The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-09-23
SOUTH AMERICA
Is SEATED over
A POWDER KEC
Like Situation Was in Europe
Two Years Ago.
Argentina and Chile Are Prin-
cipal War Powers.
| MANY BOUNDARY DISPUTES
Chile Ambition to Add Terri
tory to Make Her Rich.
Peru, Bolivia. Ecuador and 9th
ers Have GrOuches.

Beunos Aires, Sept. 23--South
Americas republics today are sitting
over Just such another powder maya
zine as the one which exploded two
years ago in Europe. In many ways
the situation recalls the situation ex-
listing in Europe just few years be-
fore the outbreak of the present strug-
gle The recent hint of war between
Venezuela and Peru and Colombia and
Ecuador brought South America to
sharp attention. They might easily
do what the Balkan mixup did to
Europe.
There is the same feeling that a
widespread clash cannot be pre<enteds
the same conflict of interests, same
warnings. same preparations. same
grooming under the weight of these
preparations and the same undercur-
rent of international in-feeling.
If war comes. the two principal
5elligerents probably will be Argen-
tina and Chile.
Not a country in South America
lacks a boundary dispute with some
other country. Each rs a little Alsace-
Lorraine.
England stopped One Scrap.
Chile and Argentina had a nasty dis
pute of the kind in 1898. IL reached
the point of mutual mobilization
England interfered and arbitrated-
Argentina got large area of land in
southern Patagonia which Chile
claimed should have gone to the lat
/ ter This has ranked ever since
Chile is very poor. If she could
/ take by force of arms, that land. she
| might get another portion as In
demnity t would give her all Of
I South America along her eastern
boundary as far south as the latitude
| of the Chubuk river, which is about
900 miles north of Cape Horn. and
| thence to the southwark, the whole
continent. from the Pacific to the At
lantic.
This would transform Chile into a
moderately rich nation. for southern
Patagonia is a fine cattle country and
there are stories of rich petroleum
deposits there.
Bolivia Wants n Port.
This would mean war with Argen-
tina
! Here is were Peru would get into
the situation In 1879, as a result OF
a war. Chile annexed the two southern
Peruvian provinces. Peru has beer
longing ever since for a chance to gel
them back.
Bolivia is an inland country with
an ambition for a WINDOW on the
Pacific.
The two provinces Chile took from
Peru are bounded on the west by this
4 Pacific and on the east by Bolivia. or
their coast are the ports of Tacna and
africa These would constitute 4
double window il Bolivia could gei
them.
Chile probably would turn then
over to the Bolivians to defend from
Peru.
Peru would be too strong for 30
I livia, but Ecuador and Colombo
: would help give Peru a trouncing e
= keep the latter from trying to enforc,
claims on parts of the Putumayo rub
, Der country. concerning which 81
Roger Easement made report a fez
q years ago.
Parentheticaliy. Colombia claim
certain territory In northern Peru an,
, surely would think the time favora BIZ
: for grabbing ii.
This would be the cue for PERU
! friend, Venezuela, to invade Colombo.
and secure a slice of territory sh'
eovets.
North of Argentina il Paragusy
: The Paraguayans have lost territor-
. to Argentina and are wild to recove
4 | 1t. Many South Americans heliev
= Paraguay could count on military sun
: port from Brazil.-(Copyright 1911
! by United Press.)