The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-05
n, CHARLES NJ. PEPPER.

HY L
THE A d C Powers Of South
America are looming large on
the international horizon.
rbeir participation in the efforts OF
tho Washington Administration to
solye the Mexican problem revives
tho interest which vas aroused in
,b,s alphabetical alliance ut the time
~ the Niagara mediation.
For very sound reasons h CO.
opera,ion OF other South American
and Central American countries was
also sought. But apparently 1t 10
from Argentina, Brazil and Chile
that most IL expected in the way Of
moral influence.
The A B G alliance mas advanced
someyhat since the Niagara media
ton. The Powers in question seem
n have arrived At a better UNDER
standing among themselves Of what
can he accomplished by Joint action
and Of the best way to accomplish
IL. There were treaties between them
before the Niagara mediation. but
these we're bipartite rather than tri-
partite treaties.
A few months ago II was reported
that Foreign Minister Lauro Mueller
Of Brazil by visiting the capitals Of
Argentina and Chile had secured the
adhesion of these countries to iden-
teal conventions OF a tripartite char
acter. A peace treaty "a signed
in Buenos Ayres by Foreign Minis
ter Murature OF Argentina, DR.. Muel-
Ter and Foreign Minister Lira OF Chile
on behalf Of their respective coun-
tries. The text of this treaty has
not been made public In the United
States at least. but its general tenor
is we'll understood.
The A B. c alliance has reached
the stage where It represents the
combined power Of the three strong
est and most populous countries in
South America. 1t also represents
the three which have made the great
est progress toward stable govern
ment under constitutional forms in
which there Is some element Of de-
mocracy. 1t Furthermore represents
the three countries which have ef-
fective navies.
30 much attention has been given
TO the possible influence of the A B c
Powers on international affairs that
the reflex effect on their own af-
fairs Is overlooked. This. however.
Is one Of the most beneficial results
OF the alliance.
The balance Of power in South
America at times has been almost
as threatening a question as in Eu-
rope. When Chile's boundary dis
putes with Argentina were most acute
and the possibility of war was always
present there was a Brazilian Chilean
understanding. 1t may not have been
expressed in the form OF a secret al
lance or a treaty, but the actual re-
lance was on Brazil. as Argentina's
powerful %neighbor, and on Chile. as
her neighbor on the Pacific, by their
combined influence keeping Argentina
from becoming the dominating power
In South America. Geographically
the arrangement was a very strong
one, and politically 1t had also ele-
ments of strength.
lille and Argentina ultimately set
tied their differences and reached a
good understanding, although all RI
valry between them was not done
away with.
For a generation or more there were
territorial controversies between Bra
I'll n Argentina. and these had pre-
vented "A complete understanding.
Each country had plenty of territory,
but in South America, as in other
parts of the world, hat is not sufi-
cient TO prevent a nation from going
TO war for more land. These cpntro-
versies were settled by arbitration, and