Evening star., 1923-09-23
ny BEN McKELwAY.


~ OLIVIA has selected one of her
K most distinguished citizens as
minister to the United States
in the person of Don Ricardo
Lalmes Freyre. who reached Wash
lnston last week to take up his du-
ties at the legation here. He sue
ceeds DR.. Adolpho Balivian, recently
transferred to Belgium
While Senior Jaimes Freyre is per-
haps better known in South America
as a student and poet than as dip
lomat. his services to his country as
a statesman have been important and
valuable. His last diplomatic post
was in Chile, where, as Bolivia's min
lister, he urged revision OF the treaty
of 1904 between Chile and Bolivia by
which Bolivia ceded her coastal ter
ritory to Chile. His efforts in this
behalf were fruitless and led to Bo-
liYia's declination of a part in the
fifth pan-Amerfcan congress at San
tiago.
In his selection as minister to the
United states Bolivia has chosen a
man well grounded on subject
which remains important among the
International issues in South America
today-Bolivia's contention for an
outlet to the sea. His appointment
10 Washington may be construed as
the first step in a new effort by. Bo-
IIyia 70 enlist the interest of the
United States in this contention.
Student OF Literature.
The new Bolivian minister was born
in the famous silver range of Potosi
and from early youth dedicated him.
self to the study of literature and
philosophy. He graduated from and
became professor of philosophy in
the University of Sucre. filing that
chair for a short time until he was
Gppolnted private secretary to one of
Bolfvia's most iilustrious presidents
Gon Mariana Baptista. He began his
diplomatic career as first secretary to
the Bolivian legation in Brazil. Later
ne resigned to go to Buenos Aires,
Where he gave himself over to study,
dividing his time between journalism,
poetry and oratory. In Buenos Aires
he was thrown into the company of
men who became famous in what is
known as the crusade for the modern
School OF poetry in Spanish literature
The government of Argentina Gre
ated special chair for him at the
University of Tucuman, where he lee
lured Tor many years, and later, when
the Argentine government requested
him TO write the history of the uni
Nersfty, he travelled throughout Latin
America. and Spain in hts collection
or material. He published his history
in six volumes.
In 1920 Scnor Jaimes Freyre re-
turned to Bolivia and represented
one of the provinces of the depart
lnent OF Potosi in convention called
LOT discussing a new political con-
stitution for Bolivia Soon afterward
he was appointed minister of public
instruction .and later he became sec
retary of state. The new government
IN BOLIVIA about this time began it's
fight TO obtain a revision of existing
treaties or special agreement OF
some sort which would allow her to
regain her lost coastal territories.
Her first move in this direction was
in Chile, where she hoped to obtain
sympathy and a hearing on. the re-
vision of the treaty of 1904. The
selection of a man to bring this about
was an important step, and Bolivia
sent Senior Freyre
Work. Highly Commended.
Senior Freyre went to Chile on a
mission which, 1t was universally ac-
knowledged, would prove unsuccess-
full, for Chile considered her right
70 the territory In question unassail-
able. And while he lost his fight
his work in Bolfvia's behalf was con-
sidered brilliant He was an out
standing figure in Chilean intellec-
tual circles while filing his diplo-
matte post there, and was frequently
entertained by the Society of Fine
Arts and Chile's student associations
as a guest of honor.
Senior Freyre is author of Gas
talia Barbara" "Prosas Arofanas"