New-York tribune., 1900-12-27
ROLIYIA AND CHILL

Some curious misapprehensions seem to exist
concerning the controversy between Bolivia
and Chill. II has more than once been con-
founded with that between Peru and Chill, and
We have seen the statement made in places
where judgment and accuracy are usually to
be found, that Bolivia is seeking to regain
possession Of her provinces of Tacna and africa.
which Chill has been holding and administer
ing since the war of IS79-'S3 The truth is of
course, that TacDa and africa belonged not to
Bolivia but TO Peru and that Bolivia has
nothing whatever to do with them. 1t is the
province of Atacama, with its port of Cobiio
which Bolivia seeks to regain, and its status is
very different from that of Tacna and africa,
as we shall see from brief review OF the facts
in the case.
Chill declared war against Bolivia in 1873
ana aIso little later, against Boliyia's friend
ana ally, Peru There is indeed reason to be-
heVe mat she attacked Bolivia chiefly for the
sake OF thus reaching Peru, whose territory
was separated from her own By Bolivia's bit of
volcanic littOral -Four years of hostility made
Chilli the victor, and she then dictated terms to
the Vanquished. First she annexed-not took
for time or conditionally, but annexed out
right under title of conquest-the Bolivian
province Of Atacama. This shut Bolivia off
from the sea; but that was not Chii's chief
object 1t also brought Chill into direct con-
tact with Peru, which was what Chill wantad
Next Chill similarly annexed outright the
Peruvian province of Tarapaca which imme-
diately adJoins Atacama at the north thus
extending her territory northward for some
hundreds of miles without a break And
nnaliy she took possession temporarily of Tacna
and africa, just north of Tarapaca. pendinp tbe
payment of war indemnity by Peru but now
seems determined, in disregard of treaty IN
make that possession permanent
Bolivia's demand, or desire is therefore NOT
like Perus in the Tacna-Arica case. for fuliI
ment of treaty, but for the undoing of an ac.
| comphshed fact. She wants Chill to cede hack
10 her territory of which Chill took absolute
! and permanent possession. This she asks IN
the reasonable ground that it is a hardship for
her to be shut in from the sea- and TINS com
PEELED TO pay transit dues on all imports and
exports. Chill refuses it, however not becanse
of the intrinsic value of Atacama which is go
or the most sterile wastes on the face of tho
earth, nor because she covets Bolivian +ronsi+
oues, Tor the latter country now sends bar
foreign commerce through other channels No.
Dut she Keeps Atacama in order to maintain
the integrity OF her coast line and to keen Tara
paca and Tacna contiguous with her own main
territory She has no mind to let Bolivian fer
ritory lntrude between two parts of her own
DOMAIN, as, for example, British Columhia in.
trudes between the United States and AIael,o
Two efforts have hitherto been made n offoot
readJustment of the case One was in tho
direction OF arbitration by the United States
10 ths' however. Chill would not assent ba,-
ing apparent some prejudice against this conn
lry. The other was Bolivian looking toward
argentina for aid. Now, Argentina has
boundary dispute of her own with Chill ond
ProOaDiy mas no excess of love for the Ia attar
nut she does not wish TO lose the -valuab1o
transit dues and other advantages which sho
gets from Bolivian commerce tbe bulI, =,
Which now passes through her territorv III.
me case stands to-day. Chill is in oot,,,, ,DD
session or all she at present wants. and oir,s :.
eertalh hegemony OF the South Amorioa-
Comment On the other hand, Argentine Tel
vastly superior natural advantages :. IT.
rapidiy IN power, and is drawing mo- -
more closely into her sphere of infiranno nlt anu
bohVla and Peru, countries also az inosttu1II
"eaith IL only properly developed The no4
urai trend OF events is therefore ,o,,a., '''i'
uitilha@ checking OF Gillian amhition ca
perhaps readjustment Of boundaries go, 49,,
ing to the status quo ante belum Viii, "ecoru,