Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-17
THE STATUS OF ACRE
SETTLEMENT REGARDED AS
HIGHLY SATISFACTORY.
United States Thanked for It's Share in
Settling the South American
Complication.

| from Minister Thompson at Petropolis, Bra
| I'll. under date of November 49, 1903 the
minister confirms his telegram to the de-
| partment Of the same date, which con-
| tanned the information that the Acre
| be undary treaty would be signed on that
| Gay. Mr.. Thompson adds that Mr..
Guachalla, one of the Bolivian plenipotenu-
| aries, called upon him and informed him
that he greatly appreciated the kindness
| and consideration which had been shown
him in regard to this matter while he was
| In Washington, as well as the attitude
| slice maintained by the Department of
State and the United States legation at
| Brazil. Mr.. Guacha1la regards the treaty
| just signed as advantageous to both coun-
| tries. and is confident it will be ratified by
| his own government.
BY the terms of the treaty Bolivia re-
| l1Equishes to Brazil not only her claim to
| the territory in dispute viz, the triangle
| lying between an oblique line drawn from
| the Madeira in 10 degrees 20 minutes south
! of the source of the Javary and the parallel
| 10 degrees 20 minutes but also cedes that
| portion of the Acre valley lying south of
| the parallel 10 degrees 20 minutes. a. terri
| tory to which Brazil has made no claim.
The latter region is equally with the former
| II accessible from Bolivia, is inhabited by
| Brazilians, and contains the most produc-
| tive Hbber forests. The question Of the
! claim to the whole territory which has
| EeeH advanced Dy Peru IS reserved, ana
| Brazil assumes all the responsibility of
| settling with that power.
Agreement by Brazil.
! Brazil pays Bolivia two millions ster-
ling, agrees to cede territory suitable for
the establishment of an adequate Be-
livian port on the Paraguay and renews
its undertaking to build railroad from
San Antonio, which is the head of deep
N ~ iOat Nod al
point where the Mamore and Benz unite
to form the Madeira, with a short branch
to the Bolivian town OF Villa Bella. This
railroad will be about 200 miles long and
will connect the navigable rivers above
Villa Bella with the Lower Madeira
around the series of rapids which inter-
rupt navigation. In addition Brazil guar
anteeS TO Bolivia the cOmpletest freedom
for commercial transport both by land
and water through the formers territory
This is not in the form of a concession,
but In that of a recognition of a perpetu-
ally existing right 1t carries with it the
privilege of establishing Bolivian custom
houses in Brazilian ports such as Para
Manaos and San Antonio, thus insuring
the freedom of expectation and importa-
ton without the possibility of Interior
ence by Brazilian officials. The case is
cited OF Antafogasta where there is
Bolivian custom house in Chilean terri
! tory.
Mr.. Thompson says that Baron Rio
Branco is well So tisfied over the conclusion
OF the matter. The building of the rail
road he regards not a new obligation.
but mere renewal of former one which
existed Independent of the Acre He has
also homes. which appear reasonable. that
the railroad may be a paying commercial
investment to say nothing of the adj
vantage that will accrue to Brazil from the
opening up Of the Mamore territory to con.-
municate with the world. He believes that
the revenue from the rubber gather In the
n0fn will F,rrv, fcI on,
ample fund for interest and sinking fund
to extinguish the additional debt of two
millions sterling. He says also that a
revolution in sentiment has taken place In
Brazil during the last two weeks: that
public opinion. informed Of the real
nature of the treaty and Its unauestionable
| advanta ge to Brazil. has become favorable
to it, and he anticipates no difficulty in
securing It's ratification by the Brazilian
congress with popular approval.
Fixing the Boundary.
Mr.. Thompson adds that the Brazilian
negotiators have expressed their great ap-
probation of the attitude Of the United
States. which. while frankly manifesting
the qualification which that government
would feel If an honorable agreement adj
vantageous to both countries could be
promptly reached, avoided hampering nego-
tiatiOns by suggestions.
Mr.: Thompson says he apprehends no Sc
rious compiled tons when Brazil comes to
treat with Peru about fixing the western
boundary of the territory now acquired
from Bolivia. Peru and Bolivia have never
been able to reach an agreement, the lat
ter contending that the boundary should
run along the foot of the Andes while the
former claimed the whole plain south and
east as far the ancient settlements
among the Chunchas and jos Indians.
Bra I'll now falls heir to this controversy.
The Peruvian authorities have established
customs collecting ports on the upper Jul
rua and Purus, one of which is said to he
north of the extreme line claimed by Bo-
livia against Brazil, the other within the
territory conceded by the present treaty
The Brazilian government has refused to
recognize the right of Peru to take possess
sion of upper courses of Brazilian rivers,
and 1t issued instructions to it's fiscal
thorities on the subject, which recently
have been the occasion of a protest by the
Peruvian legation here. I am indirectly
but reliably informed that the question
raised by these protests is still pending.
The exact extent of Peru's claim has not
been definitely formulated, at least in any
communica tons hitherto made public here
but understand it to include not only the
whole Acre region. but also the valleys of
the Jurua, Purus and the left bank of the
Madeira as far north line drawn from
point half way from Villa Bella and the
mouth of the Madeira, thence nearly west
to the source of the Javary.