BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-11-07
SANJUAN, NOVEMBER :
Editorial Comment.

Special adyicss received by the New YORK
fiapers from the scene of the Pan American
Congress would indicate that the delegates are
giving more attention to the questions OF
arbitration and of the Monroe Doctrine than
to proposals for the improvement OF trade
There is no reason to doubt that the Monroe
Doctrine will be unanimously and heartily
reafrmed, but touching arbitration there Is
q difference of opinion. The fIst Pan
American Congress, assembled in Washing
ton eleven years ago, under the guidance OF
Mr.. Blaine, approved OF compulsory arpit
ration Of disputes, and the Ministers OF
nine South American States signed tue
arbitration treaty, subject to the approval
of their several governments.
Ch:li's representatives promptly formu-
la ed protest, declaring that while their
government approved Of the principle OF
arbitration it did not accept it as uncondl.
tional and compulsory. They argued that
the Congress had exceeded its powers and
quoted from Mr.. Blaine's preliminary cir
cular, which stated that the mission OF the
gathering was {" to provide for the interes Q
OF all in the fu ure, not to settle the lnds
yidual differences of the present" In othty
words, Cblli took the ground that arbitra.
tion was not to he compulsory and was to
refer only to differences that might arise
after the ratification of the treaty and not
to questions then pending This eliminated
her pending boundary disputes and Peru's
cl i'm for the recovery of the Tacna africa
rerritory seized by Chill at the close Of the
wa in 1879. The arbitration treaty failed,
The statement made by the Chilian
i-s, -, - Loc 10 lloit1
government maintains the same attitude
view OF the fact that Peru's efforts to obtain
plebiscite of the population of the disputed
province-which is eager, she says, to return
under their old fsg-have thus far failed,
and O6ill still remains in possession of the
territory seized as hostage twenty-five
year ago. Tie Ohilian Minister fltly de-
cIares that Ohili will refuse to take part in
the Congress which assemblies in Mexico.
''if arbitration is in any sense made retro
active" 1t is not clear to what extent the
Peruvian delegates and their sympathizers
will 60 in urging that an arbitration agree
ment shall be made to apply to this existing
dispute.
The Peruvian delegate at MEXICO is
bitter though not aggressive, when he com
plains Of OhIll's greediness, and he makes
this remark the wisdom of which should
commend it to every man in the Congress-:
-" 1t is ridiculous for small republics
@ith a population of three millions Of
inhabitants to think Of playing at war and
spending their feo resources for the ne.es
sGry naGteriGLn
With vast and sparsely populated areas
and endless mineral and agricultural re.
sou; ces, the development Of which would
make them all ch, the southern republics
as rule show practically mo increase in
population and are up to their ears in debt.
Whyi Because one portion of the people
are engaged in shooting another portion in
their inte-minable wars and revolutions, and
the rest of the inhabitants are too busy dodg.
ing the bullets to do much else. As result
their finances are demorali<ed, they can bor-
row only on ruinous terms and the foreign
capital which otherwise would pcur in to de
vtlop their natural wealth is frightened
away. The Congress should adopt measures
for the faciIitation of commerce, but unless
it secures the adoption Of the principle OF
arbitration to promote peace to- the peoples
and give stability to their governments its
labors will be Of little avail.