Evening star., 1901-03-09
Statement by the Minister Of Foreign
Affairs.
CHILE BLAMED FOR CAUSING DELAY
DESTROYS of Ending lnternationa
Controversy.
A REVIEW OF THE DISPUTE

The State Department and the various
foreign representatives in Washington
have received copies of a recent official
statement of the minister of foreign af-
fairs of Peru, Senor De Osma, making
vigorous response to circular note of the
Chilean foreign office touching the strained
relations between Chile, Peru and Bolivia,
growing out of the war In which these
three countries participated. Minister De
Osma. uses vigorous language in presenting
the case from the Peruvian standpoint.
The determined attitude of Peru is shown
by the minister's statement that the coun-
try will not abdicate one single iota from
the rights and expectancies to which she
is entitled under the treaties made with
Chile. Moreover, the representatives of
Peru are asked to challenge all and any
charges which affect the historic veracity
of the conflict with Chile in order that
there may be no groundless misunderstand-
ing.
Agreement With Chile.
Minister De Osma reviews the series Of
events following the war and the treaty Of
peace. The result of that conflict was an
agreement that Chile should hold the bor-
der provinces of Tacna and africa for ten
years, after which the ownership Of that
rich nitrate country was to be determined
by a vote of the people. The period Of ten
years has long since gone by, but no vote
the provinces. Another complication arose
when Chile took the seacoast front be-
longing to Bolivia. thus cutting off that
country from access to the sea. The re-
cent statements In the Chilean foreign Of
flee have tended to place the blame for
delay on Peru and Bolivia. showing that
the settlement of the frontier trouble and
the restoration of Belivias seacoast might
Nlr1,a1 Ln1 fho1
countries not postponed the negotiations.
Against this view Minister De Osma pre-
sents vigorous dissent, and says:
Chile's Persistent Delay.
mo right-minded person who studies this
vast International controversy can fail to
see that the difficulties for obtaining the re-
quired solution of the dispute between Chile,
on the one hand, and Peru and Bolivia on
the other, are in no way imputable to the
latter countries. The origin is more remote,
more ample and radical, If anything, for 1t
arises from the persistent resolve of Chile
to refuse to Bolivia the port or seaboacd
which she claims Indispensable con-
dition Of existence, and to Peru the prompt
and exact determining of the plebiscftam
which will end the irregular condition of
Tacna and africa. While these two obliga-
tfons remain in abeyance, the present diff
culties will drag on, and will become more
serious and undetermined, at least in so far
as we are concerned, because, as the gov
ernment of Peru has had occasion to ex-
press, it is the firm resolution of this ma
ton to procure, by all possible means, the
reincarnation OF these provinces"
Peru Seeks Only Her Rights.
The minister states that Peru and Boil via
have at all times been moved by q sincere
desire to have justice done. He says Peru
desires to convey to other countries the
conviction that she is exempt from hatred
and seeks only her rights In this negoria-
tion, and he appeals to the 'incontestible
testimony of facts" which he sets forth at
much length, as showing the Justice of
Peru's position. He states that repeated
attempts were made for years by the Peru
Wan foreign Office to reach an understa i'd
ing with Chile for vote as to the future
of this contested territory, land In order
to remove every possibility for any new ex-
cuse on the part Of Chile" special funds
were provided to make payment Of any In
demnity that might be awarded But Min
lister De Osma shows that, despite these
prolonged efforts, it has been impossible to
reach any final agreement under which the
controversy would be submitted to arbitra-
tion or would be otherwise settled In con-
cluston, the minister says: 'Tn the presence
of the facts and precedents which I have
narrated, it would be difficult to explain in
what manner the government of Chile could
without loss cf its International prestige
maintain as at present the controversy re-
specting Tacna and africa, and the more
general one of the Pacific"
The document Is exciting much interest
as showing the earnest efforts Peru is MAX
Ing to regain her lost provinces, which Iy-
ing along the border Of Chile and Peru &C.
cupy position somewhat similar to AIsace
and Lorraine between Germany and France