The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-14
CHILEAN MINE -.
EXODUS LAID TO
NITRATE CRISIS
e. s. Report Shows Real
Conditions, Says f.
Nieto del Rio.
PERUVIAN RUMOR FALSE
Lack of Market Forced Closing
Of Production and Mems
Discharge.
PERUVIAN RUMOR FALSE
ny FELIX SIETo DEL RIO,

"s F6hiA NihIO DhL hio,
spccia, to the South American Depart
nicnt Of THE Sun.
Shortly after the European arinistice
and at the time that Peru recalled her
Consuls from Chile, giving as the rea-
son certain Information from the Peru
Wan Consul in Iquiaue. there were cir
culated rumors Of Peruvian origin TO
the effect that the Government OF Chile
was expelling from its territory the
Peruvian laborers who in great numbers
were employed In the saltpetre mines Of
Tarapaca and Antofa gasta.
Such rumors, intended to show an ag-
sressive attitude on the part OF Chile.
were denied by that Government, and Il
was officially declared that the departure
OF the aliens from tho northern part OF
Chile was due exclusively to the lack OF
work brought about by a crisis in the
saitpetre Industry. The Peruvian Gov
eminent attempted to take advantage Of
such circumstance to represent as
victims of the Chilean Government the
numerous laborers who so suddenly had
lost their occupations, together with
many native workmen.
II was thought in this way TO create
an unfavorable public opinion in Amer
lea against Chile, as has been tried at
other times but fortunately an official
document from the United States has
Just confirmed tho truth of the asser-
tons by Luis Barros Borgono. the Chi
lean Secretary OF Foreign Affairs. as
against the statements of Tudela Tarela,
the Peruvian Secretary OF Foreign AZ
fairs
The following appears in the bulletin
Commerce Reports" daily consular
and trade reports issued daily by the
bureau of foreign and domestic COM
merce. Department of Commerce.
WASHINGTON, March 10, 19l9.-At
present the nitrate market in Chile Is
lifeless. There are huge stocks Mt Anto-
fagasta, 1quique and Mejllones. which
have not been sold, nor is there any quo
tatton given. In Tarapaca province
twenty-one offices have either closed
down entirely or are running part time.
In Antofagasta province the number is
less: only eight mines have closed and
some Of these have not stopped work en-
tirely.
The labor situation has become acute
owing to the sudden decrease in pro-
duction, and thousands OF laborers have
been thrown out of employment. The
Government is handling the situation
most intelligently. however. and has
given every facility TO the workmen.
Stores have been esta blished where first
necessities may be purchased at cost.
Thousands have been sent TO southern
Chile at Government expense to work
on the farms there.
Recently the Chilean Government Of
fered to purchase tho 1919 nitrate pro-
duction. paying 1ss. I'd. per quintal.
There are several obstacles TO such
scheme-chieHy inability to store and
protect the large storks and the conse
quent cost OF transportation, &c. but
81 It becomes necessary some such
plan will probably be agreed upon.
Nitrate men, however, are hope
full Of the situation and expect n normal
demand to return In the course OF five
or six months"
Thus Is explained the exodus OF the
Peruvian laborers from the nitrate mines
| Of Chile. Nothing is more inaccurate
than to attribute II TO Chilean hostility.
The Peruvians have lived ami worked in
| Chile always under the protection OF it's
laws. and have enjoyed all the guaran-
tees which Chile extends to foreigners
| When the crisis occurred In the north
| no one could have demanded that the
Chilean Government send the unem-
ployed Peruvians to southern Chile and
provide them with occupation. since II
| had 10 take care Of its own native work.
men who had lost their daily jobs. Fur
| ther. the northern region being OF a
lpurely laboring character exacts severe
and constant vigilance from the authori-
ties In order to prevent malicious pro-
paganda.
| The climate Itself is unfavorabie 10
| the maintenance Of order among I'M
| employed masses. There IL no work there
| except in the mines. and when that fails
| Il ie obligatory 10 adopt more prudent
policy toward preventing popular dis
\ content.
| II is therefore natural that the Chilean
| Government should have facilitated the
| departure of the unemployed Peruvians,
! In justice to them and the public peace.
1t is much to be regretted that these for
| elgn hands should be without their daily
work. but 1t Is far more lamentable that
| the Government of Peru, informed by
a Consul who had no prestige even
| among his own compatriots residing in
| Iquique, should have accepted as true
an incorrect version OF the departure OF
| the Peruyians from the nitrate mines
| on the other hand, in these times OF
world uneasiness 1t was by no means
| censurable that a Government should
| try at all costs TO find work for it's
| native laborers in preference TO strang-
| ers That is being done in the United
| States, and gives rise TO the Idea Of
suspending immigration for four years.
Nothing 10 more worthy OF attention
| than the document above quoted. which
| reveals the rectitude OF the Chilean Gov