Evening star., 1921-07-17
BY BEN MCKELwAY.

N OLIVIA, the only country Of
K Latin America lacking an ac-
cess to the sea, would well
come leadership by the
United States in settling the forty
year dispute over the territories
Of Tacna and Arica-an international
problem. affecting Chile. Peru and Boz
| livia. And should the United States
see fit to interfere in the controversy
ALREADY submitted to the league Of
nations by Bolivia-the way was laid
open last week by DIR. Adolfo Bal
livian, the new Bolivian minister to
Washington, when he presented his
credentials to the President.
Taking advantage OF a diplomatic
custom usually confined to a Brief ex-
change Of formal courtesies, the min
lister told the President in effect that
| this country's friendly interest in Bo-
tlivia's efforts to gain an access OF her
own on the Pacific was invited. DR..
Ballivian explains that his chief mis-
sion to the United States is to create
interest in Bolivia's claim to sea-
coast. and he felt compelled to ac-
quaint the chief executive OF the fact.
The Presidents reply. though cor
dial. was natsrally -committal.
But DR.. Ballivian feels that he has
made the way clear should future
events ever inspire the United States
to offer aid in bringing to an amicable
settlement one Of the most vexatious
problems Of the Andean coast.
| Bolivia's claims to the territories OF
| Tacna and africa. now in contention
between Peru and Chile. and held by
the latter. were prepared by DR.. BA1.
Iivfan for submission to the leagueof
nations. But this country's failure to
join the league, coupled with the mass
of European disputes placed before
that body for settlement. brought
about Bolivia's decision to informally
submit the question to the United
the United States could persuade Peru
and Chile to drop their claims to Tacna
and africa in favor Of Bolivia. Though
! the method by which the matter could
! be arbitrated Is. OF course, question
for this government to decide pro-
| vided it should ever accept the task.
Dr. Ballivian suggests as beginning
conference between representatives
of the United States. Chile and Peru.
! In support of Bolivia's claim to the
territories of Tacna and africa Or. Bal
livian advances number of argu-
TALLY as follows:
(; AS result of the war declared
against Bolivia and Peru by Chile in
1879 the national life OF Bolivia in the
last forty years has been abnormal
and barely endurable." For the first
| time in the history of South America
I country was deprived of her sea-
coast. which. in Bo'ivia's case. COM
| pris"d five important ports and seven
small harbors. Bolivia has not been
! reconcifed. and never will be. to this
severance from the world.
Chile possesses the longest coast
Inc in South America. totaline $50"
miles. AS its total area is 100000
| square miles. the country is cons dereG
the most privileged in the world re-
! garding its proportion of seacoast. AL
| though Peru's coastline extends onl.
| 1.650 miles. she has even a greater
number Of ports and harbors than
| Chile.
(which includes the territories Of Tacna
! and africa Is only 100 miles in length
! II the territorial situation of Chile
and Peru is considered. 1t Is easily
[ seen. the minister states. that Africa
as seaport. cannot he essential for
two countries;' il, represents, he
1 states. nothing but "speck on the
map" without any connection with
their economical organisation. On
| the contrary. for Bolivia. il is the
key to her commerce. and constitutes
\
! There are many other arguments
| cited by the minister in favor OF his
contention. but. boiled down. they
all amount q the same thing, name
~. that BOLIVIA. without an outlet
| to the sea. cannot enjoy the progress
and prosperity which is I'm store for
the republics Of SoSth America. and
j that for the sake of fairness. and
as an amicable settlement of long
! standing dispute, the little ssacoast
| provided by Tacna and africa should
be ceded- to BOLIVIA.
| There is still another point of view
in regard to the settlement of the
i Tacna and Africa dispute. While re-
+, cent acts on the part of the Chilean
government indicate her willingness
and hope that the territorial dispute
may come to an amicahle settlement
there remains in the unsettled dis
pute the danger of q disastrous war
development of Spanish South Amer
| lea and the continuation in peace OF
| the present era of commercial prog
| ress.
| The present relations between Bo-
| rvia and Chile are SO friendly that