New-York tribune., 1903-04-09
NEW SOUTH AMERICAN REPUBLIC?

II the news published at the end of February in
the latest papers at hand from Rio Janero ana
Ruenos Avres is confirmed and supported by later
tidings an attempt is being made to form in the
Acre territory an independent republic like that
formed three years ago by Galvez which was
nromptly annihllated by the Bolivians. This time
the independent movement is said to he led by
Colonel Placido Castro chief of the Brazilian set
Tiers i'm the rubber forests, who succeeded in de-
featinS the Bolivian troops at La Empreza, and
capturing those who were besieged by him for six
months in the fortified town, rather custom
house barbor of Puerto Alfonso the Acre River.
After this defeat the government at La Paz as
sented to discuss peacefully with that at Rio
Janeiro the question of which of their respective
nations should be the owner of the famous and
immensely rich territory of Acre
II was expected naturally that the Brazilian set
tiers would be in favor of their annexation to
Brazil whose laws and financial system had been
recently adopted by their representative men, no
tably in proclamation by Placido Castro. But
they may have had their heads turned ny their
victories over the Bolivians, and they may think
Il possible to maintain independent republic
over a territory claimed by powerful neghboring
nations. Anyhow, Colonel Placido Castro has in
formed the Governor of the Brazilian State OF Para
within which is the loading port of the rubber for
Europe and America. that the Acrean population
have proclaimed him Governor and commander of
the troops of the free State of Acre.
Such are the terms of the cable dispatch published
In New-York but the South American papers are
m explicit,
which presides PIacido Castro has just launched
decree bv which are fixed the frontiers of the re
pubic' of Acre The words free State OF the
BILE dispatch do not necessarily imply the idea of
a republic since Brazil is composed of States which
are all free and independent within the fed
eral organization. A newspaper from Manaos,
the port of the State of Amazonas which
has the most intimate relations with Acre.
and whence started and ammunition
to help the Brazilians in their fight against
the Bolivians. stated that PlaCldo Castro
was organizing a battalion. TO which he had given
the name of Siivero Merry. This seems TO indicate
ne o-Brazian tendencies or the ACFean leader.
State of Amazonas. ever sympathetic with the
Besides that the proclamation Of an inde-
pendent republic by Colonel Castro would con-
the Brazilian Government is already taking in
gard the contested territory abandoned by the
Bolivans The Minister of Finance at Rio
Janeiro is studying the decree, by which he
establish in Acre custom mousse IN conformity
with the modus vivendi agreed 10 in the latest
negotiations between Brazil and Bolivia. As 10 the
frontier limits of the state or republic" OF
Acre they are roughly indicated as follows. ac-
cording to the Rio Janeiro and Manaos neWSpa-
pers: Northward, BraZil. from the sources OF the
Riy er Javary up to Benz and the Orton rivers,
the southwest; southwark, the line VIII follow
the parallel OF Ecuador from the source of the
Manuripe to the frontier OF Peru; westward, the
frontier line will be that of the Republic of Peru.
1t is known that the latter country had claims
upon certain portion Of Acre territory. but fortu-
nately. they to be arranged ny arbitration. in
case the negotiations actually opened between
Senor Viazon. Bolivian Minister OF Foreign Az
at La Paz. should not bring about a satisfactory
arrangement OF those territorial claims.