Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-28
THE NITRATE PROVINCES
FAILURE TO ASCERTAIN THE DE-
SIRE OF THE INHABITANTS.
The Tension Between Chile and Peru
Regarding the Future of the
Territory in Dispute.

Respecting the present tension between
Chile and Peru regards the future con-
troll of the provinces OF Tacna and africa
1t is learned on high authority that the
Chilean government is in no way respon-
sfble 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, besides setting forth that, at
the end of ten years. the future control of
Tacna and africa should be decided by a
plebiscite or popular vote, of the inhabi-
tants of the provinces named, also provided
that the conditions under which the pie'bis-
cite be taken should be determined by a
protocol appointed for that purpose.
Dispute Over the Right to Vote.
That the popular vote did not ensue and
that the decision of the people of the prov
fnces was not obtained at the end of the
allotted period are accounted for primarily
by the fact that at that time, 1894. Peru
was in a state of revolution and negotia-
lions were temporarily precluded. Later
efforts to provide rules of election for the
taking of the plebiscite met with dismal
| failure. The Peruvian government held that
only native born inhabitants of the two
provinces were entitled to vote while Chile
believing that the disposition of the Tacna
and africa to be of like interest and i'm
portance to both native and foreign born,
desired the vote to include every resident
of the provinces. The two countries were
| unable to settle upon a satisfactory adjust
ment of that 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 $4,000 900,
the sum to be paid over by the country in
whose favor the popular vote decided as a
| recompense to the other for the loss Of the
provinces. Chile was fully competent in
giving a guarantee for the payment of the
money, in case the plebiscite decided in her
sary sum with a reputable London banking
firm pending the settlement of the con-
troversy, but Peru'S Strengthened financial
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 repeated efforts and failures in en-
deavoring to establish settlement, in 1898
the vice president of Peru. formerly resi-
dent Chilean. was sent to Chile to negotiate,
but, though various methods of coming to
ar agreement were offered by the Chilean
minister Of foreign affairs, all were re-
jected.
Chile's Proposition.
Finally the Chilean executive expressed
his willingness that, in case Peru was
awarded the provinces, the money should be
paid in the form of 81, 100000 down and the
remainder in yearly installments during a
stated period, and also agreed that the
dispute as to the taking of the plcbiscite
should be settled by outside arbitration,
Peru to name the arbitrator. These pro-
visions. while having the sanction of the
executive branch of the government. WERE
when submitted to the Chilean legislature,
neither accepted nor rejected, but the debate
ended in the framing of a resolution advis-
ing that further negotiations with Peru in
the matter be prosecuted, thus intimating
that too great a concession would be in
volved in that agreement.
Anxiety of Perm.
There is still another view of the situa-
ton, and one which is said to explain the
anxiety, particularly of the Peruvians. to
acquire possession of the provinces. b.
livia, adjoining Peru and Chile on the east,
is connected with the seacoast by q railroad
running through the southern extremity of
Peru. Should Tacna and africa eventually
remain with Chile, railroad communication
would undoubtedly be established through
these provinces from Bolivia to the sea, di-
verting the Bolivian trade to this shorter
and more direct route to the coast, and
causing Peru's revenue from customs duties
to suffer a yery material decrease