Mr. Egan to Mr. Elaine
Santiago, July 10, 1891. (Received September 26.)
Sir: On the 27th ultimo I had the honor to receive a telegram from the Department, in which it is stated that repeated advices from naval officers in northern ports confirm the impression that revolutionists would willingly accept mediation. I postponed my reply to this message in the expectation that either the San Francisco or the Baltimore would arrive from the north, and that I should be able to learn from the officers reliable information respecting the situation and views of the revolutionists in the north. I now learn that neither ship will arrive here for some time.
The President and his Government have all along maintained the position that they are ready to consider any reasonable proposals for the reestablishment of peace, but that they will not advance any until they first have before them bases of arrangement submitted by the revolutionists. There is living here in Santiago, concealed, a revolutionary committee, in constant communication with the leaders in the north, and who know precisely the attitude of the Government. I have ascertained beyond doubt that this committee is determined not to make any propositions to the Government, and that in this position they are fully sustained by the Junta de Gobierno in Iquique. The officers of the Navy must therefore be mistaken in their appreciation of the situation, and I can but repeat the opinion expressed in my Nos. 172 and 175: that in the present temper of the parties any attempt at mediation would be entirely fruitless.
I have, etc.,