The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-02-06
The Presidents Message to Con-
greSS on the Chilean Situation,
He Says the Chilean Government
Must Apologize and Make Repa-
ration for the Assault Upon
the Baltimores Sailors.
The Malta Circular Note Must be With
drawn and the Language Disa-
vowed, or Diplomatic Relations
with Chile viii Cease.
MIR Egan's Recall will Not BIO Considered
Until These Matters are Disposed Of
The President Gives Hls Reasons
FOR Making These Demands and
Advises that They be Com
Hrmed and Enforced bv
Congrsss.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26.-The follow
ing is President Harrisons message on
the Chilean situation sent to congress
yesterday:
10 the senate and house Of representatives;
In my annual message, delivered to congress
at the beginning Of the present session, after u
brief statement of the facts then in the posses
sion of this government touching the assault in
the streets OF Valparaiso, Chile, upon the sail
ors of the United States steamship Baltimore
on tho evening of the 10Th of October last / said:
This government Is now awaiting the result OF
an investigation which has been conducted ny
the criminal court OF Valparaiso 1t Is reported
unoffcially that the investigation Is about com
pleted and IL is expected that the result will
soon be communicated to this government, to-
gether with some adequate and satisfactory re-
sponse TO the note by which the attention OF
Chile was called to this incident II these just
needless delay intervene, will by special mes
sage 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 l
should lay before the congress and the country
the correspondence between this government
and the government OF Chile, from the time of
the breaking ont Of the revolution against Bal
moceda, together with all other facts in the pos.
session of the executive department relating to
this matter. The diplomatic correspondence is
herewith transmitted, together with some cor
dependence between the naval offlcers fo7 the
time in command in Chilean waters and the sec
retary OF the navy and, also the evidence taken
at the Mare Island navy yard since the arrival
Of the Baltimore at san Francisco do not
tempt any full analysis of the correspondence
or of the evidence A brief restatement Of the
international questions involved and OF the rea-
sons why the responses of the Chilean govern
ment are unsatisfactory is all that deem neccs-
sary
ever may have been said in this country or in
Chile in criticism of Mr.. Egan, our minister at
Santiago. the true history of this exciting period
in Chilean affairs from the outbreak Of the rev.
oution until this time, discloses no act on the
part OF Mr. Egan unworthy OF his position or
that could justly be the occasion OF serious an
imadversion or criticism. He has, think, on
the whole borne himself in very trying circum-
stances with dignity, discretion and courage,
and has conducted the correspondence with
ability, courtesy and fairness.
1t is worth while also ut the beginning to say
that the right OF Mr.. Egan to give shelter in the
legation TO certain adherents of the Balmaceda
government who applied TO him for asylum has
not been denied by the Chilean authorities, nor
has any demand been made for the surrender of
these refugees. That there was urgent need of
asylum is shown by Mr. Egan's note of August
-, 1891, describing the disorders that prevailed
in Santiago. and by the evidence of Capt Schley
as to the pillagc and violence that prevailed at
Valparaiso The correspondence discloses, how
ever, that the request Of Mr.. Egan for a safe
conduct from the country, in behalf OF these
refugees was denied. The prccedents cited by
him in the correspondence, particularly the case
of the revolution in Peru in 1865, did not leave
the Chilean government in n position to deny
the right OF asylum to political refugees and
seemed very clearly to support Mr.. Egan5 CON
tention that safe conduct to neutral territory
was Il necessary and acknowledged incident of
the asylum. These refugees have very recently,
without formal safe conduct, but by the acquies-
cenCe of the Chilean authorities, been placed on
board the Yorktown and are now being con
considered wholly closed but for the disrespect
manifested toward this government by the close
and offensive police surveillance of the legation
promises, which was maintained during most of
the period of the stay of the refugees therein.
After the date Of my annual message and up to
the time of the transfer of the refugees to the
Yorktown, the legation premises seem to have
been surrounded by police, in uniform and police
agents or detectives, in citizens dress,
who extensively scrutnzed persons enter
ing or leaving the legation and, on one or more
occasions. arrested members OF the minister's
family. Commander Evans who by my direc-
tion recently visited Mr., Egan at Santiago in
his telegram to the navy department, described
the legation as "a veritable prison." and states
that the police agents or detectives were, after
hs arrival, withdrawn during his stay. 1t ap.
pears further from the note OF Mr.. Egan of Nov.
20 1891, that on one occasion at least these police
agents whom he declares to be known to him,
invaded the legation premises, pounding upon
the windows and using insulting and threaten
lister to freedom from police espionage
and restraint seems to have been so
fagrant that the Argentine minister, who was
dean of the diplomatic corps, having observed it,
Selt called upon to protest against II TO the
Chilean minister of foreign affairs. The Chilean
authoritles have, as will be observed from the
correspondence, charged the refugees and the in
mates of the legation with insulting the police;
nut it seems to be incredible that men whose
lives were in jeopardy, and whose safety could
only be secured by retirement and quietness
should have sought to provoke collision which
could only end in their destruction, or to aggra-
yate their condition by intensifying q popular
feeling that, at one time, threatened the lcga-
fion as to require Mr.. Egan TO appeal to the
minister OF foreign affairs.
But the most serious incident disclosed by the
correspondence is that of the attack upon the
sailors of the Baltimore in the streets of Val
paraiso ON ths 10th OF October last In my an
nual message, speaking upon the information
nS
yet been able to learn no other explanation of
this bloody work has been suggested than that
ii had its origin in hostility TO these men as
sailors of the United States, wearing the uni
form OF their government and not in any indi-
vidual act or personal annosity."
We have now received from the Chilean gov.
ernment an abstract of the conclusions of the
fiscal general upon the testimony taken by the
judge OF crimes in an investigation which was
made TO extend over nearly three months.
very much regret 10 be compelled TO say that
this report does not enable me to modify the
conclusion announced in my annual message.
am still of the opinion that our sailors were as
saulted, beaten stabbed and killed, for what
the government of the United States had done
or was charged with having done, by its civil
oificers and naval commanders. If that be the
true aspect OF the case the injury was TO the
government of the United States not to those
poor sailors who were assaulted in manner so
brutal and 80 cowardly.
Before attempting to give an outline OF the
facts upon which this conclusion rests. think
ii right to say word or two upon the legal as
pect OF the case. The Baltimore was in the har-
1ation which nations are held 10 extend to the
war vessels of other powers with which they
have friendly relations This invitation, /
think, must be held ordinarily TO embrace the
privilege OF such communication with the shore
as is reasonable, necessary and proper for
the comfort and convenience OF the officers
and men Of such vessel Captain Schcy
testites that when his vessel returned
10 Valparaiso on September "A the city
officers, as is customary, extended the
nospitalities OF the city to his officers and crew,
1t isnot claimed that every personal collision
or injury In which sailor or oflcer of such
naval vessel visiting the shore may be involved
raises an International question; but am clear
ly of the opinion that where such sailors or o1i-
GERS are assaulted by q resident populace and
animated by hostility TO the government whose
uniform these sailors and officers wear and in
resentment OF acts done by their government
not by them, this nation must take notice OF
the event as one involving an infraction
of its rights and dignity; not in q
secondary way, as where u citizen is In.
lured and presents his claim through his own
government but in primary way, precisely as
II its minister or consul or the nag itself had
been the object of the same character of as.
sault The officers and sailors OF the Baltimore
were In the harbor OF Valparaiso under the or
choice They were upon the shore by the i'm
piled invitation OF the government OF Chile and
with the approval OF their commanding
officer; and 10 does not distinguish their
permanent that he holds the express invitation
of the local government to justify his long resi-.
dence. Nor does IL affect the question that the
injury was the act of mob. II there had been
no participation by the police or military in this
cruel work and no neglect on their part TO ex-
tend protection, the case would still be one, in
my opinion, when its extent and character are
considered, involving international rights. The
incidents OF the atfair are briefly as follows;
On the 10th of October last, Capt, Schley,
commanding the United States steamer Balti'