New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-16
THE CAUSES OF TnE WAR.

indemnity.
THE CAUSES or THE WAR.
Tho ,ror between Chill aud Peru originate in a
5i.nr,a bet,cecn the former country and Bolivia.
From the time that the Spanish yoke was thrown Oil
in 1894 untl about ISl2 Chill remained in peace
full possession Of the coast on the PacIhc ocean as
far north as 23S south latitude. In the latter year
cuano discoveries having been made between iat-
tudc y and - Bolivia set mp clam to that terri
torv The dispute continued until $50 when atrcaty
was male having for its purpose the settlement OF
the dispute. In Substance the treaty provided th1t
the 9th degree of latitude should be the lEe OF
division. but that all CuanO deposits within
all the disputed territory and all duties which
might he derived from the expectation OF minerals
should be divided between this two countries. Tins
treaty however, did not remove the differences and
in August, 1874. new treaty was made. Subse-
quently valuable nitrate deposits were found i'll a
part OF the disputed territory which had been set
apart to Bolivia by the treaty, ana companles were
formed to devcopc the nitrate industry. OAc OF
these companies. which became almost monopoly,
WAS composed mostly OF citizens OF Chlh. i'is
company built a railroad and developed the country
BY making investments amounting TO several
millions of dollars.
I'm February. ISIS tie Bolivian Congress- enacted
n law imposing tax on al expectation oi nitrate.
Against
promptly protested the ground that 1t vas IN di
rect conflict with tho guarantees of the treaty Of
1871. After some delay, Bolivia attempted to exc
cute the law however pite threat 10y Chill that
such action would hc regarded an ahroCation of
the treaty. and wOuid lead Chill TO assert night OF
domain to the whole territory claimed hy her prior
to 1866. In February, 1879, the ChtAUn Minister
at Bolivia enludel his passport and the Chilan
forces two days later occupied Antoiagasta the
shipping port Of the disputed terr tory and took en-
rc possession Of the country far north a. the 23d
degree south latitude.
Events marched rapidly. Chilli dlstrused Peru,
am her Minister at Lima was instructed to demand
assurances of neutrality from that Gov eminent.
These were not forthcoming. There were rumor> Of
a secret treaty of alliance between Bolivia and
Peru. The truth of which the Chilian Government
diligently sought TO ascertain. The Peruvian Min
lister to Chill upon being Intercepted replied that
h. had no kno Wedge of such treaty, and that Ae
believed no such treaty existed. Tie attitude OF
Peru at this uncture considered hegeient by |
Chill.
The demand for declaration Of neutrality was |
reiterated by the Gillian Minister at Lima on |
March H. SO and on the 2lth of the sane month |
percmptory instructions were sent to him TO INSIST
that the question Of neutrality should bc IN eGl-
atey settled. and that the military prepaIatlons e
gun III Peru should he at once suspended. The pro
ductiOn Of the secret treaty was also insisted upon
and Peru wa, asked # She was disposed to aIrogate
il Immediately. The Peruvian Government lie
clareI that it would not declare OF assume an atU-
tude OF neutrality although II ulcred 20 suspend
its waTlike preparations; that the secret treaty
with Bolivia had been long i'm existence and that 4
copy of il had been sent to be Peruvian Minister at
Chill. In his circular of April -. 1879, to friendly
nations, the Cblllan Minister Of Foreign Affairs
said:
II all this not such as il IS understood by civil
lied nations II sguihed the same thing under the
transparent disguise OF mediator who assumed the
double part Of lTeud when he Interested lcl-
long examination TO ascertain It, object au1 Tie
Ill which has been maintained confirms III the least
suspicious mind the COW con mat Il waS entered INTO
solely 0i security for the fiscal ecoti~m Of
fcIu ia IT, le'"HdIi troubles ana 10 ad The schemes
AGAINST the treaty Of l-GG. In 1873 neither Perm uor
Bolivia threatened by tho rcmotest danger terri
tonal dismemOcrnenti ana much less coud IT he tor
seen that Ch cherished such idea. seeing that had
the convention Of ls6G-applaudcd 10y the Bolivian !
people splendid manifestation OF Gillian generosity
nitrate works and in order TO sustain IT, do ISL.
Ing credit, adopted the supreme mea'nre OF fuinng
Ri industry satisfy fiscal voracy lAat could not
satisfy itself with the ordinary resources OF country
that has lived thanks 10 its ierg oral wealth,
pleie Oblivlousness Of economy and labor.
Before this the Chlliau Minister Of Fore gu Affairs
had given the Peruvian Minister at Santiago ms
passport. and had declared that il was i'm
possible for Chill to maintain friendly rela
ions with Peru. -Four davs later Chill
declared war against Peru. In the circular letter Of
he Chilian Minister of Foreign Affairs before
quoted. in which he announced the declaration OF
var against Peru, he sad, referring to the effort Of
mediation by Peru
The The mediator mediator offered himself backed by army.
whose rapid assembling testified to the prcyl sion Of
'roNlnaie conflicts; manned his navy and who utter
nS uncertain stammcrins words Of mnartialuy, t
'l0wed u 10 leak ont that his eng cement .,
van DeIgeTent had been duly sealed. II Peru
Vhlch, N II dld not decsr- first with the frnkur.S
noble resolution, commenced II first: and what IA
'Orse war hidden and sheltered uuder false pIoesta-
ions Of friendship. Il