New-York tribune., 1902-06-09
WAR ON BIG SYNDICATE.
BRAZIL AND PERU. AGAINST
NEW BOLIVIAN COMPANY
GREAT CONCESSIONS MAY LEAD TO
HOSTILITIES SOUTH AMERICAN
REPUBLICS AT FEVER HEAT.
rpY TELEGRAPH TO The rRrsUxz-J

Washington June S-The publication ot
Berlin dispatch in The Tribune last Thursday
outlining the plans of the Bolivian syndicate Of
New-York for the development Of eighty thou
sand square miles Of rich lands the eastern
slope of the Andes. has caused great excitement
among South American representatives espec4-
ally those from the three republics which claim
sovereignty the territory. The dispatch
will probably lead 70 the Presenta ton of rennon-
strances to the state Department against official
recognition of the syndicate by the United
States or other nations and there is thought TO
he likelihood Of declaration Of war by Brazil
and Peru against Bolivia if the Of the
concession granted by the last named country
are not so modified to prevent foreigners from
setting UP independent government in the
territory
The concession which was secured from Bo-
livia through Sir Martin Conway, the English
mountain climber. last year after he had thor
oughly explored the country. covers some OF fhe
finest land along the feeders of the Amazon.
comprised in the State of Acre, where the boun-
daries are subject triangular dispute be-
tween Brazil. Peru and Bolivia. The liberal
grant are now controlled by a New-York syn
dicate one of whose principals. F. W Whit
ridge. has been in Germany according TO me
Berlin dispatch. Ito broaden the International
basis of the enterprise and thus obtain adj
tiona1 diplomatic support in the negotiations
now pending between the syndicate and Brazil
SUPPORT OF GREAT BRITAIN SOUGHT
Sir Martin Conway who spent some time IN
Washington recently is now said to be in Lon
don soliciting the diplomatic support of Great
Britain. The dispatch said further: The Bo-
ifvfan syndicate has been authorized TO admin
ister fscal1y. to police and to govern eighty
thousan nd square miles of rubber forests in Bo-
livia and the output of this country will have
to be transported on rivers which cross the
Brazilian frontier. 1t will also pay an export
duty to certain Brazilian States. and chiefly 70
the State Of Amazona- The apprehension OF me
Brazilian Government arising from the fact that
Americans are obtaining fiscal rights in and
police control over vast a territory in Bo-
Ivfa a strip of which territory is claimed BY
Brazil has created a difficulty which has made
interna tional partition and ownership desirable
American interests however. will predomfrate
At the State Department there is declared to
be no ground whatever for the alarm ma anifssted
in Brazil and Peru that the Monroe doctrine Is
threatened or that designs exist against the SOW
erefgnty of either of the republics In the State
| of Acre but the contrary, the developments
| of the territory by American and other csp'tas
| will be most advantageous to all the countries
| concerned. n,.rabIy to Brazil. through the open
| ing of the Amazon to a vast commerce To the
| unrestricted navigation of that great river the
United States has long been committed Just ss
it is to preserving the sovereignty OF American
republics over all territory belonging TO them
EXCITEMENT IN SOUTH AMERICA
The departments replies to inquiries from
Brazil Peru and Bolivia regarding the Conway
concession have been uniformly reassurirg. and
designed to convince those governments that
the syndicate has Interior motives. and. if it
had that the United States could not support
them. But the latest mails from South America
indicate intense excitement over the matter. and
f~16
States are questioned. President Campos Sales
of Brazil according to a Rio newspaper, In his
message to Congress, dated May 3 last, referring
to Acre dispute. calls attention to the recent
lease by Bolivia al American syndicate of
vast territory in the Amazon region. such syndi-
cate having powers of internal administration.
Bolivia offered Brazil one-ffth of the syndi-
Gates holdings. to which Brazil replied IL
such territory thus leased is still the subject OF
contention with another nation Peru). and that
Bolivia by the proposed lease. which gives to
the lessee the use of military force. really gives
up her sovereign rights so that IL Brazil were
a party to such an arrangement she would have
to meet face face authorities which she
never and will never acknowledge
This important declaration made 20 Be-
Iivia in Lote dated April II. the Brazilian
Government having simultaneously asked Con-
gress to withdraw the treaty Of commerce and
navigation with Bolivia which had been sub
mitted for its approval The details OF the
cessfon and the local view OF it's terms are given
by Para correspondent to THE South Ameri-
can Journal" of London, follows:
The fresh trouble between Brazil and Bolivia
is because the Bolivian Government has leased
the territory of Acre to Anglo-ATnerican
syndicate have a copy OF the contract befors
me and ! that the contract was signed by
Felix AvelinO AramayO Minister Plenipotentiary
of Bolivia TO the Court of ST. James. beha-G
OF the Government of Bolivia. and Mr.. Frederic
WilingfOrd Whitridge, of Wall-st, New-York.
on behalf of the syndicate. June IL last year.
The BrazIans are very angry about this lease:
they have been in fear of this very thing ever
since the celebrated voyage of the United States
ship Wilmington, about three years ago. up to
IqIitos
THE TERMS OF THE LEASE
Clause No 1 in the lease says: The syndicate
will employ all means in their power to con-
stitute and form in England or the United States
of North America. in of its States.
in some other foreign country, company which
will have for its object. among other things. 20
assume the civil government and administra-
tion of the territory before described. in
rormitv with the laws of the country and the
prescriptions OF this contract, and collect ali
the charges. imposts. duties of the custom
house contributions, sales OF lands of the state.
and whatever other public receipts OF the state.
for the time agreed upon. within the limits of
the said territory
The lease is for thirty years. with right
70 renew on expiration. II gives the company
the government at the price OF ten cents Be-
lfvian money per hectare. This would be about
two cents American gold acre. and this In
cludes all the rubber and other trees upon the
land.
Clause 10 defines the position OF the company
with regard TO the government. and says,
THE situation OF the company in virtue OF
the concession just mentioned VIII oe tnst or
-Fr,ar 70