New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-14
OUR INFL UENCE IN SOUTH AMERICA

OUR INFL UENCE IN SOUTH AMERICA.
Many recent facts which, coming one by one,
may have attracted but slight attention from
newspaper readers, taken together are signf
cant of the growing influence of the United
States in the affairs of the South American ma
tons. We may mention two or three. The
long standing dispute between Chill and the
Argentine Republic respecting the true boun-
dairy OF the two countries, has just been settled
to the satisfaction Of both by a conference be-
tween our Minister in Santiago and or Minister
in Bucnos Ayrcs. The chief cause of difference
grew out of the occupation of portions of Pata-
gonia by Chill and her establishment of mill
tary posts on the Straits of Magellan. The
Argentine Government claimed the whole
country, but took active measures to make
good its claim. Now the two American Min
listers recommend that the old recognized
boundary of the summit of the Andes shall be
prolonged southwark through Patagonia to ati-
| tude 52o 40 and longitude TO, and that from
that point line be run southeast to Point
Dungcncss on the Straits, and thence to Cape
Horn, dividing the Island of Terra del Fuego
into nearly equal parts. From the tone of the
CHILEAN and Argentine press there seems TO be
| no doubt as to the cordial acquicsccncc of the
Governments and people of the two Republics
in this settlement
The Governments of Chill and Colombia have
recently concluded a treaty by which all future
questions which may arise between them shall
be referred to the United States for arbitration
a movement is on foot to bring all the other
South American countries into Il general agree
mcnt OF the same nature. The attitude of our
Government toward this movement is one of
Willingness to serve rs a mediator if wanted,
but the plan does not originate with us and is
not pressed by our diplomatic representatives.
If 1t is adopted it will prevent wars and greatly
favor the security and development of all the
countries between the Isthmus and Cape Horn
The Provisional Government Of Peru recently
sent n special diplomatic agent to Washing ton
to cntrcat that the influence of our Govern
ment should be used to preserve the autonomy
of that country and oppose all projects for an
ncXing it to Chilli. No public announcements
has yet been made of the policy of the Admins
tration in this regard, but it may well be sur
missed that, with all our friendly feeling for
Chill and our admiration for her spirited and
successful campaign against her now PROSTATE
adversary, we should not ,ook with favor upon
the long continued control Of Peru as a con-
qucrcd province. The country is not contigu-
ous to Chill save where ii touches the narrow
coast-Strip recently annexed from Bolivia and
1t would not be possible for the victors to anal
gamatc 1t with their own territory and make
OF both countries one homogeneous nation
Thus the alternative is between the liberation
OF Peru and its permanent occupancy bv a large
CHILEAN military force hateful to it. people and
ruling them in the interests of the politics and
commerce of Santiago and Valparaiso Peru
has made poor record as IN independent
nation, but she might do worse a. IL Gillian
province.
In all the nine Republics of south America
the disposition of the people is to look upon the
United States rs an elder sister in the family of
self govcrning nations, that can be depended
upon for friendly counsel in their difficulties
with each other, and that takes ut all times a
cordial, uuscliSh interest in their welfare If
any one Of them feels for the moment less of
amlty and confidence than the others il is prob
ably Colombia, whose Government ha, fallen
somewhat under French influence since the de-
vcopmcnt of the De Lcsscps canal project. Ii
Is not likely, however, that the people of Co
lombia sympathZe with the apparent desire OF
some of their officials to prefer French to
American guidance in the affairs of the 18TH
mus, or would approve any movement to set
aside the Treaty of 1916, which gives To the
United States peculiar privileges upon all inter
oceanic transit routes passing through the State
of Panama In that treaty the United States
guaranteed the perfect neutrality of the 18TH
mus and the rights of sovereignty and property
which Colombia possesses over it. In return
Colombia guaranteed to the Government of the
United States that the right of transit from sea
to sea shall Toe open and free to its citizens that
no higher tolls shall be charged upon the per
sons or goods of such citizens than those
charged citizens of Colombia, and that no i'm
port duties shall sbe levied upon United States
merchandise passing through the Isthmus
Tor tho purpose of Incorporation. In n
word, Colombia Chen New -Grenada) and the
United States formed partnership for
their mutual benefit concerning all transit
routes opened or to be opened across the
lSthmus. a twenty years limit was fixed for
the Treaty of lS46 to run, but it was stimulated
that If neither party gave notice twelve months
previous to its expiration Of a desire to change
any of It's provisions, the treaty should con-
TIME IN full force until such notice should be
given. The treaty is therefore rs valid TODAY
ever. Colombia has had the benefit for
thilty-iivc years of our guarantee of her sover-
cign rights Oh the lsthmus, and it is not TO be
supposed that she will be so unfair as to
seek To deprive lis of the compensatory priyi-
lcges the treaty gives us now they are likely to
become of real Importance
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Successful trade has been conspicuouslv reure-
scented in the last two British Cabinets. That of