Mr. Egan to Mr.
Blaine.
Legation of
the United States,
Santiago, November 20, 1891.
(Received December 26.)
No. 236.]Sir: For some time past the legation has been
surrounded, especially at night, by a number of secret police agents or
spies, composed of peones and persons of a very low grade, who have been
hanging around the corners of adjoining streets, sitting upon the doorsteps
and
[Page 236]
window sills of the adjoining
houses, and lying and standing on the sidewalk of the street in front of the
legation, and at a distance of only from twelve to twenty paces away from
it. Some of these men have even come into the door of the legation and
endeavored to induce some of the refugees to go out, offering them security
from molestation in exchange for a money consideration, and on some of those
occasions these spies approached the legation in a state of
intoxication.
On the night of the 15th instant some of these men got drunk, knocked at the
windows of the legation, and gave expression to gross insults against the
refugees. Next day, 16th instant, I reported the matter by note, in moderate
terms, to the minister of foreign relations (inclosure No. 1), and also
reported the occurrence to you by telegram.
To this note I received last evening a reply which, as will be seen from
inclosed translation (No. 2), evades entirely the main question.
I have replied to-day (inclosure No 3), pointing out that this whole course
of action in surrounding the legation with these spies partakes of the
character of a serious impropriety and want of respect towards this
legation.
The charges made in the letter of the honorable minister against the
refugees, of having “with voice, with gesture, and with action, provoked the
passers-by,” I know to be entirely unfounded, as are also the charges of
indiscretions against employés of the legation, and I can not help feeling
surprised that the minister would accept and seriously repeat such
statements.
The refugees referred to are gentlemen of distinguished families and of
culture, and entirely incapable of such actions as are ascribed to them; and
the only time that any of the employés of the legations came into contact
with the police agents who are watching the legation was when the fellows
came into the legation under the influence of liquor.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 236,]
Mr. Egan to Señor
Matta.
Legation of the United States,
Santiago, November 16,
1891.
Sir: During some twenty days past a group of
from 8 to 10 spies of the secret police has been stationed near the door
and in the vicinity of this legation creating consequent alarm in those
who have occasion to visit it.
In the late hours of last night some of these men gave way to excesses
which disturbed the tranquillity of the neighborhood, and in an apparent
condition of intoxication they knocked on the windows of the legation
and gave expression to gross insults against the refugees whom they had
seen in an apartment facing the street. The disorder was only terminated
by the intervention of other police agents who arrived at about 2
o’clock a.m. in a carriage and removed those who were causing the
disturbance.
I deem it my duty to bring these facts to the knowledge of your
excellency in order that as soon as possible your excellency may give
the necessary orders for their discontinuance, and that no new element
of annoyance may be added to those of which I have had on other
occasions to complain to your excellency.
Renewing, etc.,
[Page 237]
[Inclosure 2 in No.
236—Translation.]
Señor Matta to Mr.
Egan.
Ministry of Foreign Relations,
Santiago, November 17,
1891.
Sir: Monday at 5 p.m. there was received in
this department the note of your excellency of same date, in which it
was stated that “some spies of the secret police stationed near the
house and in the vicinity of the legation” had disturbed the
neighborhood, knocked at the windows, and gave expression to gross
insults “against the refugees whom they had seen in an apartment facing
the street,” the disorder being concluded by the “intervention of other
police agents, who arrived in a carriage” and who removed the
disturbers.
Mr. Egan, even in case that the police had not put an end to the
disorder, ought to be sure that such misconduct would not find in this
department support or excuse, as is the undersigned that the honorable
minister plenipotentiary does not approve or sustain the indiscretions
of the refugees, who more than once, with voice, with gestures, and with
actions, have provoked passers-by, who could not have been and were not
police, either secret or public.
Immediately on being received in this department the note of the
honorable minister plenipotentiary there was asked a report from the
intendente of Santiago, from which results that Mr. Egan has not been
well informed.
Whatever may be the comments which may be desired to be or could be made
upon this occurrence and upon those who may have taken part in it, that
which is positively proven by the words of the honorable minister
plenipotentiary is that the disturbance of the neighborhood and of his
house was concluded, thanks to the intervention of the local authority,
which does not recognize as its agents the drunken persons who created
the disturbance, and who should be punished if found.
This department does not take into account the reports of the police,
which represent not only some of the refugees, but persons who are
employés of the legation of North America, as committing indiscretions
which might provoke replies and reprisals not pleasing to the rights or
the decorum of anybody.
Without more, and reiterating to the envoy extraordinary-his expressions
of high consideration, etc.,
[Inclosure 3 in No. 236.]
Mr. Egan to Señor
Matta.
Legation of the United States,
Santiago, November 20,
1891.
Sir: I have had the honor to receive the note
of your excellency, dated 17th instant, in reply to mine of the 16th,
with reference to the disorders committed by spies or agents of the
secret police in the public street in front of this legation after
midnight of the previous day.
In my note of 16th, I limited myself to requesting your excellency to be
good enough to give the necessary orders that such misconduct might not
be repeated, same having disturbed the tranquillity of the neighborhood,
although it has been most disagreeable to me to see daily, for more than
twenty days, the presence of a number of individuals, amounting at times
to eight or ten persons, of bad appearance, surrounding day and night
the house of this legation, lying down to sleep on the footpath in front
of my house or in the doorways of the neighboring houses.
All this, notwithstanding the arguments advanced by your excellency in a
lengthy discussion, partakes of the character of a serious impropriety
and a want of respect toward this legation, and it assumes besides a
character still more unworthy when these same secret police have entered
the doors of this legation, sometimes in a state of intoxication and
other times sober, with the purpose of tempting the refugees to go out
of the legation, offering them security that they should not be
interfered with, and asking rewards in return for their good will; in
other words, playing the role of deception toward their employérs and of
mendicants.
This may be considered satisfactory in its proper place, and your
excellency is authorized to give what credit your excellency may deem
proper to the unfounded reports which such people may forward through
the medium of the intendente of Santiago. The facts which I state are,
however, known personally to me and are matter of public notoriety. I
think also that your excellency must admit that they are not calculated
to promote the maintenance of that spirit of cordial friendship which it
is so desirable to cultivate between our two countries.
Again renewing, etc.,
