the ChiiGn authorities nor
has any demand been made for the sur
render OF those refugees. That there was
urgent hred OF asylum Is shown by
Mr.. Egan's note of August "a, 1891, describ-
ias the disorders that prevailed in Santiago,
and the evidence OF Capt Schley as 10 the pill
lage and violence that prevailed a. Valparaiso.
The correspondence diEooscs, however, that
the request of Mr.. Iigan for a safe conduct from
the country, IN behalf OF these refugees, was de
nicd. The preocdcnts cited by him IN the cor
rospondence, particularly in the case OF the
revolution in Peru IN 1864, did not leave the Chill
ian government IN position 10 deny the right OF
asylum to political refugees and seemed very
clearly to support Mr. Egans contention that
safe conduct to neutral territory was a neces-
sary and acknowledged incident OF the asylum,
These refugees have very recently, without
formal safe conduct but by the acquiesccnce
OF the Gillian authorities been placed on board
The Yorktown, and are now being conveyed to
Callao. Peru
This incident nigh, be considered wholly
closed but for the disfVspect manifested toward
this government by she close and offensive po-
lice Surveillance Of the leyation premises, which
was maintained during most Of the period of The
stay OF the refugees therein After the date oi
my annual message, and up to the time
q the transfer OF the refugees iO
the Yorktown. the legation premises seem
10 have been surrounded by police
In Uniform and police agents or detectives In
s3iiysas' dress. who extensively scrutinszed per
sons entering or leaving the legation and on one
or two occasions arrested members Of the min
istcre family. Commander Evans, who, By
my direction. recently visited Mr. Egan al
Santiago, in his telegram 70 the navy
department described the legation as "a
veritable prison and states that the
police agents or detectives were, after his ar
rival. Withdrawn during his stay. Il appears
further, from the note Of Mr. Egan Of November
N 1921, that, on one occasion at least. these DO
lice agents, whom he declares 10 be known "a
him. invaded the legation premises pounding
on IT'S windows and using insulting and threat
oning language towards persons therein This
breach Of the right Of minister TO free-
oom from police espionagc AMI restraint
seems 10 have been 50 nagrani that the Argen
tine minister, who was dean OF the diplomatic
corps. having observed H. felt called upon "a
protest against II TO the Gillian minister Of
foreign affairs. The Gillian authorities have
a. win be observed from the correspondence
charged the refugees and the inmates
" the legation with insulting thg
police; but il seems 70 me incredible that
men whose lives were in jeopirdf and whose
safety could only be secured By retirement and
quietness should have sought % provoke a col
lision which could only en1 in their destruc iion
or 10 arrravafe their condition by intonsfyins
a.
the legation a. 70 require Mr. Egan 10 appeal &
the minister Of foreign affairs.
but ne most serious incident disclosed BY ths
correep pondence .a that Of the attack upon ths
sailors of the Baltimore IN the streets Of Val
paraiso on the 18th u October last In my an
nuai message. speaking upon the Information
thcu IN my possession. ] said
so far A. ] have yet been able to learn. a,
other explanation q this bloody work has heeI
suggested than that it had lia origin IN hostility
20 these men az sailors ci thc ruitcd states
wearing TIE uniioFm o. their government ans
not In any Individual act OF personal animos
it,
we have nov received from ne chiiian GOV
ernmcnt Cd abstract of he conclusions % u
nroal runcrai upon TIE testimony taken By ID
icafr q crlmes IN 90 lnvcstlgaton Witch va
u1ad1 20 extend over nearly fhree months
very much regret 70 Be compelled % say thu
this report doee not enable ne 70 modify u
concluslon announced IN my annual message
Ian sti1l q the OPINION that our sailors wer
assaulted. beaten stabbed and killed. mol for any
thfnr they or any one o. them had done
but FOR What the Foverument Of the Cuiiel
Sfares hld done o. vas CHARGED with hIvin
dune. hv it, ciVil ofHccrs and naval commanders
II that BE- the true aspect of The case. the INCUR
was % fhe government of TIE United States
not these poor sailafs rhc ~ere assaulted IN
manner 20 brutal and 30 cowariiy.
Before attempting 70 give an outline ~ ID
facts upon vhilh this conclnsion rests. I thinl
O. rirhf e. say word OF two upon the legal e.
pet 81 The casc
rais4 hr rirfue Of that Fs.neral invitation uhic
rrfiars ere held 90 rrif1l 70 the r1r vessel
rf Other powers With which ihey have frlend
relations. This insiiafiou. ] think. mnsf b
tala ordinarily 10 em1raee ne privilege q suel