The sun., 1901-12-13
CRISIS In SOUTH AMERICA.
CHILE AND ARGENTINE MAY DE
INVOLVED IN VAR.
Their Relations Strained to the Utmost
over the boundary Dispute-rhis
Government Ready to Exert Its Good
Offices II Requested by Roth Republics.

WASHINGTON, Dec. I2.-Oficial de-
spatches received hero to-day indicate
that tho differences between Chlo and
the Argentine Republic have reached
n crisis Efforts 10 avert war have moi
been abandoned and the Information con-
voyed to tho State Department shows that
n continuance of peace Is not impossible
But tho state of feeling is such between
these two progressive South American
republics. that the slightest incident may
bring about hostilities.
william 7. Lord United States Minister
90 Argentine, and Henry L. Wilson, United
States Minister to Chile, both commune
Gated by telegraph with the State Depart
nent to-day The texts Of their COM
munications are not obtainable, but the
two diplomatic reports agreed substan-
italy in the opinion that the relations OF
Argentine and Chile were strained TO the
utmost. Both, however. were or the opln-
ion that war might be avoided Tho lega-
tions of the two South American nations
received information also OF the critical
condition Of AFFAIR.", and the First Secretary
Of the Argentine mission went TO the state
Department TO talk over tho situation
with Secretary Hay. with particular refer
ence, II is supposed, TO the willingness OF
the United States TO attempt 20 bring about
an adjustment Of tho dispute.
This Government will not offer its services
as me lntor until requested by both OF the
southern republics. II has, however, con-
yeyed an intimation to each that President
Roosevelt stands ready to exert his good
Offices to bring about better understanding
between them. So far there has been no
disposition on the part of either Argentine
or Chile 10 seek outside aid in bringing
them into more amicable relations and
there Is said to be disposition on the part
of both 10 resent anything that would tend
to give the impression that the United
States Government bears TO them the re-
lation of parent to his children.
The disposition TO repudiato any sigges-
ton that the United States exerts paternal
or corrective influence over the Latin
American republics has been growing IN
Chile ever since the Baltimore affair in 1891
which nearly involved this nation and the
Chilean Government in war. There are In
dications, too, that Argentine, while more
friendly to the United States than Chile is,
does not desire mediation until the absolute
impartiality of the United States on the
questions at issue has been demonstrated.
In their general disposition TO resent any
thing that would indicate the existence
OF the right of the United States 10 a voice
In the affairs Of Latin America, some OF the
South American republics have shown In
dependence except when the danger exists
Of reprisals by European nations for the
failures Of these republics to liquidate long
overdue obligations Then the United
States Government Is reminded that there
II such a thing AZ the Monroe Doctrine.
The troubles between Chile and Argentine
involve a disputed boundary and the no.
cusation that an International agreement
not to fortify the Straits Of Magellan has
been violated.