New-York tribune., 1901-01-20
THE SOUTH AMERIC4N COAST QUESTION.

Some additional particulars may be necessary
for clearer understanding of the recent dispatches
from Valparaiso and Washington relative 70 the
questions at issue between Chilli and her Peruvian
and Bolivian Neutrality-suspicious. which threaten
the peace of South America AS to Bolivia, "El
Mercurio" the recognized organ of the Chihan Gov
ernment and people has just declared that she VIII
have herself humby TO reopen negotiations LOT d
definite peace treaty since she requires the ceSsloh
of only one seaport the Pacific Coast, where sne
nossessed a long HttoraI previous her defeat in
the war of 1SIsS2 by Chill. which put into practice
the medieval European right of conquest and ap-
propriated that littOraL
As to Peru the Valparaiso dispatch IS lnsuncien[-
" explicit when saying that the Gillian Deputies
have rejected the Billnghurst-La Tore protocol
..provding for arbitration Of the Tacna-Arica dis
pute" That dispute was to be settled by a pIeols-
cite the formal and practical operation or Whcn
was to be decided by the arbitration OF SPAIN IN
1s7g Chilli declared war against Peru and Bolivia,
vanoufsbed them both, and signed. on October 20,
1883 the Ancon Treaty with Peru. which ceded for
ever the province OF Tarapaca, so Immensely r1ch
in nitrate beds
Besides that the victor demanded war indem-
nItv. which could not be obtained and was replaced
h. the tenDorarv occupation OF the Peruvian prov
tnces of Tacna and africa Article III OF the Ancon
Treaty stipulated that these provinces shall re-
main In the possession of Chilli during period or
ten years. at the expiration of which a pieoisc1te
shall decide whether the said provinces shaii re-
main with Chill or revent TO Peru. The country
in favor Of which the plebiscite shall De shaA
nav ~ the other the amount of 100000 pesos. In
Chilian or in Peruvian money A special protocol
shall Determine the form in which the pleosclte
A. 20 ba held - On several occasions the Peruvian
Government proposed the signing OF that protocOl'
but without success. Finally, in lssS Chlh havlns
some reasons TO fear war with the Argentihe re
nubIie and desirOus of securing the neutraAJ Oh
PERI, listened at last to the renewed proposltlon
of the latter and on April 16 1898. protocol was
signed bv Senior Billinghurst for Peru and senior
II rorre for Chill II was ratified Immediately by
+ba peruvian chambers and by the Gillian Senate
But II was purpOsely not acted upon oS lne ~
tan Chamber OF Deputies, anxious 70 nave 10
world think that only parliamentary GeIdys .S anu
So5 fsirb were preventing Chilli from honestly
complying with the clauses OF the IG AIcon - -
signed by her with Peru tlnaIIy a ueclslol SrS
by a vote of the Santiago Chamber. Ihat CipIo- pto
matte Instrument stated in It's nrst artSle f oI5S @
DOnts. First the parties who were enttled 10 tdAo
hart in the voting destined TO fix the dennlte owner
ship and sovereignty OF tne datn any ~ 1tionSIitv
tories determining the condtions OF
sex civil status. residence, ana any OtnSr reqtLLe
ments which must be fulnLed yr oy tns ne oret so1et
Second whether the vote shah oe puonc or SecEets
The Chilian Chamber was afraid tnat the queen
decision would give the right 10 vote only 70 me
bona ide inhabitants and exclude the Sol1leEs, au-
venturers and temporary residents. who had been
cOlOnized BY Chilli within the last six months,
especially in Tacna and africa
The plebiscite fairly carried out as the arbitrator
would have ordered II. would doubtless nave re-
suited in favor OF Peru as admitted by solar. al,
writer's, who have declared repeatedly that after
so many years of occupation by Chilli the provinces
10 he returned to Peru. their mother country"
Their patriOtic desire will not be accomplished for
some time yet. and Chilli will continue to profit by
her usufruct of these provinces, as Well as that or
the Bolivian Httoral, while the whole Of South
American will remain in ferment of anxiety about
the dispute.