I also inclose herewith copy and translation of an editorial published in
La Ley (a daily paper of this city), upon January 2. I have thought that
these publications might be of interest to the Department as indicating
the very excellent footing upon which our relations with this country
are at the present time.
[Inclosure
1.—Translation.]
From El Mercurio, Santiago, January 2,
1902.
grand demonstration at the union
club in honor of mr. henry l. wilson.
At the traditional supper with which the Union Club every 31st of
December celebrates the coming of the new year, an imposing
demonstration of regard was made on Tuesday last, in honor of the
worthy representative of the United States, Mr. Henry L. Wilson.
Two large halls of the club were fitted up for the New Year’s supper,
profusely illuminated with the electric light, and adorned with
bamboos, palms, and beautiful flowers. At 12 o’clock precisely more
than 400 people were seated around the tables, and the orchestra
began its well-selected programme.
At that moment Mr. Wilson, who is a member of the club, arrived, in
company with several of his friends, and took his seat at one of the
tables. Everyone present at once stood up and cheered for Mr.
Wilson, the President of the United States (Mr. Roosevelt), and the
great North American Republic. The demonstration was spontaneous and
a surprise. The American minister was greatly impressed as he
listened to the speeches of several members, and responded in
grateful language, expressing his thanks for the demonstration in
his honor.
All then sat down again and the supper proceeded, while gaiety and
harmony reigned supreme.
An hour afterwards, when the members of the club began to retire, it
was suggested to accompany the American minister to his
residence.
More than 400 people, walking two by two, followed Mr. Wilson to the
legation, cheering him enthusiastically. There the minister briefly
and courteously expressed his thanks for the demonstration, and the
various groups then retired.
There were present at the New Year’s supper, besides one of the
directors of the club, Don Enrique Larrain Alcade, two members of
the cabinet, numerous members of Congress, several officers of the
army, and a large number of distinguished gentlemen.
The demonstration in honor of the American minister is a beautiful
social note in proof of the regard in which the people hold the
representative of a great friendly nation, both in his official as
well as his private capacity.
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The Union Club, on December 31, gave expression to a general
sentiment, publicly manifesting the respect and social consideration
accorded on all sides to the worthy representative of the United
States of America, Mr. Henry L. Wilson.
[Inclosure
2.—Translation.]
From La Ley, Santiago, January 3,
1902.
chile and the united states of
america.
“Public opinion in America is favorable to Chile, in view of the
justice on her side in insisting upon the observance of an agreement
already signed (the Yañez-Portela protocols).”
We have taken the lines above quoted from a telegraph dispatch from
the Havas Agency, dated the 1st instant.
That news confirms the elevated and friendly spirit with which our
country is judged in the Great Republic of the North.
We ought to feel proud of the fact that the most powerful and
progressive of nations sends us this fraternal and just message,
which we Chileans—sincere friends and admirers of the land of
Washington and Franklin, Lincoln and Farragut, Grant and Edison,
McKinley and Roosevelt—receive as the most valuable evidence of
international confraternity, and as the most authorized opinion in
favor of the irreproachable policy of our foreign office.
It was not enough for our country to be conscious of its right and
might. In order to be tranquil in these stormy moments in which our
enemies employ against us all kinds of unfair weapons, we required
to hear the honored an impartial opinion of the great
powers—England, France, and Germany—and also the opinion of the
Latin-American republics, which do not follow the adventurous and
dangerous policy of Peru, Bolivia, and the Argentine; and, above
all, the opinion of the giant nation which, to-day and to-morrow, is
destined to cultivate intimate relations with the most conscientious
and laborious of South American peoples.
We have mentioned the United States and Chile.
We already know the opinion, the learned and respected opinion, which
all those countries have just expressed in the conflict originated
by the Yañez-Portela protocols.
The opinion of all of them is favorable to us, and reveals the fact
that, notwithstanding the active anti-Chilean propaganda, the
enormous distance is recognized which separates the false apostles
of arbitration from those who have loyally practiced it both with
the powerful and with the weak.
We required only this to be able to look confidently forward to the
future.
The lying diplomacy of the brave dancing masters of this continent
has been unmasked.
It is a great victory, which fills us with legitimate satisfaction,
and which will certainly make the drawers of the sword and the
flatterers, Peru and Bolivia, meditate.
Chileans would be ungrateful and rude if they did not reciprocate, as
we really do reciprocate, with most affectionate regard, the
attitude of the noble peoples of Europe and America who honor us
with their esteem.
Believing that we interpret the opinion and feeling of Chile, we
express our most hearty thanks to those who, far beyond our
frontiers, have understood and done us ample justice.
But let it be left on record that we direct these expressions of
friendly acknowledgment more especially to the land which nurtured
George the Great—that Washington of epic figure who was the
progenitor of all the democracies of America.
Yes, all gratitude to the United States of America; to their
press—the messenger of the universal conscience; and to President
Roosevelt who, perhaps because in his veins runs the same blood of
heroes which is being shed to-day in the battlefields of South
Africa, knows how to appreciate the rectitude and courage of the
first republic of the Pacific which never trembled at the threats of
its enemies.
Thanks also to the Hon. Henry L. Wilson, to the distinguished
diplomat who, on account of his fair and well-founded opinion, can
at any time demonstrate to his Government that our country earestly
desires to second the policy of peace, labor, and progress of the
Great Republic of the North.
Here a shout parenthesis is proper.
It has been a piece of good fortune for our Government and for the
Chilean people, in an hour of trial like the present, that the
United States foreign office is represented here by such a man as
the Hon. Mr. Wilson. This gentleman, who has so discreetly
[Page 118]
and ably interpreted the
idea of Mr. Roosevelt, has maintained himself, with rare discretion
and impartiality, in his proper position in diplomacy.
No one better than he can judge the acts of our foreign office in
connection with Peru, Bolivia, and the Argentine. No one better than
he is in a position to appreciate, even at a distance, the altitude
of our plenipotentiaries in the Mexican conference, and to
understand the affinities which, at the present moment, bind Chile
to the United States with bonds of an entente cordiale which will be
of great benefit to the nations of North, Central, and South
America.
In conclusion, we hope that the Governments of the two Republics may
appreciate the attitude of friends and allies de facto, as well as
of convinced defenders of the cause of peace, which should be
assumed, both now and in future, by the Yankees of the North, and
their pupils and imitators, the Yankees of the South.