The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-09-11

nitrate territory OF Tarapaca was the real and
direct cause of the declaration. which. more
over. was hastencd by the knowledge that the
Peruvian navy stood no chance against the
new ironclads OF Chilli.
We have no intention Of recapitulatina the In
cidents Of the ensuing war. bu, We reproduce
the main features OF tho treaty which desig.
mated the fruits OF conquest. because some OF
Its provisions are not yet carried out, and their
fulnlment is likely to cause international
complications. II is, indeed. with n view to
such a contingency that pcru has lately enter.
ed into a mutually defensive alliance with the
Argentine Republic. and that Chill is now ne
gotiating with the hope of ~efrecting n similar
compact with Brazil. by the treaty be-
tween Peru and Chill signed on Oct. 20.
3 Tarapaca was coded to Chill uncondi-
ticnally and forever. But the territories Of
Tacna and africa. as far as the river Sauna,
wero to be held by Chill for ton years. and It
was then to be determined by popular vote
whether those territories should definitely be-
long to Chill or reru. 1t was further pro-
vided that the country to which they should
DO annexed in pursuance of tho popular vote
should pay $4,000. 900 to the other. There
was also mn agreement about guano which
'''S NV 'h"epiSs mn thut Nho
not proceeds OF tho cuano deposits actually
being worked Including the 100000 tons
tho sale Of which was ordered on Fob. 9. 1892
should be equally divided between tho CHILEAN
Government and the Peruvian creditors. But
Is Chill or Peru to decide who arc tho Peru
Wan creditors entitled to profit by this clause ?
That is n question which has already given
rise to controversy.
We pass to Mr.. Markham's reflections on the
results Of the war as embodied in the treaty
provisions above quoted. 1t is recognized by
the historian that Chill had attained her fun
damental aim. She had acquired the nitrate
province. and at the same time repudiated all
the obligations connected with 1t. The nitrate
was hypothecated to the creditors OF Peru. but
they were now dcfrauded by the ]conquerors.
Chill got the coveted fertilizer. ard thereby ac-
1uired a large increase OF wealth. On the
other hand. she demoralized her army and
navy by the way in which she carried on the
war. and lost the respect of her neighbors. In
Mr.. Markham's judgment the Congress OF
Venezuela did but express the verdict OF the
world. The declaration OF that Congress
was as follows: Chill. by invading the
territories Of Peru and Bolivia, and
spreading desolation and death over them.
pretends to resuscitate tho absurd right Of
conquest. and by committing repeated acts Of
cIuclly alu DurDuTlty On DTOtner nAtlOnS Sno
exhibits herself before the world MS q sinister
apparition from the most retrograde ages in
history. We solemnly protest against the in
~iIuitous and scandalous usurpation OF which
Peru and Bolivia are the victims in spite Of
their heroism. and we beseech the God Of ma
tions to look favorably on the prompt restora-
ton Of lawful sovereignty as q security for
peace and concord among the sons Of America"
Mr.. Markham regards the recent civil war in
Chilli as the retrihution that has overtaken the
spectators Of Peru. He believes that the &C.
QUESTION Of q distant and isolated province
will prove an incessant provocation to re-
bellion. Tarapaca. deriving from its own re-
sources an ample revenue. is separated from
the rest of Chilli by the vas t deserts Of Atacama.
1t Is practically an island. At any moment a
mutinous fleet can seize 1t and carry on a civil
war without risk and in safety. Thus Chilli Is
henceforth Mt the mercy. OF any ambitious
commander who can gain over the feet
cossi9n. and within eight years the fore
a basis. a civil war was started which could
Cantos and Barbosas. who massacred the help
less Peruvian Indians in 1881. were flying at
each others Threats in 1901. Two sanguinary
battles were fought. tho Santiago Govern
ment was upset. the revolution was success
full. and the Pelucones returned to power with
the successful Admiral as President