Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1892-02-03


yesterday: f
To the senate and house of representatives:
In my annual message. delivered 10 congress
At the beginning OF the present session, after a
brief statement OF the facts then in the posses
sion OF this government touching the assault Ia
the streets OF Valparaiso. Chile. upon the sail
the evening OF the 10th OF October last L said:
This government Is now awaiting the result o.
An investigation which has been conducted nv
the criminal court OF Valparaiso. II IS reported
unonieialiy that the Investigation Is about com
pleted and II is expected that the result win
soon be communicated TO this government to-
gether with some adequate and satisfactory re-
Spouse 10 The note by which the attention OF
expectations should be disappointed or further
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
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
maceda. together with all other facts in the pos
session OF the executive department relating TO
this matter. The diplomatic correspondence Is
dependence between the naval Officers for the
time in command in Chilean waters and the sec.
at the Mare Island navy yard since the arrival
OF the baltimore at San Francisco. do not
deem IL necessary in this communication 20 at
tempt any full analysis OF the correspondence
or OF the evidence. A brief restatement Of tho
international questions involved and of the rea-
sons why the responses OF the Chilean govern
ment are unsatisfactory is all that deem neces-
sary.
ever may have been said In this country or in
Chile in criticism OF Mr. Egan, our minister nj
Santiago, the true history OF this exciting period
in Chilean AFFAIRS. from the outbreak OF ihe rey
-olutton until this time. discloses no act on the
part OF Mr.. Egan unworthy OF his position or
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
~ Is worth while also at the beginning 20 say
legation 10 certain adherents OF the Balmaceda
government who applied 20 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.. Egans note OF August
"a, 1891, describing the disorders that prevailed
In Santiago, and by the evidence of Capt Schiey
as 10 the pillage and violence that prevailed nj
Valparoiso The correspondence discloses how
ever. that the request OF Mr. Egan for u safe
conduct from the country, In behalf OF these
refugees was denied The precedents ci.ed by
him in the correspondence, particularly the case
of the revolution in Peru In 1865, did not leave
the Chilean government In position TO deny
the right OF asylum 10 political refugees and
seemed very clearly 20 support Mr.. Egan's CON
tention that safe conduct 10 neutral territory
was 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
veyed TO Callao: Peru This incident might be
considered wholly closed but for the disrespect
manifested toward this government by the close
and offensive police surveillance OF the legation
premises, 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
inc time OF the transfer Of the refugees To the
yorktown, the legation premises seem 20 have
been surrounded by police in uniform and police
agents or detectives, in citizens dress,
Ing OF leaving the legation and on ono or more
occasions. arrested members OF the minister's
FAMILY. Commander Evans who by my direc-
tion recently visited Mr. Egan at Santiago in
ms tele2ram TO the navy department, described
the legation as "a veritable prison" and states
that the police agents or detectives WERE after
MS arrival. Withdrawn during his stay 1t ap-
pears further, from the note OF Mr.. Egan of Nov
~ 1891, thnt on one occasion at least these police
agents whom he declares to be known 20 him
invaded the legation premises, pounding upon
the windows and using insulting and threaten
ing language towards persons therein.
I rnls preach OF the right of a min
and, snd ,e 20 freedom from police espionage
nagrant that the Argentine minister who was
dean OF the diplomatic corps, having observed IL,
chilean minister Of foreign affairs. The Chilean
euthorites have, as will be observed from the
correspondence, charged the refugees and the in
mates OF the legation with insulting the police:
nut IL seems 10 be Incredible that men whose
lives were In jeopardy, and whose safety could
only be ecured by retirement and quietness
should have sought TO provoke a collision which
could only end IN their destruction. or 20 aggra-
feeling that, at one time so threatened tie lega.
tion as TO require Mr.. Egan 70 appeal 20 the
minister OF foreign affairs.
But the most serious incident disclosed by the
correspondence n that OF the attack tron the
sailors OF the Baltimore in the streets Of Val.
paraiso the 10th Of October last In INV an.
nuai message. speaking upon the Information
then In my possession, said; $50 far as have
vet been able TO learn, no other explanation OF
this bloody work has been suggested than that
~ had its origin in hostility TO these men as
sailors OF the United States, wearing the uni
form on their government and not In any ndi-
vidnal act or personal anmosity."
We have now received from the Chilean gov.
ernment an abstract OF tho conclusions OF me
nssal general upon the testimony taken by the
Judge " crimes In an investigation which was
made 70 extend over nearly three months
very much regret 10 be compelled 20 say that
tnls report does not enable me 10 modify the
am sttll OF the opinion that our sailors were as.
ssulted, beaten, stabbed aud killed. for what
the governments OF the United States had done
OF was charged with having done. by its civil
9.neers and naval commander II that be the
government Of the United s,ates' not % pho on
poor sailors who were assaulted in q manner ~
before attempting 10 rive an outline n, IN.
facts upon which this conclusion rests think
~ right % say word Or two upon the legal a.
pect 81 the case. The BaltimOre vas IA the ma
DOT OF Valparaiso by virtue OF that general invj.
tatlon which nations are held 10 extend 20 the
nave friendIy MIn wnion they
mink. must be held ordinarily 70 embrace the
privilege Of such communication with tas shore
the comfort and convenience ~ X ocs lgI
snd men of such vessel Captain Schley
70 Valparaiso on September ~ the city
ofhcers, AZ IL customary, extended me
inequalities Of the city 70 his ofncers and crew
~ y mos claimed that every personal collision
1t injury IN which q sailor OF ofncer % such
naval vessel waiting the shore may be- involved
Feises an international question. but am clenr.
~ ot tno opinion that where such sailors or ON.
eefa are assaulted BY resident p0puiace and
animsted b. hostility 10 the government whose
UNIFORM these sailors and ohiccrs wear and Ia
resentment OF acts done By their government
no. by them, this nation must take notice n
" svent a. ono involving an infraoton
oi l.s rights and dignity; not In q
scoouuarF way, ~ where n citizen H. in.
lured and presents his claim through hts own
3'.efniuent, but In primary way. precisely AZ
" ~ minister or consul OF the Rag Itself had
Drcn tnf object 81 the same character 81 n.
saWt Ihe officers and sailors Of the Bsltirnorr
&C ~ the narDor Of Valparaiso under the o..
1ers OF their government, not BY their own
Innyi.e Ihey were upon the shore BY the i'm
PI.o nNitation OF the government of Chile and
aith the approval Of their commanding
encef, ana IL docs not distinguish their
800 from . consul that has stay fs more
pt.naneut That he holds the express invitation
~ tne local government 20 Justify his long rest
t C'lncc Nor does II adect the question that tho
injury vas the act Of n mob N there haa beee
10 participation By the police OF military IN thia
,toSi Work and no neglect on their part 10 81.
, ssnu protection the case would stiil be- one IN
wv opinion, whom its extent and character are
sSa,-linefed, involving International rRhts The
"Sioent9 Of the analr are briefly ~ follows.
VI the 10Th % October last, Capt. Schicv
,illnending the United States steamer falt.
snto e gave shore leave 70 one hundred and sew