The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-07
Significance of the Settlement
of the Argentine Bound
airy Dispute.
HUMANE METHODS APPROVED.
Cleveland Speaks Wisely on the
Wisdom of international
Arbitration.

special Brazilian plenipotentiaries who
represented the case of that country in the
arbitration of the boundary contention
with the Argentine Republic, presented
their letters of recall to President Cleveland
to-day and said farewell. These plenipo-
tentiaries were accompanied by the at
taches of the legation and were presented
by Acting Secretary Uhl in the blue room.
While the speeches exchanged were
rather out of the usual order, in view of
the character of the mission the remarks
of the President in response to Baron Rio
Branco, who acted as spokesman for the
Brazilians, were significant where they
touched on arbitration, having in mind
the efforts now being made to induce
Great Britain to submit her boundary dis
pute with Venezuela to this method of
settlement. The Brazilians were re-
splendent in gold lace and embroideries
and medals and ribbons, in marked con-
trast to the black attire of the President
and Secretary Uhl. After the formal pres
entation Baron Rio Branco said
''Mr. President: rhe award rendered by
your Excellency on the boundary question
submitted for arbitration by my Govern
ment and that of the Argentine Republic
under the treaty of the 7th of September,
1889, has fulfilled the object of the special
missions which, during nearly two years,
l have had the good fortune to discharge
in conjunction with General Cerquira near
your Excellency. Thus 1 have the honor
to present two letters from the President of
the United States of Brazil, in one of
which he expresses his appreciation and
that of the Brazilian nation for the gra-
cious solicitude with which your Excel
lency, in the midst of grave duties pertain
ing TO your high Office, examined and de-
termined the questions submitted to your
decision, and in the other of which he
gives notice of the recall of the two Minis
tiers on the special mission intrusted with
the advocation of the rights of Brazil The
solution of this ancient controversy was
certainly happy and honorable event for
the two friendly nations which had re-
course to the enlightened and impartial
judgment of your Excellency.
1.-THE congratulations between the Presi-
dents of the two republics clearly demon
strate that your Excellency's decision was
received in both with satisfaction, mas
much as by the removal of cause of pos
sible discord and complication it acts
powerfully toward the conservation of
peace and good neighborhood between the
two nations. 1t Is gratifying to be able to
record this new triumph of the principle
of reasonable and humane international
arbitration, the practice of which, always
earnestly advocated by the United States,
has become more frequent every day, and
marks one of the greatest advances in the
law of nations"
To the thanks of the plenipotentiary the
President replied as follows:
'Mr. Minister: 1t is very gratifying to
me to receive from your hands the letter
whereby the President of the United
States of Brazil expresses in his name and
that of the people of Brazil the appreca-
ton of my action in consenting to consider
and determine the question of boundaries
between that country and the Argentine
Republic, which was presented to me as
arbitrator by the joint choice of the two
countries concerned.
''The United States has long and earn
estly advocated the resort to international
arbitration in the settlement of difficulties
which may not be amenabfe to the ordi-
and especially for the adjustment of con-
troversies depending largely upon his
torical facts and determinable upon COM
petent evidence and under rules akin to
those which obtain in judicial procedure
Tending their example as they have done
on many occasions by themselves resort
ing to this honorable and humane form
the United States, through its chief magis-
trate, could do no less than give it's assist
ance to other friendly states in furthering
like disposition of controversies arising
between them, and hence it was not alone
gratifying pleasure to me to assume the
grave personal responsibility rendered to
me by Brazil and the Argentine Republic,
but there was also in high sense the full
fillment of an international duty toward
two friendly states which it behooved the
President of the United States to perform
in the interest of good relationship of the
western hemisphere.
During the long period of my consider
alton of the interesting questions involved
in the Missiones boundary dispute it has
been my fortune to maintain agreeable
personal relations with the ENJOYS of the
two countries who had been intrusted by
their respective Governments with the
presentation of their cases and the evil
dence and arguments in support thereof
Now that their labors and mine in this re-
gard are ended and the duty that has called
you hither is appropriately closed, it be-
comes my duty to receive your letters of
recall prior to your return to your own
country. I trust that you and your es-
teemed colleague, General Cirquira will
carry with you no less agreeable memories
than those you leave here in official and
social circles. To the friendly assurances
heretofore given of the attachment of the
Government and my countrymen for the
sister republic of South America, / am
gratified at the opportunity to add re-
newed expressions, and l beg that upon
your return to your country you will con-
yey to the President of the United States
of Brazil my best wishes that peace and
prosperity may long be the portion of that
country"
STARCH UORKS DESTROYED.