Evening star., 1901-05-27
| ground from whence to make good her
| contention that to arbitrate this question
involves her honor.

contention that to arbitrate this question
involves her honor.
Seventeen Years in Possession.
'The fact that this point has been made
purposely the controversial point of the is
sue because Chile was certain that Peru
would never agree to concede the right to
vote to temporary Chilean residents,
proves to what extent Chile is determined
to obstruct the natural settlement of the
dispute. and to ignore the very spirit and
letter of the treaty of peace.
BY the provisions of this treaty Chile
has been ten years of legal and unmolested
possession in which to gain the good will
of the inhabitants and to make them see
the advantages of Chilean institutions
These ten years she has now extended to
seventeen. And when Peru asks her to
abide by her signed pledge, she simply
takes no notice; and when she is asked to
submit the point to an impartial arbitrator
she turns round and declares she cannot
because it involves her honor.
1t is well to recall here Secretary Oh
neyS memorable words in his statement on
the Venezuela boundary question. They at
least. Ii no others, will convey to the pub
lie of this free and generous country the
true note of the situation, which Chile has
forced upon Peru by her stubborn deter
m1natlon MN. OF neither @ settling directly or by
arbltratlon the TaCna and africa dispute
Upon what principle-except her feeble
ness as nation-is she to be denied the
rlsht of having the claim heard and passed
nor shadow OF reason, appears in all the
VoIuminouS literature of the subject 1t is
to be so because | will it to- be so' seems
TO be the only Justification Great Britain
offers
Negotiations Not Rcopened.
-Four months have transpired since the
Chilean chamber threw out the arbitration
protocol, and notwithstanding that the de-
tenders of Chile proclaim that it was done
in order to enable the executive to reopen
negotiations with Peru, nothing has been
done in the premises, but Chile has not
tailed to continue her policy of Chileaniz-
ing the disputed territory, adopted every
measure, however odious and harsh, to EN-
bltter the situation; thus, the Peruvian
schools have been forcibly closed the pas
tors and teachers driven from their native
land, the Peruvian merchants and laborers
boycOIted.
And 1t is the nation which does this
that declares that her honor does not al
low her to submit the question to arbi-
traton.
Peru has at all times been a devoted
adherent to the principle of arbitration.
She has given her voice and vote for this
prlnclple In all past congresses and con-
tlnueS to favor that SaIutary means of
avoiding international conflicts. In this
respect she has been glad to find herself
IN company with the United States and
with the South American countries which
with the exception of Chile, have in past
congresses favored and adopted arbitra-
ton as the means of adjusting differences
Peru is hopeful that this enlightened prin-
clpie Will be preserved. without limitations
favorable to those opposing arbitration,
ana without any advance action open to
the construction of, including excluding,
particular questions of difference