Mexico weekly ledger., 1892-01-28

called at the legation, were seized py ene
police Dec, 20-22 as they were leaving
the legation, but were released. Against
this course of action by the authorities
the Argentine minister. as dean OF the
diplomatic corps, protested. and he was
promised that only the regular UNI
formed police should be maintained
about the legation. This promise, Mr..
Egan reports. was complied with in part
only.
Nr. Egan asked, in view of Mr.. Mat
ta's telegram. ii he might attend the IN
auguration of President Montt Dec. 20
To this no reply was sent. and on the
27th he reported that in the absence OF
instructions he did not attend.
The transfer in safety of the last five
refugees in the legation to the York
town was reported By Mr.. Egan ON Jan
i3. They were accompanied by two
refugees from the Spanish legation, the
Spanish minister and the Chilean min
ister.
Malta Hoderates His Tone.
Jan. 16 Mr.. Egan transmitted a rela-
ton of the interview which the minister
of foreign affairs accorded ON that day,
and said that he was told that in view OF
Mr.. Blaine's position, and on the ground
taken by the former secretaries OF state,
Buchanan and Webster, no foreign
power, through its representatives, could
make a message of the president OF the
United States the basis of diplomatic
representations or controversy; that his
government would not have any obJec-
ton to withdrawing all that might be
considered disagreeahle to that OF the
United States in the Malta telegram.
81 lal hot tn SaA an
opinion that an expression of regret for
such parts of that document as We're con-
sidered offensive to the president and
other officers of the United States would
Do expected to supplement the with
drawal, and that he received from the
ministers positive assurance that the
Chilean Minister to the United States
had been instructed to express regret for
all that might create unpieasantnes's be-
| tween the two governments IN the case.
| Pedro Months first appearance was on
| Aug. %, when through Julio Foster he
wrote to notify Secretary Blaine of the
surrender of Valparaiso by BalInaceda.
Dec. II he transmitted q long letter con-
cerning the Baltimore affair, in which
| he said that the report in official docu-
| ments published in Washington were
| inaccurate; that Chile would make a
| complete statement of the facts as soon
| as the investigation was complete. To this
letter Mr.. Montt wrote of the lamenta-
| BILE events at Valparaiso, which my
government deeply deplores, and further
| events like those which took place in
Valparaiso on Oct 16 are not rare in
| ports visited by sailors of diverse nation
alties, and there are no grounds whateve
| for attributing to the affair of Val
paraiso any motive offensive to the
| United States. If the result of the Ju-
| dicial investigation shall show the cul-
| pability OF the Chilean citizens, the gov
| ernment of the United States may rest
assured that they will be punished con
| formally to the laws"
| Other documents furnished the state
department by NJ. Montt include the
reports of the Santiago police officials,
upon which Mr. Malta based his notes
| to Mr.. Egan, that the disturbances about
the United States legation in that city
were due to the occupants and employees
of the legation.
Mr.. Montt presented no dispatches
from his government about withdraw
ing the Malta telegram of Jan. is that
came through the United States Legation
at Santiago.
Jan. Secretary Blaine sent a tele
| X
the Baltimore case and expressing th'
opinion that the attack on the American
sailors had its origin and motive in {
feeling of hostility to this government
that the Chilean authorities failed il
their duty of protection and that thi
government was consequently com
pelled to ask for suitable apology anC
adequate reparation. Mr.. Egan is in
structed to bring these matters to tn
attention of the Chilean government ant
to express President Harrison's regre
that from the beginning the gravity o
the questions involved has apparentl,
not been appreciated by that govern
ment.
Coming to the Malta note Mr.. Blain
says the expressions therein imputin!
untruth and iEsincerity to the president o
the United States and secretc~y of tn
navy are in the highest degree offensiv
to this government and demands a.
apology. If an apology is not give
diplomatic relations between the two na
tions will be terminated.
Then follows an intimation from tn
Chilean government that Egan shoul'
be recalled. to VIII ch Mr.. Blaine replie
that the United States can take no sue
action pending an apology and repara
ton asked from Chill. 1t is understoo
today that the Chilean minister of fol
eign affairs asked one or two days grac
to consult President Montt, who is a
the baths in the interior and that Secre
tary Blaine has granted the delay.