The morning call., 1894-01-06
IN A DELICATE POSITION.
The Trouble i'm Brazil Will
Soon be Over.
AMERICAN INTERESTS INVOLVED
Serious Complications Likely to
Arise When the Rebellion
Comes to an End.

Ohhs HO 14AOuhO .
Washington special says: An important
conference on the Brazilian situation was
held this afternoon at the Navy Depart
ment between Secretaries Gresham and
Herbert and AItorne y General Olney.
Commodore Ramsay, Chief of the Bureau
of Navigation, was also present as an ex-
pert in naval matters.
The conference was the result Of the
receipt of number of kilograms from
Captain Picking showing that crisis at
Rio was Imminent and asking for instruc-
tiOns. The conference lasted over an hour
At its conclusion report was made TO
President Cleveland. and soon thereafter
the President wrote long and carefully
prepared series of directions for Captain
Picking, which were Immediately for
warded in cipher to Rio.
Within the last few days Captain Pick
ing has sent to Secretary Herbert no less
than eight long messages. In most of
them he has requested to be informed what
course he should follow in the event of
certain contingencies which he antici-
pated.
1t is learned that his message to-day
was of much greater Importance than
bhOoO bOlCb'1OlC ACSClfCO az NV wynn
ment, and that this is the case is shown by
the conference at the Navy Department
som after the message was deciphered by
experts in the Bureau of Navigation.
While it is impossible to learn all that
Picking said in to-day's and other recent
messages enough is known to show clearly
that he is convinced that an end to the in
surrection In Brazil is near at hand, and
that It's conclusion may seriously involve
American interests.
In speaking of Captain Picking's tele-
grams Secretary Herbert said this after
noon that he was not at liberty to make
their purport public at present. The inn
preston was conveyed that the kilograms
were of great importance and that a
prompt reply TO them had been necessary.
Although the tenor OF Captain Picking
last telegram and the reply of the Presi-
dent are not made public it is learned on
good authority that in other advices Cap
tain Picking informed the Secretary that
contrary to the reports hostilities between
PeiXoto's shore batteries and the ships and
forts under command of Admiral da Cana
continue daily.
The work of strengthening the shore
Notification still goes on. These prepara-
tons for the defense of Rio, while in vio-
lation of the original compact between
Peixoto and Mello enforced by the foreign
naval commanders. are regarded by Peix-
otto as warraDtabie in view of the fact
that the firing on the wharves and Custom
house landings by Da Cana is virtual
abandonment of that agreement.
On the other hand Da Cana asserts that
the firing from the sEils and forts was not
begun until the work of strengthening
the shore defenses was begun. a few
DAYS ago PeixotO gave assurances to Cap
tain Picking that the merchant vessels
might return to their anchorage near the
Custom-house and that while there they
would be free from any damage from the
fire of shore batteries.
In making an effort to return the vessels
to the Custom-house anchorage, Captain
Picking encountered much opposition
from Da Cana, who protested against the
return of the ships to that part of the
harbor.
Da Cana appeared to recognize the fact
that in its present position foreign ship
ping is out Of the danger zone and that he
can now direct his fire toward the Custom
house and it's approaches without run
ming the risk of encountering foreign in
PREVENTION in the interest of trading YES
sells.
Practically Da Cana is master of the
situation. 1t is true that he is not recog-
nized as a bellgerent. but so long as he is
not pirate but an insurgent there is 10
warrant in international law for forcible
Intervention to govern the direction of the
fire of his guns so long as it IS not against
foreign naval or merchant ships.