The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-12
CALL FOR TROOPS
Argentina and Chile Continue
Preparations For War.
Neither Party Seems Really
Anxious For Peace.
FRIENDLY RELATIONS
Are Liable to Be Severed at Any
Time Now.
Argentina Will Not Accept Any
Foreign Mediation.

New York, Dec IA dispatch to the
Herald from Valparaiso, Chile, says:
The Chilean government will call into
service two forces of conscripts as the
result of similar action on the part OF
Argentina.
In official circles there is a growing
conviction that Chile is seeking a pre-
text to escape frona giving definite
reply to the Argentine proposals for the
settlement of the dispute in regard to
the roads or pathways opened in the
disputed territory. says the Buenos
Ayres correspondent of the Herald.
This belief is based upon the request
by Chile for the postponement of the
next conference between Senor Yanez,
the Chilean secretary of foreign affairs,
and the Argentine minister to Chile.
Senor Portela. until Friday.
1t is generally believed that the dis
pute will not be settled on that day.
that Argentine will be forced to recall
Minister Portela, that the government
will send troops to occupy the roads or
that a statement will be made to King
Edward of Great Britain, the arbitrator
of the boundary question
The seriousness of the situation is ap-
parent from the statements made in the
Tribuna, President Roca's organ. That
newspaper reflects the opinion in Off
C1aI circles. 1t says.
THE minister of foreign affairs has
communicated to the president the re-
port of the governor of Santa Cruz,
which shows that the invaders of Ar
gentine territory We're two Chilean po-
lice agents.
1T is said that the government has
received another communication from
the Argentine minister at Santiago. The
contents of this communication are be-
ing kept secret, but there are indica-
tions that it contains alarming news,
and that the government is obliged to
adopt the firmest measures.
1T looks though the first measure
to be taken will be the recall of the Ar
gentine minister in Chile.
Are we on the verge of war? We
hesitate to believe it, but it is certainly
not firm enough to decide the question
in accordance with reason and dignity.
This is very bad. The Argentine
government cannot adopt the Chilean
policy of Withholding a decision. We
will, therefore, be obliged to break off
diplomatic relations with Chile, and to
accept a situation which, though not
a war, is not very far from it,
Another Buenos Ayres newspaper an
nounces that private dispatch from
Santiago says that the United States
minister in Chile has rendered the good
offices of his government to prevent
hostilities between Argentina and Chile
The newspaper in commenting on this
dispatch says:
I'VE know that the United States
minister in Santiago, Mr.. Henry L. Will
son, is not a friend of the Argentine
Republic. Our government will not ac-
cept any foreign mediation. 1t has de-
cided upon that policy"
Military and naval preparations are
being made to meet emergencies The
minister of marine has ordered the
training ship Sarn1iento. which has
been at Alexandria, Egypt to go to
Gibraltar and wait there for further
instructions. The Sarmiento sailed yes
terday-
Negotiations are taking place for the
purchase of two iron merchant vessels
to be converted into auxiliary cruisers.