Mr. Egan to Mr.
Blaine.
Legation of
the United States,
Santiago, September 29, 1891.
(Received November 13.)
No. 205.]
Sir: As stated in my dispatch No. 195, of 31st of
August, when it became known that the forces of President Balmaceda had been
routed at Placillas, and his Government overthrown, all of the prominent
supporters of his administration, including ministers of state, senators,
deputies, judges, army officers, and others, were obliged, in order to save
their lives from the fury and vengeance of the successful party, to seek
asylum in the legations and other places of safety.
Of about eighty who then sought shelter in this legation nineteen remained
until last week, which number has since been reduced to fifteen.
As soon as the Provisional Government was organized I made overtures,
informally, through Don Eduardo Matte, a very prominent leader of the
Liberal party; and through Don Agustin Edwards, minister of industry and
public works in the present cabinet, both of
[Page 169]
whom had themselves been refugees in this legation
during the last administration, to obtain safe-conducts for all of the
persons to leave the country. After some negotiations I learned that on
account of the political situation and the bitter personal hatred against
many of those in the legation, as also on account of the determined
opposition of one or two members of the Junta de Gobierno, it would not at
present be possible to secure passports, but I was assured that after a very
short time the matter could be arranged in a friendly manner.
In this way matters stood up to the 22d instant, when the intendente or
governor of the province called upon me and in a personal and friendly way
told me that there was some excitement in Government circles in regard to
the refugees in my legation, as it was said they were engaged in some kind
of conspiracy against the present Government, which report he said he did
not believe for a moment; in fact, that he had laughed at it, but that, as a
matter of precaution, I ought to intimate to the persons in the legation not
to permit so many visitors to call upon them. This I assured him I would do,
and I did immediately do so, and from thence onward the refugees took
occasion to request the members of their families and some immediate friends
who had been calling upon them to discontinue their visits.
Next day, however, I found that the legation was surrounded by police agents;
all persons who attempted to come in or go out were arrested and conducted
to the intendencia, or to the police headquarters, at San Pablo, and two of
my men servants, having in their possession cards certifying that they were
servants of the legation, were arrested and detained in prison. I went in
person to the minister of foreign relations and, in the absence of the
minister, complained to the sub-secretary, who promised to bring the matter
to the attention of the minister at the earliest moment possible.
As the arrests continued during the day, I addressed a note to the minister,
of which I inclose copy (marked No. 1), protesting firmly again st the
continuance of this condition of things and expressing the confidence that
the honorable minister would at once make the necessary order for its
discontinuance. This note was delivered at the ministerio early on the
morning of the 24th instant. Notwithstanding this, the same course was
pursued during the day. I then dispatched a telegram giving the Department
information on the situation.
Still believing that this course of action might be the result of excess of
zeal on the part of some minor official, I, on the morning of the 25th
instant, conferred with some close friends of the Junta de Gobierno, who
said they would at once make strong representations to the Government and
have this condition of things discontinued. Still the arrests went on
throughout the day without any discrimination; and the police agents even
went so far as to warn persons outside of the legation that if they entered
they would be arrested on going out. At 5 o’clock in the evening, not having
yet received any reply to my note delivered on the morning before, I
addressed a second note to the minister of foreign relations, as per copy
marked No. 2, giving a list of some twenty persons arrested during the two
days, including one American citizen and two ladies, solely because they had
gone out from the legation, requesting that this course be discontinued, and
stating that I was awaiting instructions from my Government.
On the same evening I sent to you a second telegram.
On the morning of the 26th instant I addressed a third note to the minister,
conveying, without comment, a complaint in writing from Mr. W. E. Raycraft,
a United States citizen, that he had on the previous
[Page 170]
day been arrested and taken to the police headquarters
solely because he called at the legation for his correspondence. I inclose
copy of this note with copy of Mr. Raycraft’s letter attached (marked No.
3).
From the morning of 26th instant, owing no doubt to the receipt of my
communication of 25th instant, the arrests have been discontinued, and there
is now no inconvenience inflicted on the legation beyond the fact that the
house is still watched by the police agents.
In the course of the day of 26th instant I received from the minister three
notes, of which I inclose translations (marked 4, 5, and 6). In all of those
notes the minister of foreign relations maintains the right of the local
authorities, supported by the national authority, to continue to act in the
same manner in which they had been acting, and he attempts to justify the
course adopted by charging that the refugees had abused the right of asylum
by conspiring, or appearing to conspire, against the present order of
things, and by having made the legation a focus for such conspiracy, and in
regard to the arrest of the United States citizen, Mr. Raycraft, he says he
“did not consider this fact deserving of comment or discussion, and that it
was only a necessary consequence of the anomaly of the presence and of the
notorious conduct of those who were abusing the diplomatic asylum.”
I may here state that these charges, or rather suspicions, of conspiracy
against the refugees are not only unfounded, but, in view of the total
defeat of the army of President Balmaceda, the demoralization and dispersion
of his following, military and civil, and the suicide of the ex-President
himself, they might well be considered ridiculous.
I fully replied to those communications in two notes of same date, copies of
which I inclose (marked 7 and 8), in which I denied that there could be any
grounds for the charge or suspicion of conspiracy, giving my reasons for
such denial, and soliciting for all of the refugees safe-conducts to leave
the country, which request I had already made informally. I also protested
against the continuance of a course of action that would make the house of
this legation appear as in a state of siege, or that would inflict petty
annoyances from day to day upon the visitors or upon those to whom it had,
as the minister was good enough to admit, legitimately extended asylum.
On the next day, the 27th, I had the honor to receive your telegram,
conveying, in the name of the President, instructions which I am gratified
to observe correspond with the course I had followed. I also received a
second telegram, asking for the names of the refugees in the legation,
together with particulars of the crimes with which they are charged, the
offices they held, and other information, to which I replied same day by
telegram, giving the list, from which I find I omitted the name of Señor
Casanova, ex-subsecretary of marine.
As stated in my telegram of 24th instant, the Provisional Government has
determined to prosecute criminally all of the ministers, senators, deputies,
judges, municipal authorities, and other civil officers, and all of the army
officers of the late Government from the grade of captain upward, on the
ground that since 1st January last they had been acting in violation of the
constitution of the country. Under this decision, if fully carried out,
although I do not believe it can or will be, there would be nearly ten
thousand prosecutions, and already there are a large number in prison on
such charges in various parts of the country.
The persons in this legation would fall under these prosecutions, and at
least one of them, Gen. Gana, because, as commander-in-chief of the army, he
approved the sentence of death on four young men who deserted
[Page 171]
from Valparaiso, taking with them
a Government torpedo launch; upon two sergeants charged with treason, and
upon a gentleman of good position in Valparaiso, charged with having made
arrangements to blow up with dynamite some of the ships of the Government,
would almost certainly be condemned to death and shot. Owing to the state of
public excitement, the lives of some of the others would also be in
danger.
Informal intimations were conveyed to me that in order to avoid complications
and personal unpopularity and inconvenience, I ought to take some steps to
procure that the refugees should leave the legation and seek concealment in
other places, but I have taken the position that they entered into the
legation legitimately, as has been admitted by the minister of foreign
relations, and that whatever may be the inconvenience to me personally I
will not, either directly or indirectly, adopt towards them any course not
in accordance with the principles of hospitality and humanity which should
characterize a legation of the United States.
The course pursued during the three days named, 23d, 24th, and 25th instant,
was dictated, not perhaps by the members of the Government, but by some
minor officials, with the expectation, as I am convinced, that a state of
things would be created around the legation so intolerable that it would
either force me to send out the refugees, or force them, out of
consideration for the legation and for me personally, to leave of their own
accord.
In the first days after the fall of the Government the Spanish legation had
about the same number of refugees that were in this legation—about eighty—of
whom only five still remain.
During the 23d, 24th, and 25th instant some arrests were made of persons who
had come out of the Spanish legation, but, as a new Spanish minister had
only just arrived in the country and had not yet been officially received,
no steps were taken to protest against this action.
The Argentine legation had received ex-President Balmaceda as a refugee, and
after his suicide, reported in a previous dispatch, the press bore willing
testimony to the humane conduct of the Argentine minister for having granted
the asylum.
The Brazilian legation had several refugees, some of whom were liberated
under bonds, and the others, for whom the Government refused safe-conduct,
sought concealment elsewhere, as did also some refugees who were in the
French legation. The German minister has one refugee only, General
Velasquez, ex-minister of war, who, encouraged by the German minister,
proposes to deliver himself to the authorities as soon as he recovers from
the effects of an accident from which he is suffering.
The English legation refused to take any refugees, but one or two army
officers who escaped from a neighboring house that was being searched did
get in there across the roof, and for those the Government did not hesitate
to grant safe-conducts.
I am now awaiting reply from the minister of foreign relations to my notes of
the 26th instant.
I have, etc.,
[Page 172]
[Inclosure 1 in No. 205].
Mr. Egan to Señor
Matta.
Legation of the United States,
Santiago, September 23,
1891.
Sir: It is my duty to say to your excellency
that a course of action is being pursued towards this legation which is
not acceptable, and I feel bound to convey to your excellency’s
Government my protest against its continuance.
The legation is constantly surrounded by secret police, without any
justifiable reason whatever. Persons are arrested and sent to prison
solely because they are seen entering and leaving the legation, and some
of my employés and servants are now in prison.
I feel sure that I have but to bring to the knowledge of your excellency
those proceedings, which are certainly not in accordance with the
respect which this legation has a right to expect, and that your
excellency will give the necessary order for its immediate
discontinuance.
With sentiments, etc.,
[Inclosure 2 in No. 205.]
Mr. Egan to Señor
Matta.
Legation of the United States,
Santiago, September 25,
1891.
Sir: Yesterday morning I had the honor to bring
to the knowledge of your excellency the proceedings that are being
adopted towards the persons visiting at this legation, and towards my
servants and others in my employment, and I at same time expressed the
confidence that your excellency would give immediate orders for the
discontinuance of such offensive measures.
As I have not up to the present received from your excellency any reply
to my note, relating to a course of action so extraordinary and
incredible that I do not know of any similar instance having occurred in
any other part of the world towards the legation of a friendly power,
and as many of the persons arrested are still in prison and my household
deprived of the necessary servants, I feel it my duty to again call the
attention of your excellency to the grave situation which has been
created, and to request that it may be discontinued. I append, for the
information of your excellency, a list of some of those who have, during
the past two days, been taken to prison solely for having been seen
entering this legation, and in this moment (4 o’clock) a French
clergyman, Rev. Alengry Denis, has been formally warned by three police
agents, stationed on the street near my house, not to enter the legation
under penalty of arrest. I beg to state to your excellency that I have
fully informed my Government of these facts, and that I shall proceed in
accordance with such instructions as it may communicate to me in the
premises.
With the assurances, etc.,
List referred to in preceding letter of persons arrested during the
past two days solely for having entered this legation:
Señor Luis Urzua, Señor Santiago Toro Herrera, Señor Eleodoro Valdez
Carrera, Dr. Ramon Perez Font, Señor Ramon Aliago Olivares, Mr.
Julian O’S. Madan (United States citizen), Señor José” Francisco
Molina, Señor Luis Benzi, Señor Hamilton Vickers, Señor Glemento
Conales, Señor Alejandro Murello, Señor Humberto Fernandez G., Señor
Francisco Toro G. (mayordomo), two servants of the legation, a
telephone operator who visited legation to repair telephone
instrument, Señor Irene de Terrette (who was liberated by the
Italian minister), Señora Luisa Herrera de Valdivieso and other
ladies were threatened with imprisonment if they should enter the
legation. Señora Dona Francisco Toro G. was also brought to
prison.
[Page 173]
[Inclosure 3 in No. 205.]
Mr. Egan to Señor
Matta.
Legation of the United States,
Santiago, September 26,
1891.
Sir: I nave the honor to refer to my note of
yesterday’s date addressed to your excellency, and now beg to inclose
copy of a letter which I have just received from a citizen of the United
States, Mr. W. E. Ray craft, giving particulars of the manlier in which
he was treated by the police, when on yesterday he attempted to enter
this legation to inquire for his correspondence.
With sentiments, etc.,
[Inclosure.]
Mr. Bay craft to
Mr. Egan.
Santiago, September 25,
1891.
Esteemed Sir: The object of this letter is to
inform you of what occurred to me immediately after leaving the legation
this morning, where I had called to see if any correspondence had
arrived for me from the north.
On nearing the first street corner I was approached by two persons who I
soon comprehended were no less than Government secret police; they
requested me to accompany them to the Quartel de San Pablo police
headquarters. I asked them for what reasons and they informed me that
they had orders to apprehend all persons visiting the American legation.
After receiving this information I decided it would be better to go with
them without making any resistance, thinking that would be the better
and quicker way to find out for what reason they had arrested me, and my
anxiety to return to my house with medicines for my child, who has been
seriously ill for the last few days, urged me as well to lose no time in
discovering for what reasons I had been deprived of my liberty; also
feeling confident there could be no grounds for detaining me under any
charge whatever, I quietly submitted to accompany them.
On our way to the quartel one of the detectives asked me if I knew any of
Balmaceda’s family or any of his officers. My reply was that I did
not.
After arriving at the quartel I was conducted into a waiting room, where
I remained about thirty minutes, and then was requested to pass into an
adjoining room, where I was questioned by a person dressed in citizen’s
clothes. He first asked me what my business was at the American
legation. My reply was that I went to get my mail. Then he asked me what
my business or profession was. I answered that I was a railroad
contractor. The third and last question was, where I lived, and I also
gave him my address; after this I was told that I was at liberty to
retire.
I communicate to you, Mr. Egan, the above facts in order that you may
demand an explanation from the Chilean Government for this most singular
and outrageous treatment to peaceful American citizens.
I remain, etc.,
[Inclosure 4 in No.
205.—Translation.]
Señor Matta to Mr.
Egan.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Santiago, September 26,
1891.
No. 304.]
Sir: This department is in receipt of your
excellency’s official communication of the 23d instant, in which
complaint is made of certain acts of the police, referring to persons
leaving or entering the United States legation, acts which have been
carried so far as to arrest these persons—your excellency protesting
against the continuation of such action.
Up to the moment in which I received the communication of your
excellency, no notices have been received here that any of the employés
and servants of the legation have been arrested, or are retained in
prison, notwithstanding that this department has been informed of
measures that have been taken with the object to prevent the refugees in
said legation abusing the legitimate protection given them, by
converting their asylum into a center for concentration and dissension
which perhaps
[Page 174]
your excellency
is not aware of, of intriguing against the actual state of affairs
established by public opinion, armed, triumphant, and victorious, after
prolonged efforts and sacrifices.
The asylum that emanates from the principles of extraterritoriality
inherent to the person, the residence, and the vehicles of his
excellency the minister does not extend, neither can extend, to the
streets, where to enter in or come out of the legation, persons pass who
may carry and deliver, according to data appearing trustworthy, letters,
signs, words, or by other means, between some of the refugees anxious to
conspire and persons that may help them.
This department must believe that your excellency is not aware of this,
nor suspects it occurs, and for this reason your excellency has been
much surprised at the action of the police agents, who accomplish not
only legitimate, irreproachable acts, but perhaps some that protect our
lawful rights and those of the citizens, contributing to elucidate
certain events taking place, and unknown by your legation, and of which
perhaps its illustrious and intelligent chief may not be aware.
It is not to be supposed, neither is there any fear, that those who did
not know how to conquer when having authority, money, and forces, will
be able to do so today, nor can they from their asylum here or elsewhere
effect anything serious against the order and actual state of affairs;
but some of them, and especially many of their agents, boast of having
means and resources, being protected by the extraterritorial privileges
of the legation, loudly proclaim, in order to bring upon themselves
attention at the expense and credit of the legation, and to the
advantage of the refugees, believing in this manner they are already
constituted into formidable chiefs of party.
It would offend the discretion and delicacy of the envoy extraordinary
and minister plenipotentiary of the United States to suppose these acts
are known to him, because, knowing them, as they constitute a violation
on the part of the refugees of the rules and exigencies most elemental
of asylum, he would have admonished and protested to them, and not
against the authorities who comply with their duties of office. He would
have protested against those who do not comply nor make comply their
dependents nor their relatives with their duties of honor, compromising
the person that protects them in moments of danger.
For having had to make inquiries and receive information from the local
authorities and their agents, I have delayed in answering this, whose
contents and object does not prevent the undersigned to express towards
Mr. Egan good feelings, personal and official, considerations most
characteristic.
Your obedient servant,
[Inclosure 5 in No.
205.—Translation.]
Señor Matta to Mr.
Egan.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Santiago, September 26,
1891.
Sir: I have just received to-day, 9:30 a.m.,
the official communication of your excellency of the 25th instant, in
which, repeating the observations and protests against the arrests and
threats to arrest persons entering the legation or those coming out of
it, your excellency makes new remarks and observations that I shall have
to take into consideration in this note, which will complete the one I
sent before this.
The answer of this department was delayed twenty-four hours, necessary
time to receive trustworthy information, and during this time the
undersigned returned the ceremonial visit to the envoy extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary, and understood that on the following day,
Friday, the 25th instant, would, in his office, treat the pending
subject with all the requisite data.
This not having taken place, it appears there has been a delay in
replying, which is explained by the above, without further remarks.
Relating to the “extraordinary and incredible” events taking place at the
legation, the envoy extraordinary will permit me to excuse discussing
the point, because everything done and everything that will be done by
the police agents not only exercise the attributes incumbent upon the
local authorities, which are better informed and better posted of what
takes place inside the legation and its vicinity than appears to be the
envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary.
According to the reports of the intendente of Santiago there were no
arrests nor threats to arrest any person whatsoever that is not under
the immediate jurisdiction of our laws and authorities, and did not give
reasons to suspect that they were agents or emissaries of some one of
the refugees in the legation, having obtained proofs and seen acts that
ratified them, not here necessary for the undersigned to enumerate, for
it would be too long and troublesome, and not necessary to prove
[Page 175]
that which he repeats, that
the authorities comply with their official duties which can not he
prescribed, and that the refugees do not comply with their duties of
honor. Possessing the willingness and means to impede and chastise all
illicit attempts made by the refugees, the local authorities, supported
by the nation, will continue in the road they have chosen, respecting
all the legal rights of the persons and residence of the envoy
extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary, but preventing, frustrating,
or chastising agents and agencies that have nothing to do whatever with
the legation, but for the abuse they have committed or may commit of the
asylum granted them.
Concerning the list of the persons arrested in the last days, I should
say to his excellency the minister that it proves that the local
authority have indications and motives that, whenever the occasion
arrives to demonstrate the presumed facts of the abuses of the asylum in
the legation, could be, by due means and form, placed at the knowledge
of your excellency and that of your Government.
In reference to the communication of his excellency, envoy extraordinary
and minister plenipotentiary to his Government, upon these subjects and
the proceedings that may follow, and the new instructions and orders
they may give him, those are not matters to give grounds whatsoever for
discussion with the undersigned, who believes and hopes, that knowing
the facts, such as they are, they will be judged in the same light and
by the same criterion that he himself judges them.
Assuring respect to the privilege of the legations does not diminish,
neither can diminish the attributes and rights of the local and national
authorities.
Repeating expressions of my personal and official considerations,
etc.
[Inclosure 6 in No.
205.—Translation.]
Señor Matta to Mr.
Egan.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Santiago, September 26,
1891.
Sir: Having received in this department a new
communication from your excellency with inclosed exposition of Mr. W. E.
Raycraft, citizen of North America, sent to that legation, concerning
the arrest and examination of which he was the object after leaving the
legation on the morning of the 25th instant, the undersigned does not
consider this act, placed at the knowledge of your excellency and of
this department, merits comments nor discussion, because it is the
expression and consequences of the vehement suspicion, authorized by
more than one case, that the refugees in the hospitable and privileged
house of your excellency have abused, or do all possible to make it
appear that they abuse, the asylum, probably without the knowledge of
your excellency, and certainly without respect to the considerations
that they owe to your excellency.
This act, as well as others similar to it, are not imputations or
reproach upon the local authority that operates within its sphere, but
are the forced consequences of the anomaly of the presence and notorious
conduct of those that abuse the diplomatic asylum.
This is all in this third note of to-day which I have the honor to
express to your excellency, after acknowledging its receipt, repeating
my distinguished personal and official considerations.
Your obedient servant,
[Inclosure 7 in No. 205.]
Mr. Egan to Señor
Matta.
Legation of the United States,
Santiago, September 26,
1891.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of
the two notes of your excellency of this date, replying to mine of 23d
and 25th instant, in which I related to your excellency the course
pursued towards the persons visiting this legation and towards my
servants.
Your excellency, after having made the necessary investigation, considers
that notwithstanding the respect and consideration due to this legation,
the Government of your excellency has the right to use in the public
street, and outside the limits of the legation, towards all those who
may visit the legation, all the measures which
[Page 176]
it esteems necessary to prevent attempts at a
conspiracy of which the Government of your excellency has reason to
believe there is a probability; at the same time intimating the belief
that these attempts at conspiracy must be entirely beyond my
knowledge.
I have to thank your excellency for this recognition, because it would
indeed be very unlikely that I should tolerate for one moment in this
legation any proceedings contrary to the spirit of strict neutrality
which, as representative of the United States, it is my duty to
observe.
I thank your excellency, also, for the recognition which your excellency
concedes to this legation of a principle which forms an integral part of
the international practice of my country: to grant asylum to refugees of
a political character who seek in her legations or in her ships of war
the protection which civilization and humanity counsel.
But your excellency will permit me to suggest that as a result of the
great agitation naturally arising out of the contest which has just
terminated there must be some error in believing that there could have
been in this legation any attempt at conspiracy.
As a close observer of what transpires in my house, I am able to assure
your excellency that the only thought of the persons in this legation,
from the first moment of their entrance, has been to leave the country
at the earliest moment possible, under the guaranties and safe-conducts
necessary for that purpose; and as a matter of fact, and as an
undeniable proof of this, before formulating the official solicitation
which this legation considers it is bound to make in favor of the
refugees, now practically in the territory of the United States, they
themselves, and I on their behalf, made unofficially, over two weeks
ago, a request for a safe-conduct for the same purpose.
This must, without doubt, show to your excellency that there did not and
does not exist in the minds of those in this legation any intention to
disturb the present order of things, and that if occurrences have taken
place to alarm the attention of your excellency’s Government they may
have had their origin in other causes upon which it is not the province
of this legation to enter.
Now that a fitting opportunity presents itself, and in a propitious
manner, I trust your excellency will permit me to solicit the respective
safe-conducts for all of the refugees in this legation who desire to go
out to a foreign country, and to express the hope that this solicitation
may encounter from the Government of your excellency the same benevolent
acceptance which was accorded in the past months, while the struggle was
still undecided, to those on behalf of other refugees in this and other
legations.
At the same time, and with reference to my notes of 23d and 25th instant,
I trust your excellency will not hesitate in making the necessary order
that the visitors at this legation and the personnel of its employés and
servants may find undisturbed access to it, and that it may be able to
feel itself secure from all unjustifiable vexations.
Assuring your excellency of my most distinguished consideration,
etc.,
[Inclosure 8 in No. 205.]
Mr. Egan to Señor
Matta.
Legation of the United States,
Santiago, September 26,
1891.
Sir: I have received the note of your
excellency of this date, No. 307, in reply to mine of this morning in
which I indicated to your excellency the arbitrary arrest of the United
States citizen Mr. W. E. Raycraft.
Your excellency has been good enough to inform me that you “did not
consider this fact deserving of comment or discussion, and that it was
only a necessary consequence of the anomaly of the presence and of the
notorious conduct of those who were abusing the diplomatic asylum.”
As I have informed your excellency in my previous communication, and as
is shown by the letter of Mr. Raycraft therein inclosed, this gentleman
came to the legation to inquire for his correspondence; and, without any
other circumstances or offense than that of having gone out from it, he
was arrested by the police agents on the public street, conducted to the
police station of San Pablo, and after various questions, which revealed
no other intention than that of vexation because he had visited this
legation, he was dismissed.
Similar occurrences happened to other United States citizens who had come
to this legation in reference to their proper business, as, for example,
Mr. Julian O. S. Madan
[Page 177]
and Mr.
Charles Hillman, who, on going out of the legation, were conducted to
the intendencia by the police agents as if they had committed some
public offense.
Other persons who had business to arrange with the legation, or personal
visits to make to me—Don José Francisco Molina Don Santiago Toro
Herrera, Don Ernesto Hubner, and others—found themselves obliged to have
themselves accompanied by special police agents in order not to be
arrested, or to procure special passports from the intendencia with the
sole object of being able to come to the legation under their
protection.
I am in a position to inform your excellency that one of my sons read the
order given to the police, which he obtained for the purpose from one of
the agents, and its terms were to arrest any persons going out of the
legation. The same thing was repeated by the police agents to Mr.
Raycraft and other gentlemen.
In this way vexations are inflicted upon the legation of a foreign and
friendly power in the persons of its visitors, native and foreign,
apparently without consideration and certainly without any justifiable
reasons whatsoever.
Pending the receipt of instructions from my Government, I consider it my
duty to intimate to your excellency that the consideration due to this
legation and the respect due to the country which I represent can not be
intrusted to the discretion of detectives of an inferior grade, nor can
they depend upon the outcome of suspicions and fears that I must
consider unfounded and chimerical.
As representative of the United States I can not allow, without serious
protest, that the house of this legation should appear as in a state of
siege, and that from day to day it shall be subjected to petty annoyance
in order to inflict vexation upon those who come into or go out from it,
or upon those to whom it has, as your excellency admits, legitimately
extended asylum.
Not giving credit to nor considering of importance the capricious rumors
that the legation could have been converted into a focus of conspiracy,
I feel it my duty to renew to your excellency the desire which I have
already expressed, that the course of action of which I have complained
may not be repeated.
Begging your excellency to accept, etc.,
