Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-17
TACNA-ARICA AGREEMENT
HELD BLOW TO BOLIVIA
Ending of Hopes for Maritime Ports
Believed to Hold Dangers for
the Future.

writer once remarked: South America
is continent where there are coun-
tries who have as much as 1000 kilo-
meters of coast line. It possesses the
greatest space that the sea has con-
ceded to the earth. And in South
America there are nations 200 kilo-
meters from the coast that have not
even a single port. This alone is sufti-
Gent cause for a war"
To Chile and Peru the provinces OF
Tacna and africa represent no more
than simple satisfaction of their ma
tional honor, while to Bolivia they
represent the complement of her SOW
ereignty. More so If steps are being
taken to liquidate the consequences of
a war in which precisely Bolivia lost
her ports. How can the problem be
satisfactorily solved while Bolivia is
condemned to life of seclusion and
with less hopes than ever to obtain its
peaceful or diplomatic solution?
At glance, the division OF the
Tacna-Arica territory between Peru and
Chile seems to be quite appropriate to
the case. But considering the Pacific
problem as a whole, the solution clears
things temporarily but it complexities
them for the future. Before reaching
such an agreement, the sovereignty of
the provinces being undefined-for with
out conducting plebiScite neither
Chile nor Peru can very well assert
title to them-Tacr1a and africa conSti-
tute the true means of satisfying, at
this time, the maritime necessities of
Bolivia. And these necessities, ssooner
or later, because of the continuous de-
velopment of that nation, will some day
become more vital.
Hopes Would Be Dimmed.
On the other hand, once the exclusive
agreement between Peru and Chile is
reached respecting the status of the
provinces, Bolivias hopes Of ever ac-
curing Tacna and africa are dimmed.
And because her need of a coast will
grow in the course of time, she will
have to seek relief elsewhere. And just
where will she look for it? Necessarily,
to her old ports, those she lost during
the war. Is not this sufficient cause for
Chile to mediate before taking the steps
which will result in giving away the
only territory that would satisfy to 10
certain measure Bolivia's demands?
The possession of Tacna and africa by
Bolivia, would, it is argued by the b.
livians, be a guarantee to the peace of
Chile and Peru. Without Tacna and
africa Bolivia would always be a source
OF uneasiness to them.
Let. us be more specific. Tacna and
africa more or less depend for their ex-
iStence on the Bolivian commerce. This
was proven beyond a doubt when the
construction of the Mollendo-Pun and
Antofagasta-O ruro Railroad diverted
the Bolivian commerce to places other
than Tacna and africa. Those prov
inces found themselves economically
ruined and suffering a general crisis.
And later on when the Arica-La Paz
Railroad was established thereby re-
newing the Bolivian commerce through
that port, the prosperity of the prov
inceS was again assured and since they
have continued to prosper owing to
their relations with Bolivia. The
progress and development of Tacna and
africa, it is declared in many circles,
depend solely in their intercourse with
Bolivia.
Bolivia Claims Favored.
Gen. Cabrera, a Chilean, expressed
himself In European review as follows:
There is no precedent of historical,
photographic, geographical or CONNER
cial character that would not justify
the political incorporation of these
provinces to the Bolivian nation" Aside
from geographical reasons and economic
necessities, which would suffice in them
selves, Bolivia is declared to possess
innumerable historical titles upon which
to claim the possession of Tacna and
africa. The port africa, during the
time of its colonization, formed part of
the "Audiencia de Charcas," upon
which was based in 1925, the republic
Of Bolivia. Royal orders, historical tes-
timOnieS and DOlitical documents are
offered as evidence in the Bolivian al
legation. There are also written proofs
that on numerous occasions the inhabi-
tants of the two provinces petitioned
their annexation to Bolivia.
Reference may be made to the formu-
la adopted by Secretary Kellogg, which
served as recognition of the rights
of Bolivia over the territory in ques-
ton. In 1926. Secretary CT State KEEL
logg, proposed to the governments of
Chile and Peru, as the best solution to
the Tacna AFRICA dispute, that they be
ceded to Bolivia, the only one truly in
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