Evening star., 1918-05-26
MISSION MAY LEAD
TOA CLOSER UNION
Argentine Minister'S Visit to
Chile AWakens Friendly
Commercial Feeling.
Correspondence of the Associated Press.

Correspondence of the Associated Press.
BUENOS AIRES. April 1a.-The peo-
pie of Argentina and Chile appear to
have been drawn much closer to-
Eether than they were as a result OF
Argentina's action in sending a spe-
cial embassy to Chile. under the
leadership of the minister of foreign
affairs. to take part in Chile's cele-
bration of the centennial of the bat
tie of Maipu, in which the Argentine
army helped Chile to so effectively
defeat the Spaniards that the indepen-
dence of Chile was assured.
DIR. Pueyrredon, the minister of
foreign affairs. has just returned
from his mission to Chile and is en-
thusiaStic over the reception accord
ed the Argentines. and especially so
over the interest which Chilean au-
thorities have taken in proposals for
bringing the two countries closer to-
sether sympathetically by means of
closer commercial relations and By
the interchange of university pro-
fessors and students
For Commercial Interchange.
Just as he was leaving Chile. DR..
Pueyrredon told Chilean newspaper
men that he had been greatly pleased
10 find that there existed in Chile a
friendly attitude toward the Argen-
tine proposition that commercial in
terchange be arranged according to
zones, so that northern. central and
southern Argentina might trade di-
rectly with northern, central and
southern Chile. without hampering
trade by the present customs reguia-
tions. which confined it to the regular
trade routes. Such a commercial ar
rangement. he said. would be of ines
tImable value to both countries.
He also said that upon his return to
Buenos Aires he would begin work
with the view to establishing cur
rents of intellectual relations between
the two countries by the exchange of
professors and students.
The people of the two countries"
he said. understand each other. 1t
remains for statesmen to find a way
of bringing them closer together"
There are no indications that any
effort is being made by Argentina
looking to a closer political union
with Chile than already exists, al
though dispatches from the United
States indicate that such an impress
sion has gained footing there, proba-
bly, as result of undue Importance
being given to the statements of DR..
fueErredon. VINO spoke only of
closer understanding between the
People and carefully avoided all ref
erences to the governments.
Argentine influence Significant.
Argentina is the big brother"
VI those friendship and support is being
constantly sought by both Brazil and
Chile: for either of them, with the as
sistance of Argentina, could control
South America. Without Argentinas s
support it is believed almost any COM
bination of republics would fail
Brazil pretends to see political sig
nificance in the sending of special
embassy to the celebration. 1t is true
that President Irigoyen has made a
steady and determined effort to bring
about union of the Spanish-speak-
ing South American republics ever
since he has been in power. but he has
met with little success, and even those
who charged him with attempting Sc
cret unions with Chile and Bolivia a
few months ago agree that in the
present instance the only union that
is hoped for from Chile is a closer
commercial union and a better under
standing and closer sympathy be-
tween the people of the two republics.