The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-09

4 'oftf nv ttIt1 t1
why the subject OF commercial concessions
should be treated In connection with oues-
ions relating to the final possession OF
! Tacna and africa, and that il did not suit
Chile's political purposes 10 reno'ince the
| chance OF acquiring the provinces afforded
| 10y the plebiscite clause Of the Treaty OF
Ancon. Thus ended the first Peruvian
effort TO get tho treaty carried out.
The Lima Government lost no time in
renewing negotiations. The Peruvian Min
lister OF Foreign Affairs, Senior Mariana JIM
enez. proposed hat on the 2sth OF March,
1894, when the term Of Chilean occupancy
fixed by the treaty OF peace would expire
the territories OF Tacna and Arioa should be
handed over 10 Peru, which would then
proceed to hold a plebiscite. The Chilean
envoy refused TO consider the proposal,
whereupon the Peruvian Minister suggested
as g compromise hat on the date named,
March 20, 1894. the territories in question
should be delivered 10 a neutral Power,
under whose auspices the plebiscite should
be held, and who afterward should deliver
them TO the nation In whose favor the elcc-
ton had gone. To this suggestion, also,
the Chilean envoy objected. maintaining
that his country's right to remain in pos
session until the result Of the plebiscite
should be made known was unquestionable.
Senior Jimenez, who, as himself a native Of
Tacna, was naturally eager 10 carry through
the negotiations. next submitted a memo
randum that made a great concession TO
Chile. a concession which, probably. would
never have been ratified by a Peruvian
Congress. The memorandum proposed that
the mortgaged territory should be divided
into two zones, of which the northern one
should be delivered to Peru on March 2s,
1894. after which Zach nation should fix
the rules OF procedure for the election in
its respective zone, it being agreed that the
plebiscite should be taken before Oct. l.,
1894. IL the election should result In favor
of Peru In both sections OF the territory
the indemnity fixed by the Treaty Of Ancon
should be paid to Chile in the form Of large
commercial concessions. Even If the pleb-
iscite should result in favor OF Peru only
in the northern section, proportionate
indemnity OF the same kind should never
theless be paid. The Chilean envoy. Senior
Vial Solar, recommended this arrange
ment to his Government, and he expresses
warm approval Of it in his book, Historic
"Reminiscences which was published in
1900. Nevertheless, the compromise sug-
gested was rejected by the Santiago Cow
m on the ground. apparently, that
in its opinion whichever Power should
hold control Of the Whole or a part Of the
m~ortgaged territory at the time Of tho
taking Of the plebiscite would be certain to
ncline the election in its favor. In other
words, Chile was determined to take the
pan by the handle
The second Peruvian effort to secure the
execution of the Treaty Of Ancon having
thus miscarried. Senior Jimenez. who was
still at the head of the Foreign Office In
Lima. proposed TO submit 20 arbitration
the following questions: First, to which
nation belongs the possession Of the terri
tory after March IS, 1894; secondly, does
the right to vote at the plebiscite prescribed
by the Treaty Of Ancon belong solely to the
persons whose nationality would be affected
by the definite incorporation Of Tacna and
africa with Chile, or also TO other inhabitants
Of the mortgaged territory The Chilean
envoy replied that. until the result OF the
plebiscite should be made known. his Gov
eminent could not permit Chile's right Of
occupation to lie questioned, and, conse-
quently, could not submit 1t to the decision
Of third parties.
Thereupon Seior Jimenez submitted that
Peru at all events had a right to demand
that the plebiscite should be taken In such
a form and manner as to secure to the voters
every guarantee of fairness. The force
of this argument could not be denied, and,
accordingly. on Jan. 20, 1894, the Chilean
envoy subscribed TO a preliminary agree
ment as to the conditions under which the
plebisicite should be taken, and as to the
manner in which the prescribed indemnity
Of $40. 900 900 should be paid by the nation
acquiring the territory by popular vote.
The details OF the agreement were 70 be
settled at Santiago, and, on Feb. 20, 1894.
the Peruvian envoy set them forth tenta-
lively in a memorandum presented to the
Chilean Minister Of Foreign Affairs. The
latter promised to study 1t and reply 20
il, but shortly after announced that. as
he was about 10 leave Office, he would be
unable TO keep his word. Thus the thir
Peruvian effort to obtain a fulflment of
treaty obligations failed, owing to a Cabinet
crisis in Chile. When the 27th OF March,
1894, the last day Of Chile's legal occupa-
ton Of Tacna and africa arrived, the Pc
ruvian envoy begged the Chilean Govern
ment TO give a definite form to the agree
ment outlined on Jan. 20. Chile replied
that, were IL not for the Ministerial crisis
still pending. II would have continued TO dis
cuss the details Of the agreement.
When, finally, a new Cabinet was installed
at Santiago, the new Minister Of Foreign
Affairs took an entirely different view of
the situation in Tacna and africa. In his
first interview with the Peruvian envoy he
said that since March % $3.50 the Peruvian
provinces had been left in a special" or
irregular condition, inasmuch as the term
of occupancy fixed by treaty had expired.
and II was now necessary to agree on an
extension Of the original term for a few
years. so as to arrange in the meantime for
the holding Of the plebiscite. The Peruvian
envoy expressed great surprise at this
assertion. and said that for tho very reason
that since March % the condition OF Tacna
and africa was an irregular one, the Peru
Wan Government felt bound 10 hasten
instead Of retarding the negotiations pre-
scribed by the treaty of peace. Ulti-
mately, the Chilean Minister Of Foreign
Affairs consented to discuss the protocol,
but insisted upon making a clean sweep
of the bases of Jan. 20, because, he said.