Evening journal., 1904-05-10
MAY FIGHT
OVER ACRE
Washington Fears Outbreak
Between Brazil and Peru.
PERUVIAN MINISTER'S STATEMENT

Declares His Country Has Never Ad-
mItted Any Right Of Brazil to the Dis
puted Territory-Brszil Accused Of
Violating Provision For Arbitration.
Washington, May Washington is
more apprehensive than at any time
since the Venezuelan imbroglio that
the peace OF South America may be
broken because Of the dispute between
Brazil and Peru over the Acre terri
tory. Although Peru has expressed
a desire to arbitrate, Brazil has threat
ened TO drive Peruvian troops out OF
the country in dispute. Mr.. Calderon,
the Peruvian minister, under instruc-
tions from bis government, has issued
a statement Of Peru's position. 1t says
in part:
Peru has never admitted in Brazil
any right whatsoever TO the territory
actually I'm dispute The treaty Of
1851 contains no recognition OF Bra
zil's rights as alleged by the Brazilian
legation. The treaty is one Of amity
and commerce and does but incidental
ly touch upon the boundary question.
Brazil and Bolivia entered into n
boundary treaty in 1867 whose terms
recognized as Bolivian all Of the ter
ritory south Of the Yavari river. The
government OF Peru opposed its pro-
test against the treaty and notified
other governments OF the rights 1t
maintained over this region.
Submitted to Arbitration.
"Peru's protest, duly considered by
Bolivia, resulted In the adjustment OF
several treaties with a view Of defin-
ing a boundary line, the last one sign
ed Dec. 80, 1902, which submits TO
the arbitration OF the president OF Ar
gentina the dispute between both gov.
ernments.
"The government at Rio initiated In
1902 an energetic campaign, with the
view OF annulling a contract that had
been celebrated between Bolivia and
an American syndicate for the exploi
tation of the so called Acre territory
lying in the disputed section. In ca
bic circular that was addressed at tina
time to all OF BraEil's legations abroad
Baron de Rio Branco, who since tha
time has been minister Of foreign rela
tions, said:
THE Bolivian government was no
ignorant Of the fact that Peru asserte,
its claims TO the whole OF this terri
tory, and even now Peru and Bolivi
have concluded a treaty over thel
boundary dispute. It was furthe
stated in that dispatch. The whole o
the region west of the Madeira an
= embraced between that parallel Q0.2
< southern latitudel and the oblique lin
that runs from the mouth OF the BeI
river TO the origin Of the Yavari is thu
under litigation among Brazil, Per
and Bolivia
Brazil has thus acknowledged n
b controvertible status Of that territor
e and as a clause in her constitution pr'
vides that international controversial
be arbitrated il was to be expected thf
d this conciliatory means Of settling thG
international dispute should have bee
accepted.
THE entente signed by Bolivia an
. Brazil Nov II. 1903. contains the 70
lowing stipulation:
The republic OF the United State
( OF Brazil hereby declares that II sha
c directly settle with Peru the frontis
dispute relative 10 the territory en-
braced between the origin Of the VI
e var river and parallel II and sha
p,ek TO bring about a friendly solutio
pf the controversy, with no respons
bility TO Bolivia
According 10 late reports II woul
9 seem that the government Of Brazi
: instead Of framing its policy in a
cordance with the provision Of its col
stitution and the treaty stipulation
just mentioned, assumes a hostile att
tude and takes steps by no means cor
s ducive to the pacific solution 1t hl
d pledged itself TO seek"