Evening star., 1914-02-08

OF Bolivia. and this aspirat ton also was
given expression by President Montes-
Chile and Peru did not like to see the
question raised for they prefer TO keel
the ports Of the Pacific to themselves
and regulate Boliyia's commercial inter
course. Chile especially took notice q
the new Bolivian awakening ard limited
very directly that the question of Dor.
the Pacific remote from
possible realization that Bolivia wouia
do well 10 forget it. The trouble is THAI
Bolivia is not inclined TO forget that il
once had access to the Pacific.
Should the Tacna-Arica dispute he
tween Chile and Peru be settled, as is
now on the cards. and these two coun-
tries become allies. the realization OF
Boliria.s aspirations undoubtedly woulJ
be difficult When Peru and Bolivia
after their defeat by chile We're allied
II Is possible tn.t the prospect of Peru
coneedins a part as. soon rs both COM
tries felt strong enough 10 DEFY nile
was in mind. There may even lave bes,
an understanding hetwe.-n tide *, gov
ernmeits that this question Shouts
nave consideration. bat tie o.d alisnmen.
has been broken and Bolivia in recent
wears has been at odds with Peru on +,
number of i.cs:iors.
me chance u Peru "eding a port has
steadily recsd.d. Nor Is there any pros
p.-ct Of Bolivia going 10 war with r, ,l,
~ th.. iseaf 4Iture il ord-r to seciii.,
an outlet d. force of arms. So py fore.
OF circumstances tise matter of d Dot. on
the Pacii" i ~ allegiance. though ,h.
strength % this aspiration among Ro
lTians ,nIsr 6e reekoned within the -.aua
ton of SoGtu American politics.
Relation between Bolivia and Ute
nited states are most friendly Eo,,vra
looks to rs for guidance. and in our
general South American policy she is
usually ready To cooperate In he,
scheme Of public education the Tn;tea TED
states has been taken as The model
IN. Americans who came TO Bolivia
eiSht or ni;ie Years ago to build the
failwdys found most kindly sent:meu,
among the people. although there we're
some local antagonisms and occasionally
some friction, due much to the agcres-
slNeness o. the American as to any
nostllity on the part of the Bolivians
race between tIa two countries is a
one-sidea Proposition. The United stat.s
hnds tial ket for products To the vsl,l.
OF S4V."H annually, aud ia return i
products In some years it is less than
Sipt'D. The reason is that th. -nited
states imports very little tin concentrates
Possibly some Bolivian rubber and other
products which 80 out through the Pe
ruvian and Chilean ports are credite5 10
those countries. but even then the dis.
proportion. due TO economic conditions
would 2e large one. Bolivia's pur-
chases from the United States copsis,
OF railway material machinery, flour and
misceianecus uderchandise.
Notwithstanding the value of the Ro-
livian market to American manuf,ctur
ets. the United States has no consuIar
officers in the country. This is NOT sin
DlY because there is no seaport, since w..
have consular officers in other places
which are not seaports The fauIt ;s
partly due To one Of the musty traiitions
of the state Department. This was az,
consulates only could be esta ablisbsJ
where certain amount of invoices 10
the United States could be shown. This
requirement took no account of the fr,nc
tons OF the c"nsuls in developing trade
The State Department got past il veg.
ago in IFS new commercial activities, but
somehow nothing has been done.
An American consulate ought to he o.
tablished at Oruro the center of tin rnin-
ing and also a center of commercial ac-
tivity. A consul at Oruro would he !,
trade sentinel at an important. outpost
Consular agencies might also b.. est;,h
iished with advantage at other points n,
time perhaps the proper committees ~
Congress will see this and something viii
be done. but the present time is bctfer
than the future.
CHARLES NJ. PEPPER.