Mr. Egan to Mr. Blaine.
Santiago, October 8, 1891. (Received October 9.)
Mr. Egan acknowledges receipt of Mr. Wharton’s telegram of the 6th instant, and states that 80 persons sought refuge in his legation after the overthrow of the Balmaceda Government; about the same number in the Spanish legation, 8 in the Brazilian, 5 in the French, several in the Uruguayan, 2 in the German, and 1 in the English. Balmaceda sought refuge in the Argentine. All these have gone out except 15 in his own legation, 1 in the German, and 5 in the Spanish. From the 23d to 25th September, when the arrests were made at his legation, several arrests were also made of visitors to the Spanish legation. No protest, however, was made, owing to the fact that the new minister having recently arrived had not then been officially received. The other legations were not molested. Spanish minister is seeking safe-conduct for refugees in his legation, and will act in entire harmony with Mr. Egan. All acts of the late Government since the 1st of January last, including the election and proceedings of Congress, have been decreed by the present Government unconstitutional, and the refugees are charged with crime in having acted without constitutional authority in their several positions. The refugee in the English legation, having promised to go home and remain there, has been permitted to go. Others have been allowed out on bonds to submit themselves to the tribunal. Those in the Spanish and United States legations would be subjected to heavy penalties, and in some cases death. No one has been granted a safe-conduct to leave the country. The press of Buenos Ayres and Montevideo contain extremely strong articles against the attitude of the Government towards the supporters of Balmaceda. Mr. Egan’s note of the 1st instant has not yet been replied to by the minister for foreign affairs.