The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-01-24
WHY IT WAS ISSUED.
Chilians Had the Effrontery to Demand the
Recall of Minister Egan.

Chilians Had the Effrontery to Demand the
Recall of Minister Egan.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 23.-Although no di-
rect official statement can be obtained here,
it is nevertheless learned tonight that the
Associated Press dispatch from Santiago
de Chilli reporting the nature of q commu-
nication just sent by this government to
that Of Chill is in the main correct, though
couched in much less diplomatic terms
than the original, and going beyond it in
one particular of Importance. The imme-
diate impellinR cause of the sending of
this communication seems to have been
the receipt by the Secretary of State.
through Minister Montt. of polite an
nouncement On the part Of the Chilian gov
ernment that Minister Egan 10 not persona
grata, but on the contrary, persona ipgrata
in the estimation of the Chilian govern
ment, coupled with q suggestion that q
speedy adjustment of the existing diff
culties and the promotion of good rela-
tions between the two countries would
be facilitated by his withdrawal 1t
was not considered proper or desirable
TO comply with this suggestion. which was
entirely unexpected, in feet. created great
surprise. It was. thereupon, determined
that the controversy should be brought to
decisive point by inviting Chill to choose
between two alternatives. namely, to
promptly withdraw the offensive Malta cir
cular and also to make 'reparatlon to tie
victims .or the families of the victimsl
of the Valparaiso mob, or In
case of her refusal to acquiesce
in these demands, to understand that dip
lomatic relations between the United
States and Chilli must entirely and indefi-
nitely cease. No demand that she make
an apology for those attacks" was in
oluded in the communication thus sent, for
the reason. it Is understood, that Chill has
already made to this government earnest
disclaimers of sympathy with or completely
in the deplorsble occurrences of last Oc-
tober and has expressed deep regret for
them.
There is good reason to believe that all
that is contemplated by this government
in the event of possible refusal by Chilli
to comply with these demands is simply
the severance of diplomatic relations, and
that supposed danger of war is by no means
increased by the step now taken. On the
SOnhdl1s ~ ID OCAiONCQ tnob nO mOAC
serious results would follow the cessa-
tion of diplomatic intercourse with
Chif than have followed similar
Interruptions of such relations with
other countries in the past. 1t would mere
ly be an emphasized expression of cenvic-
tion on the part of the United States that
Chilli has acted badly. and that. until she
makes suitable reparatioD. this country de-
sires no further intercourse or relations of
any kind. In short. 1t would be equivalent
to telling q man whose conduct had been
Objectionable and who had persistently
failed to make amends for 1T. that his ac-
quaintance is no LONGER desired.
1t Is understood that this government
was not only surprised but also disap-
pointed by the receipt of the suggestion
for Minister Egan's recall. in view of the
fact that u settlement of the long-pending
diplomatic controversy upon existing lines
seemed to be progressing favorably, and
there was no apparent reason why objec-
ton TO Mr.. Egan should be made at this
late day.
There Is good reason to believe also that
Minister Montt, though he declines to talk
upon the subject Is greatly disappointed
by this unexpected turn of affairs which
threatens TO end his earnest efforts to bring
about an amicable adjustment by the
usual diplomatic methods.
The sending of this message TO Chilli it il
thought. will have the effect of bringing
matters to a crisis. and when the Presi.
dents message goes to Congress Monday
he may be able to accompany it with a
statement of something more definite re-
specting the condition Of the status of the
relations between the two countries than