Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-01-01
A Possible Way of Slipping Out Of
an Extremely Small
Hole.
Minister MOntt TelegraphS His Gov
ernment That Uncle Sam
Means Business.

witted it's big sister by clever
thought.
Chile, feeling that she is in the right,
the lannon's mouth. Such is the sit
uation upon the diplomatic chess board.
1t is Chile's turn to move. There is
just one square to which she can go to
save her King. And that square is
marked ''arbitration Chile may oc-
cupy this square and checkmate war
inclined Uncle Sam. A demand on the
part of Chile for arbitration instead of
an offer of apology and reparation
would materially change the aspect of
affairs.
Chile has not yet asked for arbitra-
ton, but it is known here that it Is
likely to do SO. If arbitration of the
differences of the two countries is
asked for, the Chilean advisers argue
Shrewdly that the United States Con-
gress will never allow war to be de-
clared because Chile has refused to COM
ply with the demand of President Har-
rison for an apology and indemnity for
the Baltimore affair.
The Chileans who live in this country
and who understand the American peo-
pie and the present situation have been
advising President Montt and prom
inent residents of Chile to block Presi-
dent Harrison's war game by respect
fully requesting the United States to
join with them IN laying the whole
matter before some commercially and
politically disintereSted country.
If anything was needed to prove the
reliability of the announcements of the
war preparations as they were made
from time to time it has developed in
the action of Minister Montt, the Chill
can representative here. Mr.. Montt
has all along seriously doubted the in
tention of this government to declare
war in the event of Chile's refusal to
acccde to our demands He has refused
to believe that preparations for war
were being made. Yesterday, however,
he reanzed his mistake, and the result
was that he cabled to President Montt
that the situation here was very seri-
Gus, that this government meant fight,
and that the navy was rapidly being
placed on a war footing.
There is one chance that may prevent
the demand of Chile for arbitration.
The demand of the United States Gov
eminent is now simply for indemnity
and apology.
1t is reported that this demand is to
be increased. and if the crisis comes it
is to be urged upon Congress that the
honor of the country demands that it
shall be granted by Chile. 1t is nothing
more nor less than a demand for the
afe conduct of the four teen political
refugees now being given an asylum at
the American Legation in Santiago by
Minister ,Egan. The Chileans say that
this demand is preposterous. They
hold that these men are criminals, and
that the right of asylum does not ex-
tend to such persons under existing
circumstances
They recognize the right of Minister
Egan to shelter the refugees during the
heat of war and at time of greater ex-
citement. They hold that he should
now deliver them up to be tried by the
courts of the country. They say that
a demand that the American govern
ment shall now be allowed to take
these offenders against their laws out
of their country is absurd and unheard
of. --
Senior Montt, CHILEAN minister, called
at the state department at noon. He had
an interview with Secretary Blaine for
half an hour. 1t was impossible to get
more than hint of what passed be-
tween the secretary and the minister dur
ing the interview, but that is probably
sufficient to warrant the supposition that
matters are not proceeding in a manner
satisfactory to the government of the
United States notwithstanding the fact that
Secretary Blaine is now dealing almost
entirely with the Gillian minister instead
of with his government through
the intervention of Minister Egan, 1t does
not appear that the result has been saw
ing OF time and there is reason to sus-
pect that the secretary is chatting at the
delay he encounters in securing final re
spouse to the representations made by
this government concerning the attack
upon the Baltimore men.
During the afternoon representatives
Lodge and BautelIe called at the navy
department. They are both republican
members of the house committee on naval
affairs, the chairman of which, Represen-
tative Herbert, is absent from the city.
Unless the house of representatives recurs
to the old Randall rules the naval commit
tee will retain in its clause all matters
relating to appropriations for
naval service, while in the senate the con-
current action Of the committee On appro.
priations and the committee on naval al
fairs is usually necessary to secure pro
vision for any naval expenditures. Secre
tary Tracy has been in communication
with the members of each of those com
mittees during the day, but with what
purpose is not definitely known. An oftlcer
of the department, speaking of the consul
tation, said: at means just this, that we
are abiding by George Washington 8
maxim, In time of peace prepare TOR war
We d. not believe there will DC war, but
if the administration failed to exercise all
of its power in the matter of preparation
it would be open to severe criticism II
hostilities actually ensue.
News reached the navy department this
afternoon that the cruiser San Francisco
had arrived at San Diego, California, and
was at anchor in the harbor. 1t was
rumored t. at she would await the Charles
ton at that place and transfer to the latter
raecol oorta,r Munitions of war which she