The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-09-09
THREE.coRNEREp WAR.
Chill, Peru and the Argentine RepablIC
Likely to Come to Blows.

Correspondence OF Associated Press,)
VALPARAISO. Chill, Sept, ia
three.sided conflict is In prospect en-
account Of the Tacna-Ane question.
which has remained In allegiance since
the treaty OF Aneon, which terminated
in 1854 the victorious war OF chill
against Peru and Bolivia.
II was agreed then that the victor
was TO occupy the Peruvian provinces
OF Taena and africa Tor ten years,
after which plebiscitum was 20 de-
clare whether those provinces wanted
10 be Incorporated with Chill or re-
turned to Peru
The days passed OF, however, with
out any plebiseitum being taken. The
Chileans put II or on this or that pre-
text because Il Is claimed they wanted
to eoloniEe the provinces with their
own people and thus secure majority
In their favor at the holding OF the
plebiscitum. II Is asserted that they
sent their soldiers and all kinds OF
people from the slums OF the Chilean
seaports.
But Peru held that only legitimate
natives OF the two provinces should be
entitled to vote at the plebiseltum. and
that the method Of voting and the
qualifications OF voters should be de-
termined by special protocol, as pro-
vided for in the Ancon treaty. Chill
at last consented to this, In 1898, at n
time when she anticipated war with
the Argentine Republic and feared
Peru might side with the latter, The
Billinghurst-La Torro protocol was
then signed at Santiago and approved
by the Chilean senate. But Chill peace
fully arranged her dispute with Argen-
tira. and her chamber OF deputies did
not even discuss the question Of the
protocol. which being approved only
by the senate remained dead letter.
The question Of the final ownership OF
Tacna and africa has thus remained
unsettled, and Chill still occupies the
provinces with the deliberate intention,
according to many Chilean papers and
political speakers. OF keeping them
forever. Still many Chileans admit
that "Chileanization" OF the TWO prov
inces has produced no effect and that
they are as strongly attached to their
mother country as on the day when
they were taken from her. and that the
two provinces are eagerly waiting for
the day when they win be freed from
Chilean domination.
Peru makes an appeal to arbttratiC1
in order to settle peacefully the quest
OF the final ownership OF these provin-
ces. And here comes the point where
the United States and the Argentine
Republic are dragged into the dispute.
The United States government, hav-
ing invited all the Spanish-American
countries to participate in the second
pan-American congress, to be held at
Mexico in October. 1901, must have been
surprised to receive from the Chilean
government a conditional acceptance.
Chill. being aware that the congress
was to proclaim arbitration as the only
method to settle international differen-
oes on this continent. answered that 1t
would send representatives to the con-
gress only on the condition that arbi-
tration should apply exclusively to fu-
ture disputes. The acceptance Of such
condition. II Is pointed out. would
leave Chill free to act as she pleased
with reference to the annexation Of
Tacna and africa.
Meanwhile the people Of Argentina
began to fear that the Chileans would
not accept the decision about the Chllo-
Argentina frontier question which had
been submitted TO the arbitration Of
Queen Victoria. And as If to support
and Justify their fears, 1t Is reported
that the Chilean government has tres
passed upon the absolute rights Of the
arbitrator in imposing the obligation OF
limiting the award to such and such
points.
No wonder that amid this mess Of
conflicts the governments are making
preparations for war. While Chill has
sent to Germany her favorite. General
Korner. to buy guns and cannon. Pc
ru has despatched on a similar errand
her former president, General Caceres.
and the Argentine Republic is drill
ing it's national guards. In addition
there is about TO be instituted in Chill
compulsory military service. and the
regrettable system Of armed peace may
be inflicted upon the republics Of South
America az a result of the fact that
Chill now holds over them sword Of
Damocles through her unwillingness to
settle finally the old question Of Tacna
and africa.