Los Angeles herald., 1892-01-26
The Egan Correspondence.

ton.
The Egan Correspondence.
The Egan correspondence beg ins
August 15, 1890, with the statement of
the changes in the Balmaceda ministry,
which constituted a precursor to the
revolution. Many chapters of this cor
respondence are now ancient history
and therefore of little interest at the
present juncture. The one fact that is
established is that Minister Egan had
an abiding faith up to the last moment
in the ultimate triumph OF Balmaceda
over his enemies, and the downfall OF
the insurgent cause.
March 8. 1891, MIR. Egan transmitted
to Secretary Blaine request by the
Chilean government that the United
from Valparaiso to Montevideo a sum of
about "a, ,O0O, 900 bar silver which was re-
uuired for the payment of the interest
on the national debt abroad; that the
Chilean government feared its capture
by the revolted feet, if the sum was
sent in the regular course of business.
March 18th, in dispatch describing
the sanguinary battles in the neighbor-
hood of Iquique, the minister says that
the revolution had the undivided SYM
pathy and the active support of the
English residents in Chile; that the
English superintendents of the nitrate
works urged their men to join the revo-
lutionists, and Colonel North contributed
the sum OF 100000 IN its support.
April 14th the minister tells of an
effort of the Chilean government to col
1trt M fQ frnr in or 90 n
posts; the protests made by the Ger
man and British ministers and the as
surances that he has received that
American vessels will not be subjected
to any inconvenience.
April 2Ist he telegraphs that the
Chilean government urgently requests
that the proposition of the Chilean min
lister for the purchase of man of-war
from the United States be favorably
considered.
Mr.. Egan began his efforts as peace
maker April Oath, when lie telegraphed
for permission to act with the Bra
lillian minister and French charge
d'affaires in an effort to restore peace,
the indications being that mediation
would be accepted by both parties.
The next day he received Mr.. Blaine's
permission to act as mediator.
May Oath Mr.. Egan informs Mr..
Blaine that the good offices of the United
States, Brazil and France have been
most cordially accepted by the govern
ment OF Chile and the revolutionists
those OF England and Germany having
been declined.
THE ITATA INCIDENT
first appears in the correspondence in
connection with the declaration cent by
McCreery, American consul at Vslpa-
raiso, to the state departement here
(Mr. Wharton being then the acting
secretary in Mr. Blaine's absence) that
the South American Steamship Co. insist
that the Itata is their property and has
been taken from them by force by the
insurgents. The same day Mr.. Egan
notifies the state department, at the re-
quest of the Chilean government, of the
presence of the Itata in California
waters.
May 14th, Mr.. Wharton, alarmed by
the threats current in Washington that
Balmaceda threatens to shoot the en-
VOWS who appear before the mediators,
insists that under the circumstances
they should have the treatment of a
flag of truce. Two days later, in an
swering, Mr.. Egan disclaimed any such
intention on the part OF Balmaceda.
Then follows long history of the
attempt OF the mediators to secure
peace in Chile, winding up with an ac-
count Of the breaking off of the negoti-
ations as the result of the attempt to
assassinate Seflor Godoy, one of Balma-
ceda's ministers.
MAY 18th Mr.. Wharton enclosee to
Mr.. Egan for his information copy of
letter from Mr.. Davis of Lima, Peru,
quoting the rumor that Mr.. Egan had
advised Balmaceda to grant letters of
marque to privateers as war measure.
On the 1st of June Mr.. Wharton in
structs Mr.. Egan that prompted solely
by desire to restore peace, and entirely
disinterested, the president desires him
to informally and discreetly ascertain
whether the good Offices of this govern
ment can in any way be used for the
termination of the conflict in Chile. On
the same day, by telegraph, Mr.. Whar-
ton informs Mr.. Egan that the expecta-
tion was entertained of the return to the
custody of the United States courts, ol
the arms on the Itata and the ship her
self. In answer to the presidents sug-
gestion that he renew his
EFFORTS OF MEDIATION,
Mr.. Egan telegraphs June 9th, that
while the revolutionists were not in
-cIined to make any reasonable peace
propositions, the Chilean government is
we'll disposed to entertain any thai
might be made
Rear Admiral McCann figured in the
negotiations at this stage, and he, then
at Iquique, approached the revolt.
tionary leaders at Mr.. Egan's instance,