Mr. Egan to Mr. Blaine.
Santiago, December 30, 1891.
Mr. Egan reports that the Chilean Government has received from Grace & Co. information as to the intention of the United States Government to deliver an ultimatum, and that the British minister, under instructions received from his Government in consequence of similar news, called at the foreign office this day and urged a course of conciliation upon the minister of foreign affairs, who, however, maintained with firmness and defiance the attitude assumed by him. He adds that he has hopes that when a new ministry has been formed a better spirit will be evinced, but that, for reasons already telegraphed by him, it has not, up to this date, been possible to form it.