Mr. Egan to Mr. Blaine.
Santiago, January 17, 1891. (Received March 9.)
Sir: In compliance with a request from Señor Don Domingo Godoy, minister of foreign relations, I called yesterday at the ministry and there met the diplomatic representatives of Germany, England, and France. Señor Godoy informed us of the intended blockade of Iquique and other ports by the portion of the fleet in revolt, and requested to be informed as to what action would be taken, under £he circumstances, by the diplomatic representatives of the several nations interested in the commerce of those ports. The members of the diplomatic body present agreed [Page 94] that, in order to avoid coming into direct relations with the chiefs of the revolutionary squadron, a course which might in some measure imply recognition, they should confine themselves to advising the consuls at the several ports threatened to make strong protests against the blockade, and to convey such protests to the chiefs of the fleet and also to the intendentes. Since then I have received information of the intended blockade of Valparaiso, to take effect from 12 o’clock to-morrow. I have accordingly dispatched telegrams to the consuls at Valparaiso and Iquique advising them to make such protests, and have forwarded to you to-day by transandean route a cable message.
In the present condition of things here it would be of very greatest importance to have a United States squadron on this coast for the protection of United States interests, and I have so stated in my telegram.
I have, etc.,