Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-06-13
THE SOUTH AMERICAN WAR.
Interview with Chilean Commissioner
His Way to Europe-.The Cause OF
All the Trouble.
New York Herald.

ne purpose OF gathering all information
bearing on the special and important
nlsk intrusted TO his care. In CONVEX
saton with representative 81 the
Herald Yesterday Senior Nunez, who Is n
gentleman will versed in all matters
pertaining to the South American re-
public, stated that the contest now rag
ing between Chile, Bolivia, and Peru
would ere long engage the attention OF
the civilized world to larger extent
than was anticipated, even by those
VINO kept themselves generally well
posted M to affairs in the southers part
Of this hemisphere.
In order to we'll understand the pres
ent troubles, said Senior Nunez, we
must 20 back somewhat, and remem-
Der that in 1910, after the war OF indie
pendence, when Peru and Chile be-
came republics, there remained large
territory which had not been a
Spanish province between Peru,
Brazil. and Chile. General Bolivar,
the George Washington of South Amer
lea called il Bolivia, though the truth
is that regardless of any other consider
ations he really parcelcd out the extent
Of this territory by drawing. 80 TO speak,
his sword across the map, saying, rms
will be Bolivia" Chill had occupied
for years this territory, and its citizens
had for u long time worked in the Des-
ert of Atacama in mining and IN guano
works, as far down NJ the Bay Of Mail
lones. In 1850 Bolivia for the first
time claimed ownership Of the north OF
the Desert of Atacama, and, further,
demanded large extension OF territory
to the twonty-ffth degree. After con
siderable trouble treaty was ut last
concluded in 1866 between Chill and
Bolivia. That treaty provided that
thenceiorward the legitimate frontiers
between the two republics should be
forever nj the twenty fourth degree, but
at the same time that the Immediate
country lying between the twenty-thlrd
and twenty fourth degrees, though by
right and law belonging to Bolivia,
should divide its revenues and taxes,
It's income upon 9uano and all matters
of that sort, with the Chilan govern
ment.
Instead of acting mp to the provisions
Of this treaty, Bolivlh, ON the contrary,
did not pay II single cent OF this rcve-
nue TO Chill between the years 1866 and
1874. II should be remembered that
this very treaty WAS obtained from
Chill ut time that Spanish
frigates were bombarding Chill
inn ports, and that Valparaiso
ut the time suffered terribly Az time
passed ON, however, IL was n very diff
cult matter for Chill to induce Bolivia
to live up to her agreement or even to
urge her TO such action. No loss than
10000 Chilians had settled themselves
in places actually belonging to Bolivia,
and they kept themselves occupied by
working tho rich silver mines OF Cara
COLES and the saltpetre district. With n
generosity but seldom equnlod in the
affairs Of nations, the CHILEAN govern
ment suddenly receded from the posi-
ton previously held, and made Bolivia
present of all tho duties she Chilli
ought to have received in eight years:
and agreeing, further, to n stipulation
that in the future it should be Bolvias
right to receive the whole Of these du-
ties. This CHILEAN generosity was, how
ever, accompanied by " request that
Bolivia should not collect tax from
the Chiian's working in Bolivia silver
and saltpetro works for twenty-five
years. This, indeed, was tho substance
OF u new treaty in 1874.
II was in March, 1878, that Bolivia
issued decree ordering that saltpetre
should pay ten cents per quintum GOO
pounds) NJ minimum for export duty.
Chill said she could not do this, accord
49, l,,. l,t nAltytu ~ nIl
upon it, AT the same time Bolivia law
officers instituted legal proceedings
against CHILEAN saltpetre company in
Autolagasta, and tho government or
dered that this company should pay
$1,000 on saltpetre exported from
March up to November, 1873. All the
time that the CHILEAN ambassador was
discussing with the Bolivian minister
the illegality of this proceeding, and
the impossibility Of enforcing such II
decree, the Bolivian government was
actually Selling the property OF the salt
petre company, and ordered II public
auction sale of this property TO take
place on February 10, 1879.
On the 1ith of February, however
the day before the great sale, four Chill
IAN lncn.Ol-WhT cnlCTcu tuc HHIhOT VI
Autofagasta. They landed $500 sol
diers, who soon took possession not
only Of the town but OF the saltpetre
works and the silver mines, about 10
miles distant. 1t must be remembered
that tho population of Autofagasta and
of the adjoining mines is composed Of
Chilians, numbering Mt least $4,000, and
there are only 800 Boil inns in the en-
tire district The mon.of-war. whose
arrival sent joy to the hearts of the in
habitants Of Autoiagasta, were the two
iron-pated frigates Lord Cochrano and
Blanco Encalada, carrying six guns
each, and both built in England, and
the two corvettcs o'Hggins and Chaca-
buco. Chilli at once issued manifesto
in which she recitcd that, hy the treaty
of 1866, she had ecded to Bolivia tho
entire territory ON condition that Chilli
ans should not pay taxes; but in SO far
rs Bolivia had violated that treaty, the
compact was now considered broken
and at an end. Chill then said: "There
.Nta