Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-05
THE ACRt,'iC0UNTRY
Brazil and Bolivia Have Set
tie Their Dispute.
THE RUBBER INDUSTRY
WILL BE INCREASED NOW THAT
TREATY rs SIGNED.
End of Long Contest Over Control of
the Territory-Both Countries
Will Benefit.
THE RUBBER INDUSTRY

Written FOR The Evening Star.
When the worlds wealth gets plus sgn
it is worth noting. Yet in the complacent
ignorance of the American public about
South America the chances in that part of
the globe pass without heed. Within a
short time the vast rubber producing re-
gions known as the Acre territory will be
helping to supply the demand for rubber. a
demand which grows every day Then,
perhaps. the meaning of some recent events
will be understood.
Brazil and Bolivia have settled their long
dispute over the Acre country, and tie ex-
port of rubber, which was checked during
the controversy. not only will be resumed,
but great increase in the production will
follow. The battle for the control of this
region has been a diplomatic one, though
at times it has come near to collision at
arms Friendly negotiations finally Sc
cured an agreement which will be of bene.
fit to both countries as well as to the world
at large.
The treaty which was negotiated IN
Brazil has been ratified / y the Bolivian con-
gress, and also by the Brazilian senate,
and it is understood that the approval of
the other branch of the Brazilian congress
will follow. The treaty itself is land
mark in the peaceful settlement of the
boundary disputes among the South Ameri-
can countries None of these controv ersies
has involved more acute questions than
the Acre one.
Mr.. Guachalla, the Bolivian minister to
Washington, and Mr.. Assis-Brasl. the
Brazilian minister were chilled to PetroD-
oils, or rather to Rio Janeiro, by their re-
spectiye government to act as special COM
missioners for the purpose of determining
the question. Mr.. Rio Branco the Brazilian
minister of foreign relations, and Mr..
No, Ds,,;n 1I,4 poI;,
Brazil, who since has become minister of
foreign affairs, were the other ENJOYS. MIR.
Rio Branco is well known in the United
States. He the representative OF
Brazil in the Msiones dispute with the Ar
gentine Republic. which was arbitrated by
President Cleveland
Substance of the Treaty.
The substance of the treaty signed by
the two governments is that the Acre
region becomes Brazilian territory. In
compensation Brazil pays Bolivia s10,-
100000 and also agrees to build railway
which will be connected with the rail-
ways that Bolivia rs to build and with it's
system of water transportation so that
the country will have an outlet through
the Amazon to the atlantic. 1t is good
treaty for both parties and also for the
Industries which reed rubber There is
some Interchange OF territory which will
follow the delimita tiofi, of boundaries that
is provided, but IT IS Specifically recog-
nized that Brazil gets The bulk of the real
estate. and for that reason the cash in
demnity is allowed: 81
Some knowledge wds gained of this
rubber country two years ago, when a
concession was granted by Bolivia to an
Observation-Disclosures syndicate. 1t was this
concession which brought the question of
the boundaries to an issue The fran
chise for expioita tioh was granted to Sir
Martin Conway. whoweInt to Bolivia as a
fnO hi nff ,t,nrst n TIL
syndicate was given control that amount
ed almost to sovereignty over the terri
tory. 1t took some preliminary measures
looking to the establishment of custom
houses and other functions of govern
ment control. This caused the talk of
the ability of the creation of a new
commonwealth in the heart of the ANA
zonlan region. Brazil at once protested
and at the same time took measures to
eliminate private interests from it's con-
troversy with Bolivia by buying out the
rights. real or doubtful. of the syndicate
1t Was reported that 100000 was paid
the capitalists and as they had not spent
more than 100000 they could well af-
ford to end the transaction and forego
whatever claims they might have.
Much soreness was shown in Bolivia
toward the members of the syndicate
and that country refused to admit the
territorial claims of Brazil. There were
also efforts in the Acre region to organize
a new nation. These efforts were alleged
" NC III inc OF 10
livia and of Brazil, but neither country
seemed To care for the responsibility of
encouraging the attempted revolution,
Tor they treated these movements as at
tacks on their sovereignty. Gen. Pando.
the president of Bolivia, organized a
military expedition and marched from La
Paz the capital, through tropical jungles
10 Acre 1t was said that the march could
be made In thirty-five days, but sixty
days was required. and the troops suf-
Tered great hardship. However it was a
patriotic step and received enthusiastic
support in Bolivia
the Brazilian government throughout act
ed with good sense and n1odera ton in the
lace OF the efforts of some hot-heads to
hurry 1t into trouble and preciDitate war
with Bolivia and possibly with Peru The
lustfhcabon for its policy is found in the
terms of the treaty which bring the Acre
territory under Brazilian sover.en.y
Not Much Known Of the Country.
Without an atlas it is pretty difficult to
know much of that region and with an
atlas sometimes 1t is more difficult, for a
great part of 1t is only half explored 1t
is network of rivers. and the geographe-s
often make the rivers have the source anc
the mouth at the same place. Generally
the region r"av be described as a triangle
win Peru Bolivia and Brazil as the three
sides and covering the territory from the
rivers Benz and Mamore to the source of
the river Yavari
The recent treaty in undertaking to fix
the boundary with Bolivia says that from
the confluence of the Benz and MamOre II
sfali descend through the Madeira to the
mouth OF the Abuna and ascend the Abuna
to latitude 10 degEeesb20 minutes. thence
along that parallel west to the river Raru-
rar and through this liver to its principal
source and again west along other river
courses, hnally descending the right bank
OF the river Acre DfiAauiri as 1. IL soine-
times spelled. 1t IFS hot yet determined
whether the course of the river ere
crosses longitude Gsdegrees west of Green.
wich, and that is to sbei determined by the
geographers. Substantially Bolivia yields
Its claims north ofl8tibide 10 degrees
The value of the :AdrS territory for rubber
production was rea4fxea eight or ten years
ago. and rush Wig made for the region
Many estradas. or rsib6er plantations. were
established along fhs liver banks. Bolivia
created what was Nafed the territory of
Colonias and alst,b the custom house of
Port Acre on the sh6rs Tor the collection of
the export duty On rubber BY following
this river to the TfvefePurus the Amazon
was reached EvssStA uloIivia,, s,eo,,fa,,,to,,