Mr. Egan to Mr. Blaine.
Santiago, December 4, 1891. (Received January 22, 1892.)
Sir: Finding that the Baltimore was about to go north I have, during past couple of days, endeavored unofficially to obtain safe-conducts or even a simple permission for the Refugees to go on board, but I learn that the ministry unanimously refused to even consider the matter. They have still hopes that they can induce the Government of the United States to surrender those men for punishment, which, in one case at least, that of Gen. Gana, ex-commander in chief of the army, would, I am assured, be very severe. Yesterday I was assured by a cabinet minister that Gen. Gana and some others of those now in this legation would be killed most certainly if captured in any attempt to leave the country, which opinion, expressed more than three months after the close of the war, will serve to show how desperate and lasting is the desire of some of those people for vengeance upon their vanquished opponents.
This persecution of the vanquished party is sowing the seeds of further and perhaps more serious troubles for this country in the not distant future.
I have, etc.,