The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-26
SOUTH AMERICAN AFFAIRS.
Interesting Diplomatic Correspond
ence Between Chile and Bolivia.

1
Interesting Diplomatic Correspond
ence Between Chile and Bolivia.
NEW YORK, Nov. 25.-The lates
steamer from the South Pacific bring!
newspapers publishing two importan
diplomatic documents. the circular Of the
Chilean Foreign Minister to all his agent.
abroad. and the answer of Senior Eliodorc
yillazon. the Bolivian Minister of Foreign
Affairs. to the peremptory note OF the
Chilean representative in Bolivia. These
| two documents are the latest Of numer-
GUS and voluminous series of similar doc
| uments which possess great interest for
| the United States. whose name. influence
and policy are frequently quoted and ap-
pealed to in them.
The series began last spring by the pub
| LEGATION in Peru, by Senior Alexandra Gar
| land, of pamphlet in which he said that
il Chile persisted in her determination
soon to occupy, In violation Of former
treaties, the Peruvian provinces Of Tacna
and africa, and the Bolivian littoral on
the Pacific. Peru and Bolivia had no other
resource but to throw themselves into the
arms of the United States. This extreme
conclusion was discussed in the British
press, and in that of Continental Europe
Senior Garland's pamphlet had been print
ed, published. and circulated with the
mark private" The interested Govern
ments did not consider it necessary to
express their views on the work of Senior
Garland. who published another one few
months later
These pamphlets caused a general dis.
cussion of affairs on the Pacific Coast to
be opened. In order to put stop to the
accusations Of had faith and greediness
for territorial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT by violent
means-accusations hurled at her mainly
by the people and press of South America
anxious to protect Bolivia and<Peru-Chile
suddenly took the resolution to close up.
par fas aut nefas," the pending ques-
tion with Peru and Bolivia. She made the
first open move against the latter.
Her Minister, Abraham KONG. addressed
to the Bolivian Government a note. in
which he stated rather brutality that Chile
would never return to Bolivia the littoral
which she had occupied after her victories
OF 1898. and which she retained by vir-
tue of q truce which was to be replaced by
formal treaty of peace, giving to Bolivia
a seaport on the Pacific. But now Chile
has changed her plans and desires to keep
the territories temporarily occupied by
right OF conquest, because, as her Minis
ter stated in his note of August IL last TO
the Government of Bolivia:
Victory is the supreme law of nations
The littoral is rich and is worth many
millions: we know this already. We will
keep it because it is of value: for if it was
worth nothing there would be no interest
to keep it," And he added. in regard to
the Peruvian provinces: THE Chilean
people. with q unanimity which is not
usually seen in other nations. have mani
tested their will to keep the territories of
Tacna and africa as just compensation
for the sacrifices of every kind suffered
by the country
Thus Is shown" says La Voce dItalia,'
a rather pro-Chilean- paper, 1.-THE slow in
cubation OF the spirit of conquest in
Chile But it was shown too brutally, |
and this is why the astute Minister of |
Foreign Affairs at Santiago has issued his |
remarkable circular letter to all Chilean |
abroad. The document is |
cautious and guarded. quite conciliatory
In tone. but not conceding single J.oint |
The Chilean circular admits that the Ian |
guage of Sencr KONG was not sufficiently |
dignified and proper But, at the same /
time. it states that he correctly ex-
pounded the conditions to be imposed by |
Chile upon Bolivia for the Transformation
of the temporary convention of truce into
a perpetual treaty or peace.
The answer of Senior Villazon. the b.
liyian Minister of Foreign Affairs, to the
note delivered by Senior KONG is couched
in highly diplomatic terms disdaining to
ailude to the harsh language of Senior
KONG. 1t demonstrates with great clear
ness and emphasis the rights of Bolivia.
according to the rules of International
law. Senior Villazon proves that, If
final understanding has been delayed for
seventeen years. it was not the fault of
Bolivia and Peru, as intimated in Senior
konig's note Both Of them have repeat
sdly inaugurated diplomatic moves in the
hope of inducing Chile to agree to definite
so that they might, under
proper indemnities, recover possession of
territories left temporarily to the Chile
ms, who have made their occupation of
these territories profitable.
The circular letter of the Santiago
Government declares that Chile is deter
mined at last to settle the pending ques-
ion. and It may soon send to the Peruvian
Government note somewhat similar to
hat delivered by Senior Konig-to Bolivia.
vt any rate, the courteous. though firm,
one of the answer written by Senior WILL
zon leaves room for the hope that diplo-
macy, and not the cannon. will settle
he old dispute between Chile on the one
ide and Bolivia and Peru on the other.