New-York tribune., 1903-03-06
WITHDRAWS FROM ACRE
RUBBER SYNDICATE OUT.
viii GiUe Up Concession From
Bolivia for S114,OOO.

It was reported yesterday that an agreement
has been reached between the Brazilian ana
Bolivian governments and the Anglo-Arlell le0ii
syndicate, which holds a concession 10 aDou'
eighty thousand square miles OF rupper ld'iuo
IN the State of Acre whereby the syndicate Will
retire from the field and give up It's clalihs III
consideration of the payment Of $114'oO"- Inc
money 1t is understood, will be advanced oS
Brazil but will come to the syndicate through
Bolivia, from which country the concession was
originally obtained and to which all payments
have been made.
The concession was obtained from the Bo-
liyian Government through Sir Martin conway
the English mountain climber, IN l9OI. HIS
grant entitled the syndicate to a thirty year
lease with the privilege of renewal, and gave
1t the right to buy all the land owned by the
government in the SOOO0-me tract at about
two cents an acre the purchase carrying with
it the ownership Of all the rubber and otner
trees on the land. This vast area Is In the otte
Of Acre on the eastern slope OF the RhoeS'
which is the subject Of a triangular boundary
dispute between Peru, Brazil and Bolivia The
syndicate was further empowered to administer
hscsIlv. to police and to govern the territory.
From the outset Peru and Brazil have fought
the concession, and the American ownership or
tho GRANT has threatened to involve the United
states in the DISPUTE over the territorial control.
which at times has re >,hed the state of actual
armed conflict between Brazi and Peru II the
report that the syndicate cancelled It's claims
proves to be true, the United States VIII no"
be in a Cisinterested position to act as mediator
between the diverse interests 1t has been sug-
gested that the dispute over territorial rights
should be referred to The Hague tribunal but
10 actual step in this direction has been yet
taken.
The financial interests of the Bolivian syndl-
cate were represented by August Belmont d
Co Vermilve & Co. Brown Brothers " Co,
Frederic P Olcott and Others of this city, and
the Deutscher Bank and other financial houses
in Berlin. F. w. Whitridge was the representa-
tive Of the syndicate, and signed the contract
In its behalf with the Bolivian Minister at Lon
don last June. He also secured the German in
terest in the syndicates plans.
The dispute over the Acre territory is at an
acute stage
Sir William Martin Conway, OF the Anglo
American syndicate interested in rubber lands
in Acre over which Brazil and Bolivia are in
DISPUTE arrived yesterday from England OH the
Oceanic At the Hotel Manhattan last evening
he said it was not likely that anything would
be done in regard to Acre for few days. as the
local manager Of the syndicate is out OF the
city.
The latest papers at hand from Bolivia anu
Brazil are filed with evidences Of patriotic IN
terest. At La Paz the departure or the DO
Iivian troops for the defence of Acre took place
among scenes OF the greatest enthusiasm; even
old Senators wanting to enlist as volunteers.
The peoples attention was completely mo-
nopolized by patriotic and warlike manifesto
tt rs that they did not discuss the political
measure adopted before his departure with the
soldiers for Acre. by President General Pando'
who had put in jail and afterward bsnished
Vice President Velasco his opponent in regard
to the internal and external policy of Bolivia.
In Brazil, many cities follow the example of
Belem-Para, Bahia. etc. which are forming bat
taIons of volunteers, called Rio Branco battal-
ions in honor of the great statesman and pa
triotic Minister Of Foreign Affairs, the Baron
do Rio Branco. The Brazilian papers say that
the Acre question had become so acute be-
cause the best rubber lands were owned by
high personages in the government and society
circles of Bolivia, who understood that sale
or q lease of their lands to the Anglo-American
syndicate would be greatly to their advantage.