Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 9, 1891

Mr. Egan to Mr. Blaine.

[Telegram.]

Legation of the United States,
Santiago, December 12, 1891. (Received December 13.)

The following telegram^* from minister foreign relations, sent Chilean minister, Washington, with sanction of President, was read in Senate and published in all papers to-day. I send original Spanish to avoid errors or misunderstanding regarding translation.

I have officially written minister asking if the text as printed is correct.

Señor Pedro Montt, Washington:

Conociendo la parte de la Memoria de Marina y del Mensaje Presidente Estados Unidos, creo oportuno decirle que los informes sobre los cuales se apoyan Memoria y Mensaje son errótneos deliberadamente inexactos.

Respecto asilados, nunca han estado amenazados de ser tratados con crueldad, ni se les ha pretendido sacar de la Legacion, ni pedídose entrega de ellos.

Jamás la casa ni la persona del Plenipotenciario, á pesar de indiscreciones y provocaciones calculadas, han recibido agravios, como est á comprobado por las once notas de Septiembre, Octubre y Noviembre.

Respecto marineros Baltimore, tampoco hay exactitud ni lealtad en lo que se dice en Washington.

El suceso tuvolugar en malos barrios de la ciudad, el Maintop de Valparaiso, y entre gentes que no son modelo de disereeion y temperancia.

Cuando la policía y otras fuerzas intervinieron y calmaron el tumulto, había ya algunos centenares de hombres y el éstaba a diez cuadras ó mas del sitio donde empezó.

Mr. Egan pasó nota agresiva de propósito y virulenta de lenguaje, el 26 de Octubre, como se ve por la copia y nota contestada el 27.

El 18 se había empezado sumario que se ha demorado por no comparecencia tripu-lantes del Baltimore y por pretensiones y negativas indebidas del mismo Mr. Egan.

Jamás de parte de esta Secretaría se ha aceptado ni iniciado una provocation, conservvándose siempre en actitud que, si ha sido de firmeza y de prudencia, nunca ha sido de agresion ni será de humillacion por mas que los interesados en cohonestar su conductaú ofuscados por erróneos conceptos hayan dicho ó digan en Washington.

Los telegramas, notasy cartas enviadas á Usía contienen la verdad, todala verdad, delo que ha habido en estas gestiones, en las cuales la mala voluntad, las palabras y las pretensiones consiguientes no son de esta Secretaría. El sell or Tracy y Señor Harrison han sido inducidos en error respecto nosotros, pueblo y Gobierno.

Las instrucciones de imparcialidad y de amistad no han sido cumplidas ni ahora ni antes.

Si no ha habido quejas oficiales contra Ministro y marinos es porque los hechos públicos y notorios en Chile y Estados Unidos no se han podido hacer valer por nuestros agentes confidenciales, aun Cuando estén bien comprobados.

Las peticiones de Balmaceda y las concesiones hechas en Junio y Julio, todo lo del Itata, el San Francisco en Quintero y las compañías del Cable son pruebas de ello.

Es calculadamente inexacto que los marineros norte americanos fuesen atacados en varias localidades á un tiempo. No estando concluido sumario, no se sabe aún cuantos ni quienes son los culpables.

Usía debe tener la nota de 9 de Noviembre, contestando á Ministro Egan, como aquella en que se le pidió testimonio que no ha querido dar, sin embargo de haber dicho que él tenía las pruebas para señalar al homicida y otros culpables del 16 de Octubre.

Esay todas las demsnotás se publicarán aquí. Usía deberá publicarlas traducidas aliá.

Desautorice, entre tanto, todo lo que sea contrario á estas noticias, seguro de su exactitud, como lo estamos del derecho del decoro y del éxito final de Chile, á pesar de las intrigas que van de tan abajo y de las amenazas que vienen de tan alto en la actualidad.

Matta.

Egan.

[Translation.]

Having read the portion of the report of the Secretary of the Navy and of themes-sage of the President of the United States, I think proper to inform you that the statements on which both report and message are based are erroneous or deliberately incorrect.

With respect to the persons to whom an asylum has been granted, they have never been threatened with cruel treatment, nor has it been sought to remove them from the legation, nor has their surrender been asked for.

Never has the house nor the person of the plenipotentiary, notwithstanding indiscretions and deliberate provocations, been subjected to any offense, as is proved by the eleven notes of September, October, and November.

With respect to the seamen of the Baltimore, there is, moreover, no exactness nor sincerity in what is said at Washington.

The occurrence took place in a bad neighborhood of the city, the Maintop of Valparaiso, and among people who are not models of discretion and temperance.

When the police and other forces interfered and calmed the tumult, there were already several hundred people there, and it was ten squares or more from the place where it had begun.

Mr. Egan sent, on the 26th of October, a note that was aggressive in purpose and virulent in’ language, as is seen by the copy and the note written in reply on the 27th.

On the 18th the preliminary examination had already been commenced; it has been delayed owing to the nonappearance of the officers of the Baltimore and owing to undue pretensions and refusals of Mr. Egan himself.

No provocation has ever been accepted or initiated by this department. Its attitude, while it has ever been one of firmness and prudence, has never been one of aggressiveness, nor will it ever be one of humiliation, whatever may be or have been said at Washington by those who are interested in justifying their conduct or who are blinded by erroneous views.

The telegrams, notes, and letters which have been sent to you contain the truth, the whole truth, in connection with what has taken place in these matters, in which ill will and the consequent words and pretensions have not emanated from this department. Mr. Tracy and Mr. Harrison have been led into error in respect to our people and Government.

The instructions [recommending] impartiality and friendship have not been complied with, neither now nor before.

If no official complaint has been made against the minister and the naval officers, it is because the facts, public and notorious both in Chile and the United States, could not, although they were well proved, be urged by our confidential agents. Proof of this is furnished by the demands of Balmaceda and the concessions made in June and July, the whole Itata case, the San Francisco at Quintero, and the cable companies.

The statement that the North American seamen were attacked in various localities at the same time is deliberately incorrect.

As the preliminary examination is not yet concluded, it is not yet known who and how many the guilty parties are.

You no doubt have the note of November 9, written in reply to Minister Egan, in which I request him to furnish testimony which he would not give, although he had said that he had evidence showing who the murderer was and who the other guilty parties of the 16th of October were.

That and all the other notes will be published here. You will publish a translation of them in the United States.

Deny in the meantime everything that does not agree with these statements, being assured of their exactness as we are of the right, the dignity, and the final success of Chile, notwithstanding the intrigues which proceed from so low [a source] and the threats which come from so high [a source].

1. It has been deemed best, for greater accuracy, to substitute for the copy of the note addressed by Señor Matta to Mr. Montt, as telegraphed by Mr. Egan, the copy as printed in the Diario Oficial, which was received by Mr. Egan from the Chilean foreign office, having upon its face the official seal of that office.