Mr. Egan to Mr. Blaine.
Santiago, December 17, 1891.
Mr. Egan reports that he has not thought necessary to comment upon the instructions sent by the Chilean Government to its minister at Washington, but that pending further instructions he has suspended communicating with the foreign office. He states that policemen in uniform and numerous detectives have been for several days past surrounding both his and the Spanish legations in an offensive manner; that they are now on ostentatious watch at each corner of the block in which the legation is located. He reports that the ex-President of Ecuador and several other persons have been arrested in the last few days after leaving the Spanish legation, and that he is promised the harmonious coöperation of the new Spanish chargé d’affaires. He states that the newspapers are relentless in their offensive and unscrupulous attacks and that he learns from different sources and on rumors which seem to be well founded that it is intended to drive out the refugees by attempting [Page 273] to burn the legation or an adjoining house. He relates the expressions of approval from members of the diplomatic corps and says that the British minister has commended to his Government the position taken by him in the whole matter.