Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-04
THE RUBBER COUNTRY
Wealthy Region the Subject
Of Controversy.
WAR Is UNLIKELY
THE DISPUTE BETWEEN BRAZIL
AND PERU.
Plans for Constructing Railway Cost
Ing Millions to the Territory
Claimed by Both.
WAR Is UNLIKELY

appear about the difficulties between Bra
zl and Peru have a worldwide interest
Nor Is II SO bad q sign that each country
at times gives out little warl!ke talk.
This only means that each realizes the
great value Of the disputed rubber territory
and is anxious to get the boundary Ques-
ton settled SO that this region may be
exploited. An immense wealth OF rubber
is there. How great no one knows. Both
Brazil and Peru now have go-ahead poll
cies and seek to develop the riches of the
great interior region of which they them
selves know so little.
War is Unlikely.
While the cross-fre goes on between the
legations which are naturally anxious to
get their respective sides Of the contro-
versy before the public in favorable
light, 1t may be assumed that there Will
be no war. One great reason is that each
country has too much at stake to go to
the disputed zone through the good offices
of the United States will be found, ana
then the bounds can be determined eltner
by arbitra ton or by direct dlplomauc ne
collation.. Brazil and Bolivia settled their
controversy with reference to Acre Sy
direct treaty without calling In third par
ties.
Bolivia entered into the treaty with Bra
zil 1t had to transfer Its dispute with feru
over a part, or a supposed part, OF that ;e-
lyon. This is what is bothering Brazil ana
Peru now. The statements and dispatches
In regard to the subject treat 1t as though
the whole territory was we'll known: and
the only access Is from the AtlanIc
through long voyages, ana from .ne a t
cult trails till the navigabie streams are
reached.
Not Easily Accessible.
The valleys of the upper Jurua and the
upper Purus are spoken of as though they
were as easily understood as the ONO val
ley or the Mississippi region. but they are
not 1t takes long time to get into tna'
region. For Brazil. starting from Rlo ia
Metro 1t is about long from New fork
down to Panama and up to San franclsco
to reach Manaos, which is the Amazon cap
ital in Brazilian territory. For Peru II ~
longer because the traveller mas 10 cohe
up the Pacific coast of Panama ana then
get around to the mouth OF the amazon
and follow it up to Iquitos, which Is the
Peruvian capital in that region The ac-
tual distance from the Peruvian coast -
less than 400 miles, and occasionally some
one makes this journey, leaving the ran
road at Oroya and following the centrai
highway to the navigable waters OF the
River Ucayali. and then down that stream
for 900 or 1000 miles to the amazon. -,
There Is also a way in the northern part
of Peru from Paita across to the cascades
Of Manserriche. which is naVlgaoie poln'
on the Maranon river, 400 miles ABOVE 1qul-
tos, The land distance, as the crow mes,
is less than 800 miles. but the route that
has to be followed is more than 400 miles.
A couple of years ago two young amer
cans named Peachy and Whitehead. VINO
had been employed in railway building IN
Ecuador took this journey. They were
seven months getting from the Pacific 10
the mouth of the Amazon at Para. but they
were studying the interior regions and were
fn a record tourists.
Won Hassel, a Belgian, also has made ex-
plorations over the same route, as have
Ventura and few foreigners.
Importance Of Iquitos.
Iouitos is the customs outpost and from
tier garrison of Peru. 1t has between $1,000
and 10000 inhabitants. Twenty years ago
1t was hardly more than an Indian village
The development Of the rubber industry Is
responsible for its growth. 1t has been
called an inland seaport, and ships of many
nationalities are seen there. The foreign
colonies are quite large, the French ana
Germans being the most numerous. They
are engaged In rubber and the commerce
that has grown out OF the production OF
this article. 1t has been said Of the foreign
colonies in Iquitos that they have adopted
the social standard which foreigners have
applied for their own convenience In Japan,
and which consists in temporary matrimo-
NAL arrangements. This may be a SANDER
or a travellers tale.
The Peruvian government maintains
garrison at IQuitos and in case of war with
Brazil that would be its base of military
OF rations. But for either Peru or Brazil
to get troops into the disputed region is no
easy matter, for it is a long way to the
valleys of the upper JLrua and the upper
Purus.
Recent Peruvian Regulations.
Peru lately has made special regulations
which are meant to encours ge the naviga-
ton Of the Peruvian tributaries of the
Amazon river One purpose is to encour-
age foreigners. Captains and masters of
vessels flying the Peruvian flag and navi-
eating the Amazon and its affiuents are no
longer required to be Peruvian subjects
River traffic on these streams may be car
ried on by Brazilian vessels. Before the
boundary dispute became so sharp the min
lister of foreign affairs had been directed to
negotiate with Brazil regarding the open
navigation of Brazilian streams for pur-
pei es of river trading to vessels flying the
Peruvian flag. These measures were based
on the certainty that the rubber industry
was going to be developed and would fur
nIsh largely increased water commerce.
Brazirs control of the navigation of the
Amazon half a century since was the sub
feet of much diplomatic correspondence. re-
NOR STRANGE and protest That country main
tanned its right to keep II closed until about
forty years ago. when Ii voluntarily opened
the river to navigation by foreign nations.
huDDer COuCSSSlOuS.
A number of important rubber conces-
sions have been granted by both Brazil and
Peru 1t is not yet known fully what the
| purposes of the Brazilian government are
| with reference to the Acre territory acQuir-
ed from Bolivia by the treaty of Petropolis.
| The export duty is an important source of
revenue. and II Is presumed that profit
| able income will be had In granting conces-
sions to exploit that territory. 1t is ex-
| pected that enough will be obtained from
| this source to provide the 100000 In
| demnity paid to Bolivia, and also the
| amount which will be necessary for the
| construction of the railway around the
| Madeira Falls.
An American mining company has very
| valuable concession for exploiting rubber In
southern Peru. It's concession probably
will take it up to the rubber regions of the
Madre de Dios river, and possibly even to
| the borders of the present disputed zone.
| It is building roads through the tropical
| for ests.
| Four or Ave years ago German steam
| ship company had explora lions made lit
| tie north of this region. but did not follow
| them up. More recently number of COM
| mercal societies in France have sent ex-
| petitions and have explored wide terrific