The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-04-02
WARRING FOR GUANO.
THE DIFFICULTY BETWEEN CHILL
AND BOLuvIA-THE GUANO AND
NITRATE MINES.
The Occupation Of AntOfOgasta by the
ChiliRns-Thc Bolivian and Gillian
Arasplea

TO assume o threatening aspect. 1t lis doubt
ful II anybody clearly understands the mer
lts OF the question that Is the occasion OF the
present trouble. For long time there has
been disagreement between the two republics
concerning the boundary line Various at
tempts have been made to effect settlement
OF the troublesome question, but all arrange
ments have been OF short validity, and one
or the other OF the governments has discard
ed the provisions OF the treaties that have
from time to time been effected. As early ag
1867 there arose Misunderstanding about
the boundary line Chilli claimed north to
the twenty third parallel, and Bolivia south
to the twenty-sixth. Chill attempted to take
possession by force. and captured an Amerj-
can vessel, the Sportsman, that was loading
guano at Noguayan, and took her to Caldera
The American consul interposed, and no fur
ther force was used, but movements were
set on foot to effect a compromise
until 1866 when treaty was signed
giving Chill to 25o and Bolivia to 23o,
with an agreement for the joint con
troll OF the two degrees between, with an equal
guano sales. But this agreement did not al
ways work harmOniOusly. Differences arose
and threatened to cause trouble, Again ne
gotiations looking toward the permanent set
tlement of the boundary were begun, and in
1874 q new treaty was signed, fixing the boun-
Diary at 24o. But certain other provis-
ions were included in the treaty. Chill had
already granted a charter to the nitrate com
paDy at Antofogasta. Most OF ita capital was
from Santiago residents, ana the agreement
was that no export duty should be laid on nj
trate for twenty-five years. Bolivia agreed to
carry out the provisions of this charter. Chill
also retained an interest in some OF the guano
deposits south Of 24'.
THE OCCUPATION or ANTeFoaAsTA.
Peru, which has also large nitrate deposits,
has for several years been charging an export
duty and has been endeavOrng to persuade
Bolivia to do the same, that she might have
an equal chance In foreign markets. few
motnhs ago the Bolivian government, contrary
to her treaty, levied tax Of 10 cents per
qnintal on all nitrate exported from Antofo-
gasta, Mejillones, Cobija and Tocopilia. This
tax which amounted TO some S9OO0O the An
tofogasta establishment refused to pay, and
when the customs officer came to arrest him
he took refuge on Chilian war vessel that
chanced to be in the bay. The ChIian gov
ernment Immediately took notice sof this &C
ton on the part of the sister republic, and
pronounced the treaty no longer valid, as 1t
had been broken by Bolivia. Two iron-cads,
the OHiggins and the Cochrane, were imme-
dately dispatched to Antofogasta to be In
readiness tor any emergency. Small COM
panieS Of soldiers, as they could be put in
ORDER were sent by steamer and placed on
board these vessels. On the l1th Instant or
ders were sent from Santiago to the commo-
dore on board the Cochgane to occupy Anto-
fogasta and put it under martial law. On
Thursday, the thirteenth. the commodore
landed and took possession OF the town with
out meeting with any resistance whatever. A
city government was Immediately organized,
an intendente (LnayOr1, postmaster and Gus
toms officer appointed, and a circular issued
throughout the whole country that postage
would be the same as to other ports Of Chill,
PERU Go4sG TO AID BOLIVIA.
The situation Is unchanged. Chill holds
the Bolivian ports, and will not give them up
without fight. Three Peruvian iron-cladsr
cia-had been ordered to proceed to Iquique,
one OF the most southerly ports Of Peru i'm
mediately. Three Thousand soldiers were
under orders to proceed there also as soon as
transportation could be obtained. A large
number Of Chilenos are employed in the
saliere works at Iquique and on the railroad
but not sufficiently numerous to render the
presence of so large force necessary to
maintain order. 1t Is the general impression
that a strong force will be concentrated at
that point, with view of using it as base
for active operations against Chill In case of
war. The report iS current also that the gov
ernment OF Chill had refused to dicuss the
question with the Peruvian envoy, and that
the determination has been made to finally
settle all boundary and other disputes with
Bolivia in the only way which that country
appears to understand. Events are hasten
Ing to an opening OF hostilities, the result Of
which no one can predict. That Chill will
have both Bolivia and Peru to fight, appears
to be foregone conclusion Peru has old
humiIiations to ayenge and this Is her oppor-
tunity. Should Chili's old enemy, Senior
Frias, precpltate the Argentine Republicinto
the contest, things would go hard with the
model republic Of the South.
LANDING AT ANToFAGAsTA
Tbo E1,f4 PoIl
dated Antofagasta, February Is: At a. m.
on the fourteenth we arrived here without any
incident worth noting. An adjutant of Col.
Sotomayor was sent ashore at an early hour
to communicate to the prefect the resolutions
OF our government to take possession OF the
city and to advise him to make no resistance.
On that officers return preparations for dis
embarkatlon were made. This operation was
effected, not as an attacking force, but Just as
we disembark troops in our own ports TAX
ing possession of town under these condi-
tions is attended with inconvenience; for
which reason no display Of artillery, etc, was
made, which, indeed, would have been ab-
sufd. Precautions, however, were not neglect
ed; for though the boats went packed with
men, each possessed sixty cartridges, and the
officers We're prudently distributed The first
that arrived were received with open arms by
the people. The project and other principal
authorities took refuge in the Peruvian con-
sulate, and the garrison, consisting OF sixty
tel, not for defense against our troops but Id
fear of the populace.
IN QUIET POSSESSION.
SIN spite of all the precautions and OF the
efforts of the officers to inspire the people
with moderation, it was impossible 10 prevent
a few excited individuals from tearing GOWN
and destroying the Bolivian shield at the pre-.
lecture which was deserted At the tune; sosd ou5
in midst Of the greatest rejoicing. La an in
St stant u the c chiIian flag was hosted everyshere
aud the trains leaving for salina a;a were Pro,
fusely decorated. The troops dlsenoalked q a. ne
numbered 300 Seventy were senI % Cora
coles 5its' to take possession and the rest were
formed form ii in patrols to maintain order andguard
the Bolivian soldiers in the euarte laF Forty ~
alarm. The O'Higgins sails to-day to take
nassession of Maiiiones. Two Chiian news
papers have been established dat at AAntofagasta.
+ha rhjlian government to Coracoles for the
nIrnose of studying the most convenient