Mr. Egan to Mr.
Blaine.
Legation of
the United States,
Santiago, September 17, 1891.
(Received November 13.)
No. 203.]
Sir: Since the unfortunate incident of the Itata the young and unthinking element of those who
were then in opposition to the Government have had a bitter feeling against
the United States, and the English element, as has always been their custom
in this country, do all in their power, from motives of self-interest, to
promote and foster this feeling. The more reasonable men of the party in
power, on the other hand, admit that a mistake was made on the part of some
of those who, on their behalf, were responsible for that transaction, and
that the United States could not consistently have taken any other course
than the one she adopted. Mr. Isidoro Errazuriz, when acting as minister of
foreign relations two weeks ago, so stated to me without reservation.
The hostile element, however, has let no opportunity pass of misrepresenting
and vilifying everything pertaining to the United States. In a series of
articles recently published by Señor Don Ismael Valdés Vergara, who acted as
secretary of the army of the north, and which will in the future be accepted
as a reliable history of the struggle, he states that on the day of the
landing of the northern army at Quinteros, the 20th of August, the Sam, Francisco went to that bay and from there
carried back most important information to the Government authorities at
Valparaiso.
Rear-Admiral Brown addressed to me a letter, of which I inclose copy in print
(inclosure No. 1), conveying his distinct denial of the odious charges.
In order to counteract the slanders, I gave Admiral Brown’s letter to the
press, and I considered it my duty to bring the matter to the notice of the
minister of foreign relations, which I did in a letter, copy of which I
inclose (marked No. 2). I considered it well to take this step in order to
put properly on record the denial of Admiral Brown.
I have, etc.,
[Page 164]
[Inclosure 1 in No. 203.]
Rear-Admiral Brown
to Mr. Egan.
official denial of a grave
rumor.
Referring to the unfounded rumors which gained currency in regard to the
visit of the United States cruiser San Francisco
to Quinteros on the 20th ultimo, Admiral Brown, of the U. S.
Navy, has addressed the following letter to the United States minister
in Santiago, Mr. Patrick Egan:
U. S. Flagship San
Francisco,
Valparaiso, Chile, September
8, 1891.
My Dear Mr. Egan: I am in receipt of your note
of yesterday in regard to the slanderous articles which have appeared in
several of the newspapers relative to my going in this ship to the
vicinity of Quinteros on the afternoon of the 20th ultimo. I have to say
that under ordinary circumstances I would consider it beneath my dignity
as an officer of the U. S. Navy to notice, even in this unofficial way,
such charges as are made. However, I will give you in a brief way a
circumstantial statement of the events of that day. As was my usual
custom, I went on shore in citizen’s dress for a walk at about 9:30
a.m., and meeting a Government officer who spoke English I asked him if
there was any news. He replied at once, “Yes, the opposition have made a
landing at Quinteros.”
In order to verify this statement or disprove it, I went at once to the
office of Admiral Viel, and he gave the particulars of the landing. He
said that at early daylight the report reached him, by telephone from
the Valparaiso light-house, that a large number of ships were entering
Quinteros Bay, and at 7 a.m. he received a telegram from Quinteros
reporting that the opposition were there and were making a landing. This
telegram gave the names of the men-of-war and stated that there were
five transports and three or four small steamers in the expedition. This
was not held as a secret, for everyone on the streets of Valparaiso knew
of it as soon as I. Admiral Viel told me that the advance of the
opposition would be contested by a large force of the Government troops
and that the battle would be fought near Quinteros. I came afloat and
informed the German Admiral, Valois, and the senior British officer,
Capt. St. Clair, of my intention of going to Quinteros, and at the same
time I would take an officer from their ships if they desired to send
one. I reached Quinteros Bay at about 2:30 p.m., and seeing no evidences
of a battle came back to this port, where we anchored at about 5 p.m. I
sent an officer on shore with a cablegram, which he had to take to the
intendencia to be approved.
My message to the Secretary of the Navy was in code, so no one knew of
its purport. The officer who went on shore told me that everyone knew
that the opposition had reached the Aconcagua River. In fact, he
obtained more information than I had. All I knew was that a landing had
been made and that no fighting had taken place within sight of the
ships. No information was given by me of what I had observed, and the
crew of the boat which went on shore were cautioned not to answer any
questions. On the afternoon of the 29th ultimo I called, in uniform, on
Admiral Montt and Col. Holley and renewed an acquaintance with them
which had been made at Iquique. I was cordially received by both of the
gentlemen. At that time I explained to Señor Montt all the facts
connected with my visit to Quinteros.
I heard that it was said that a Chilean official went with me to
Quinteros. To this I say officially that no one except the German
officer, other than those belonging to my ship, were on board at that
time.
Yours, very truly,
George Brown,
Rear-Admiral, U. S. Navy.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 203.]
Mr. Egan to Señor
Matta.
Legation of the United States,
Santiago, September 17,
1891.
Sir: In view of the scandalous charges that
have been publicly directed against Rear-Admiral Brown, of the U. S.
Navy, over the signature of Señor Don Ismael Valdés Vergara, in a series
of articles entitled “Relachón sumaria de la última campaña del Ejército
Constitucional, escrito por un testigo actor,” to the effect that
Admiral Brown, on the date of the landing of the army of the north at
Quinteros,
[Page 165]
the 20th August,
went to that port in the U. S. cruiser San
Francisco for the purpose of making observations, or, in other
words, spying, in order to communicate information to the Government
authorities in Valparaiso, I beg to inclose for the information of your
excellency three copies in print of the translation of a letter
addressed to me by Rear-Admiral Brown, in which he states exactly what
he did on that day and conveys his denial of the odious charges made
against him.
In addition to Admiral Brown’s statement, I may say that I am in
possession of evidence that the information which Señor Valdés Vergara
charges the San Francisco with conveying to the
Valparaiso authorities at 5 o’clock on the evening of 20th August was
actually in their possession in the early morning, and was by them
transmitted to Concepcion, in the south, and Coquimbo, in the north,
before 10 o’clock a.m. of the same day.
It is to be regretted that charges of this nature, calculated to weaken
the cordial feelings of friendship which should unite our peoples,
should be so recklessly made, and I feel it a duty to the honor of the
U. S. Navy and to the dignity of our flag to place on record, through
the medium of your excellency’s ministry, this clear and distinct denial
of Admiral Brown.
With the assurance of my distinguished consideration and esteem, I have
the honor to remain,
Your excellency’s obedient servant,
