The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-28
CHILE'S SIDE.
Authoritative Statement Regarding
the Trouble With Peru.


Washington, April S.-Regarding
the present tension between Chile and
Peru over the future control of the pro-
vinces of Tacna and africa, the follow
ing authoritative statement of Chile's
side of the case has been made:
The Chilean government is in no way
responsible for the hitch in providing
for the final disposition of the provinces
in question. The treaty between Chile
and Peru made at the termination of
the war between these two countries,
beside setting forth that, at the end of
ten years the future control of Tacna
and africa should be decided by
plebisciIe. or popular vote of the inhab-
itants of the provinces named, also pro-
vided that the condition under which
the plebiscite was to be taken was to be
determined by a protocol appointed for
this purpose.
That the popular vote did not ensue
and that the decision of the people of
the provinces was not obtained at the
end of the allotted period, is accounted
for primarily by the fact that at that
time, 1894 Peru was in a state of revo-
luton and negotiations were temper
arily precluded. Later efforts to pro-
vide rules Of election for the taking Of
the plebiScite met with dismal failure.
The Peruvian government held that on
~ born inhabitants of the two provinces
were entitled to vote while Chile believ-
Ing the disposition of Tacna and africa
to be of like interest and Importance to
both native and foreign born desired the
vote to include every resident of the
provinces. The two countries were IN
able to settle upon a satisfactory
adjustment Of this point and thus the
plebiscite which was to dispose of the
provinces one way or the other was not
taken. Another phase of the matter lies
in the question Of the payment of the
SoO,OOOOOO the sum to paid over to the
country in whose favor the popular vote
decided, as a recompense to the other
Tor the loss of the provinces. Chile, in
case the plebiscite decided in her IA
Vor was willing to deposit the necessary
sum with a reputable London banking
firm, pending the settlement of the con-
IrOYerSy, but PeruS Strengthened finan-
cial condition at that time would not
allow of any such guarantee on her
part and she could only prOffer her bond
for the amount in question. After re-
peaued efforts and failures in endeaVor-
ing to establish a settlement in 1898 the
vice president of Peru formerly a resi-
dent Chilean was sent to Chile to nego-
tate but though various methods of
coming to an agreement were offered
by the Chilean minister of foreign af-
fairs all We're rejected. Finally the
Chilean executive expressed his willing
ness that in case Peru was warded the
provinces, 100000 should be paid down
and the remainder in yearly Install
ments during a stated period also
agreeing that the dispute as to the TAX
ing of the plebisicite should be settled
by outside arbitration, Peru to name tbs
arbitrator. These provisions, while hav-
Ing the sanction of the executive branch
OF the government were when submit
ted to the Chilean legislature neither
accepted nor rejected, but the debate
ended in the framing of a resolution ad-
Xising that further negotiations witt
Feru IN the matter be prosecuted thus