The San Francisco call., 1901-12-25
ADJUSTMENTS.
CHILE AND ARGENTINA.

~ ESPITE the reports that Argentina and Chile
are willing to submit their quarrel to the
- bitratiOn of King Edward and the
ing statements made from time to time by the rep
reseutatives of the two Governments at Washing
ton, those who familiar with the situation
assert that an outbreak of war is far more probable
than the establishment of lasting peace no matter
how wisely the controversy may be conducted. Be
tween the people of the two nations there has long
been rivalry for supremacy, and it is believed that
nothing short of war ending in the virtual sub
lection of one of them definitely settle it.
The two nations have a common frontier running
through the Andes Mountains for more than thirty
degrees OF latitude. In some places the boundary
line is clearly defined and consequently there are
frequent occasions for dispute The present contro-
versy has arisen from such conflict and turns upon
the assumed right of Chile to construct roads over
strip Of territory whose ownership is disputed 1t is
said, however that neither country very much
about the district in question: which is of little value
and the two peoples friendly the issue could be
easily adjusted The danger lies in the fact that each
side is eager for and the Governments are find
ing il difficult to arrange for settlement which will
not be offensive to their people 1t is therefore a
popular antagonism rather than question of state
that issue, and upon that ground that doubts
rest as the possibility of maintaining peace even
Dy lA6 dlDlAldLiOu Ol AluS LuWdIO
The rivals not unequally matched. Chile has
a population of about 3,ooo,oOO and Argentina has
about 100000, but TO counterbalance the superior
numbers of Argentina, Chile has the advantage in
financial strength and in solidarity of institutions
The debts for which the Argentine Republic is re-
spOnsible have been recently estimated $55oooo-
ooo while the Chilean debt is but SIPS 100000 The
burden OF taxation is much higher in Argentina than
in Chile, and is made by the fact that in pro-
portion to population the Cheans wealther than
their rivals
war between the two states would be quite
different affair from shat which is threatened between
Venezuela and Colombia Both Chile and Argentina
are occupied by descendants of Europeans with but
q small admixture of Indians In all Argentina it is
estimated there more than 10000 Indians and
the number in Chile IS considerably less. contest
between them would therefore be a contest between
vigorous highly civilized men and would be a war in
earnest
II the two countries could unite in the formation
OF a federal republic the result would be the estab
lishment Of a nation OF continental importance for
while the joint population would not much exceed
100000 it would unquestonably increase rapidly
through immigration well as by BIRTH and in a
time comparatively short the power of the oint re-
public would be formidable enough to make itself
felt in world politics It appears, however that
possible to arrange Union. A long and costly war
would probably convince them sooner than ANYTHING
else that Il is better to unite than to fight At anv
rate long each believes itself to be invincble
and looks upon the other with something of con-
tempt well as of hatred there is no prospect Of
getting either to agree upon terms of union that
would be fair TO the other.
It is to be noted that in each country there ;e =
strong foreign population that desires peace. and
moreover the holders of the bonds of the two Gov
ernments will exert their utmost influence to prevent
the outbreak of that might seriously in1nair
the Of either Government pay its debts The
hope Tor peace therefore is not altogether forIorn
one, notwithstanding the clamor for war from the
masses each side The task OF the arbitrators in
fact viii be difficult indeed, but not impossible
Sometimes money talk is more potent than war talk
If Carnegie will only watch closely how Congress
deals with the surplus he will get good pointer
m hrrvf 70 xosA a. r 4