The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-12-24


chile and Argentina but few
American readers have understood
much about it. Now. however. that
this friction has entered warlike
stage. it becomes necessary To inquire
into the causes.
AS explained in Il Washington letter
in the New York Tribune. the trouble
is due primarily to Chile's longing for
additional territory. In lS43 Chile took
possession of the Straits of Magellan
and adjacent territory, disregarding
IL protest from the Argentine govern
ment and from that time forward she
has been pushing outward her bound
AIRY lines at Argentina's expense each
time with a show OF diplomatic skill
in treaty Interpretation that made re-
sistunce difficult. War almost came in
1878, but it was averted through the
good offices of.the United States minis
ter at Buenos Ayres. General Osborn
Three years later treaty was signed
laying down general rules for the de-
marcation of the frontier but there
were various delays. extending to $780,
before the work of surveying began.
At once there was trouble The sur
veyors were unable to agree. Almost Il
war followed. but in 1899 Il protocol
was signed that again took the edge
off the situation. The main point of
difference. then ana since. was in in
terpretins the language of the treaties.
The Chileans hold that the continental
divide forms the proper boundary line
while the Argentinians maintain that
the line of demarcation is the cordllera
of the Andes extending from crest TO
crest. The protocol of 1898 stipulated
only that all lands, lakes and rivers
east of the highest crests of the Andes
which divide the waters shall belong
forever to Argentina. But in that re-
gion low elevations in the valleys form
the water parting oftcner than the
ridges OF the cordiller;l. while the An
des themselves consist of il dozen near
ly parallel chains, hence these con-
hicting claims are almost iriecOncil-
able. especially with Chile anxious To
push outward The whole matter was
rnally referred to British arbitrators.
They took the ease five years ago aud
have never reported.
THE situation today says the New
York Trbune's Washington letter.
may hest be appreciated by the state
ment that in all the controversy Chile
has nothing To lose and everything to
gain. If the Argentine line is upheld.
chile will remain in unmolested pos
session of all the points where il has
had sovereign rights, but if the decis-
ion should favor the Chilean line. Chile
would obtain possession of several Ar
gentine military posts and tlourishing
colonies which are 1T present peopled
and worked by Argentine people, ANA
considered an integral part of the Ar
sentine territory from its earliest his
tory.
When the question was submitted to
arbitration it was understood that Il
perfect status quo should exist, but
this was broken in 1899 when Chilean
force occupied II position tn the east of
the Argentine line. This aggression
gave rise Ia a strong protest from the
Argentine government, and an agree
ment was signed ut the close Of 1900
by which the Two governments UNDER
took not TO execute nor to allow to he
executed any act which by its civil or
military character shall cause new agi-
tation in the two countries, which
might periurb the cordial relations that
both governments have so firmly re-
solved 10 maintain
The present crisis arises from an
mfraction OF this agreement. 1t ap-
pears that Notwithstanding The obli-
CATION Of both countries to respect the
status quo, Chile has been discovered
to have been building roads across the
cordillera TO the east OF the Argentine
line, at the same time throwing bridges
over ravhes and sorges AT certain
Strategicdl points, establishing colonies
with shops und boats and all the neces-
sary paraphernalia for the transporta-
tion of troops. far beyond the eastern
valleys within Argentine territory.
Chile claims that the roads have been
built To facilitate the work of the sur
veyors, that they are not for strategcal
but for purely scientific purposes and
general utility, and, besides. that they