The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-09
PROSPECTS FOR
 A SETTLEMENT
THE ACRE DISPUTE CAUSES lN- TERES MINISTER BRASIL GIVES OUT STATEMENT OF MES SAGE HE HAS RECEIVED.

Washington February S.-The Acre dis pute caused considerable interest here. and the news that there is a prospect for settlement without recourse to war is gratifying to all concerned. The Bo- livians contend that the ownership of .ne territory never has been in dispute that It's sovereignty had been acknowledged in 1896 by treaty by the appointment by Brazil of consular representation and other acts. The grant by Bolivia to an Anglo American firm who is developing the rubber interest, has been one of the questions which brought the controversy to an issue. Bolivia heretofore has ex- pressed her willingness to refer the dis pute to arbitration.
 New York, February S.-De Assis Brasil, minister from Brazil to the-United States, who is in this city, received a cablegram from his government today confirming the Rio Janeiro dispatch to the Associat- cd Press relative to the dispute over Acre territory in South America.
 Minister Brasil said tonight; q re- ceived cable, advices from my government today relative to the Acre matter. The Brazilian government sent an ultimatum to Bolivia in January to the effect that should Bolivia attempt to take possession of the disputed territory of Acre, Brazil would occupy and administer it until reasonable settlement of the whole dis pute had been reached.
 "I am informed by today's cablegram from the Brazilian minister of foreign af- fairs, Baron de Rio Branco, that in an- swer to this ultimatum Bolivia has agreed to the Brazilian military occupa- tion and administration of the Acre ter ritory to the west of Yaco river. The Bolivian government advises us that they are sending to Rio Janeiro a minister with a special mission to reach a satisfac- tory solution by means of an agreement GOT submitting the dispute to arbitration as Brazil herself had proposed some days before
 Porto Acre. the last point in the Acre territory, which was held by the Boliv- ian troops against the revolting Brazilian inhabitants, was captured by the revolu- tionists under Placido Castro on January 24 says the cablegram to me. Castro has been proclaimed governor by the vic- toriohs revolutionists and is ready to ac- knowledge Brazilian authority, l am ad- vised. F
 with the fall of Porto Acre there are no Bolivians left in the whole territory and the 900 Bolivian prisoners, including Governor Romero, Colonels Conseco and Ibanez. the latter two wounded, have been sent by the revolutionists to the Brazilian city of Manos, capital of the state of Amazonas This is the sub stance of my cable today. ..
 "I will say there Is every likelihood that Bolivia will declare null her contract with the Anglo-Amerlcan syndicate. for the lease of Acre territory The occupa- tion of the territory by Brazil and the nulification mean the end of the dis pute which has threatened serious con sequences"
 The minister was asked whether Bra gil would give indemnity to the Anglo American syndicate.
 That is not Brazirs business" he re- piled" since the contract with the syn dicate was made by Bolivia and not by Brazil. Brazil has nothing to do with the syndicate, not having dealt with it in any way''