The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-08-21
The Threatened War in South America.

The threatened War in South America
Paraguay appears 10 occupy the same
nostion in South America that Poland dld
in Europe in the middle OF the last century;
If ia n nice bone OF contention between its
ne;obhors each of which claims share OF
il The readers OF The News do not need
IN he remint,ed-oi the recent war between
that State, or, rather, between its Dictator
r,onez and the Allied Powers, Brazil and the
Argentine Confederation. The war, alter
being prolonged beyond oil previous calcu-
latiou, was terminated by the death OF Lopez.
The famished and exhausted Paraguayans
laid down their arms and submitted to their
conouerors, and the two Powers agreed TO
establish joint administration OF the affairs
of the conquered country. By the terms OF
the treaty OF alliance concluded between the
Fmperor of Brazil and the Argentine Con-
federation, before the war, the integrity OF
Paraguay was to he respected. But no
sooner had that country been subdued than
differences arose as TO the Interpretation OF
this clause. Brazil set up aclaim to strip
of Paraguayan Territory, which, according
to her, belonged legally to the Empire, but
had been occupied by Lopez in violation OF
international law. The Argentine Confed-
GRAFTON, on it's side, put forward certain ad-
cient pretensons to that vast and almost
desert portion. OF Paraguay called Gran
Chaco, situsled or the right or western bank
OF the River Paraguay. The Paraguayans
thereupon chose the least OF the two eVlls'
an1 signed treaty with Brazil, ceding to
her The territory claimed by her, on condl-
ton that she would guarantee the integrity |
OF the remaining territory OF their Republic.
Brazil assented to this, aud consequently |
the territory was handed over to her; but the
news of this arrangement naturally produced
ereat irritation at Buenos Ayres. The Ar
.enline PIenipotentiary was Immediately re-
culled from Assumption, and Argentine
troops we're sent to occupy the chief positions
in Gran Chaco. At the same time the Jour-
nails OF Rio Janeiro and Of Buenos Ayres
out in the most violent denuncia-
tions, the former accusing the Government
of the Confederation OF breach OF faith, and
the latter retorLing the charges OF treachery
and falsehood upon the Brazilian Govern
ment. Diplomatic negotiations were entered
norriQ1 In tne |
present time, but without producing any re-
sult The Confederation refuses to renounce
it's pretens,ons to Gran Chaco, and Brazil
refuses to give up the territory ceded to her
by the Paraguayans, whom. moreover, she
has bound herself to protect. In fultilment
of this engagement, she has sent Two lroh-
clads into the Parana, threatening the City
OF Buenos Ayres. Belligerent notes have
been exchanged, but, more recently, there
has been slightly favorable change in the
situation.
Meanwhile, however, the Republic OF Boil
via has set up claim to Gran Chaco, which,
at q glurce at the map OF South America,
will show to be a more reasonable one than
that OF the Argentine Confederation. There
Is no natural boundary-nothing but an ar
titicial Observation-Disclosures Bolivia and Gran
Chaco, while there is the great River Yer
meio to form natural division between the
latter and the Confederate Territories The
truth is that there never has been any we'll
defined understanding as to the territorial
rights OF these great South American States.
After The conquest of Perm by the Spaniards.
the whole OF the Continent, from the mouth
OF the Plate to the Pacific Ocean, including
Paraguay, was included in the Viceroyalty
OF Peru. But, in l776, La Plata, including
all the Spanish dependencies east OF the Cor
dilleras, was erected into an independent
government, which continued until the be-
ginning ef the present century, when the
South Americans threw oil the yoke OF Spain.
Paraguay became separate AID independ-
ent State; 80 did Bolivia, which annexed a
large portion OF La Plata and some districts
on the Cordilleras. But BueLos Ayres be-
came scene Of civil war, which lasted un-
til 1924, when an attempt was made at fede-
ration among its provinces This was not
fully carried out until the defeat and flight OF
Rosas, its President, in 1862. Uruguay took
an active part against Buenos Ayres, and ia
not unlikely to sustain Bolivia in her preten-
sions. Surely this is case for arbitration;
but Paraguay is too tempting prize to be
let alone.
Could Grant Do the Like: