Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 5, 1881
No. 8.
Mr. Osborn
to Mr. Blaine
.
Buenos Ayres , October 27, 1881. (Received November 28.)
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith an official translation of an authenticated copy of the treaty, of which ratifications were exchanged at Santiago by Chili and the Argentine Republic on the 22d instant, with a printed copy of the note of the minister of foreign affairs, addressed to this legation, under date of the 26th instant, in reference to the same.
[Page 11]In consequence of the failure caused by the snow and the state of the roads) of the Argentine courier to reach Santiago with the document on time, the ratifications were exchanged by wire at p.m. on the 22d instant.
The treaty, which might be called the Wire Treaty, meets with approval and gives general satisfaction to all parties and to the whole Argentine press.
I have, &c.,
Mr. Irigoyen to Mr. Osborn .
Buenos Ayres , October 26, 1881.
the chilian treaty.
Sir: I have the honor to inform your excellency that I am directed by the President of the Republic to forward you the annexed copy of the boundary treaty with Chili, signed on July 23 of this year.
The negotiations which have brought about the settlement were opened by the interposition of the worthy representatives of the Government of the United States accredited to this republic and to Chili. They were carried on in a spirit of moderation, and your excellency and your honorable colleague used every effort to smooth away difficulties and misunderstandings, and it is in part owing to this impartial interposition, born of the noble desire to re-establish the old good-will between two sister countries, that the settlement which renews and consolidates their traditional ties has been accomplished.
The Argentine and Chilian plenipotentiaries, on signing the boundary treaty, mentioned, in the protocol and the name of their respective governments, the high appreciation in which the latter held your excellency’s noble endeavors and those of your colleague.
Public opinion has been spontaneous in similar manifestations, and I am directed by the President of the Republic to thank your excellency for the friendly offices that you have interposed in representation of the elevated policy of your country and of its enlightened government, and to congratulate you on the fact of your name being connected with an international act that guarantees cordiality and peace to two nations.
For my part, I shall ever remember with lively satisfaction this period of the official relations that it affords me so marked a pleasure to maintain with your excellency, and I beg to tender you my sincerest wishes for your happiness, and to renew to you the distinguished consideration with which I have the honor of remaining.
Your excellency’s obedient servant,
His Excellency General T. O. Osborn, United States Minister Resident.
boundary between the argentine republic and chili.
In the name of Almighty God.
As the Governments of the Argentine Republic and of the Republic of Chili are desirous to settle in a friendly and becoming manner the existing dispute between the two countries as to boundaries, and in fulfillment of the thirty-ninth article of the treaty of April, 1856, they have resolved to draw up a boundary treaty, and to this end have appointed their plenipotentiaries, viz:
- His Excellency the President of the Argentine Republic, Don Bernardo de Irigoyen, secretary for foreign affairs; His Excellency the President of the Republic of Chili, Don Francisco de B. Echeverria, the consul general for said republic;
Who, after exhibiting their full powers and found them in due form for the purpose have agreed on the following articles:
[Page 12]Article 1. The boundary between the Argentine Republic and Chili is, from north to south, up to parallel 52° latitude the Cordillera of the Andes. The frontier line is to run in that direction over such of the highest peaks of said cordillera as may divide the waters, and is to cross the springs that start from both sides. Any difficulties that should arise on account of there being certain valleys that are formed by the bifurcation of the cordillera and wherein the divisional line of waters may not be clear, will be amicably settled by two experts, one to be named by each party. Should these experts not come to any understanding, a third one appointed by both governments, will be called upon to decide said difficulties. A record will be drawn up of the operations the experts may make, in duplicate copy, signed by both experts, as regards the points they may have agreed upon, and, besides, by the third expert as to the points he may settle. This record will carry full weight with it, once signed by them, and will be held to be good and valid without any necessity of other formalities or steps. A copy of the proceedings will be sent to each of the two governments.
Art. 2. In the southern part of the continent and to the north of the straits the boundary between the two countries will be a line, which, starting from Point Dungeness, will be continued overland up to Mount Dinero; thence it will proceed westwards, following the highest elevations of the chain of hillocks that exist there, until reaching Mount Aymont.
From this point the line will be continued up to the intersection of meridian 7 with parallel 52° latitude, and thence westward, coinciding with this last parallel to the watershed of the Andes.
The territories to the north of said line will belong to the Argentine Republic, and those to the south will belong to Chili, without this affecting what Article 3 determines as regards Tierra del Fuego and the adjacent islands.
Art. 3. In Tierra del Fuego a line will be drawn, which, starting from the point called Espiritu Santo, latitude 52° 40′, will continue southwards, coinciding with the western meridian of Greenwich 68° 34′, until it shall strike Beagle Channel. Tierra del Fuego, divided in this manner, will be Chilian on the western and Argentine on the eastern side.
As regards the islands, the islands of Los Estados, the remaining small islands there may be in the immediate neighborhood thereof on the Atlantic to the east of Tierra del Fuego and eastern coast of Patagonia, will belong to the Argentine Republic; and all the islands to the south of Beagle Channel up to Cape Horn and such as there may be to the west of Tierra del Fuego will belong to Chili.
Art. 4. The same experts referred to in article 1 will determine on the ground itself the lines indicated in the two preceding articles, and will proceed in the same manner as that determined on therein.
Art. 5. The Straits of Magellan are neutralized, and free navigation thereon insured to the flags of all nations. With a view to guaranteeing this freedom and neutrality, no fortifications nor military defenses will be raised that may clash with that object.
Art. 6. The governments of the Argentine Republic and of Chili will exert full dominion ever after over the territories that respectively belong to them by virtue of the present agreement. Any question that should unfortunately arise between the two countries, whether it be in connection with this compromise or owing to any other cause, will be submitted to the decision of some friendly power, the boundary line, whatever the issue, such as is fixed by the present arrangement to be the unalterable one between the two republics.
Art. 7. The ratifications of this treaty will be exchanged within 70 days, or before, if possible, and the exchange will take place in the city of Buenos Ayres or in Santiago, Chili.
[l. s.]
[l. s.]
Mr. Osborn to Mr. Irigoyen .
Buenos Ayres , October 26.
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt at this moment of a copy of the boundary treaty, signed by the two Republics on the 23d of July of the present year, accompanied by a note from your excellency of the present date.
[Page 13]Permit me to thank your excellency for presenting this legation the first authenticated copy at the disposal of your excellency, and, at the same time, I beg you will excuse a reply to your excellency’s so personal and complimentary note.
Had my colleague at Santiago and I done less than tender our good offices when peace and the good-will of two sister republics were involved, we should have failed to represent that interest which our government has and will always have in the peace and prosperity of her sister republics of South America. I am glad to know that the treaty is an accomplished fact, and in the name of my government I congratulate your excellency, His Excellency the President, and the two republics, and desire to assure your excellency that if our government, by friendly intervention through its representatives, contributed in the least to the happy conclusion of negotiations, it, with its representatives, will find their reward in the hope and desire that the treaty which at this hour links the two republics in the bonds of peace and friendship may be as durable as the wire which was so faithful in the good work, and as lasting as the two republics. And may they live forever.
I cannot conclude this note nor take my leave of your excellency, or of His Excellency the President, in this very important matter in which others besides the two republics and their peoples were deeply interested, without referring to the days and nights of your patriotic labors and anxious thoughts for one whole year in order to preserve the boon of peace to your noble country, and which has connected you and his excellency your chief, the President, with glory.
I have no fitting words with which to express to your excellency my appreciation of the invariable kindness with which your excellency and His Excellency the President received me into your confidence and counsels, and be assured that I shall ever look with pride upon the fact that my name has been connected with the crowning work of your life and the glory of President Roca’s administration.
Your excellency will please to accept my sincere wishes that you may be long preserved to your country and enjoy the renown which you have so successfully achieved.
I remain, Mr. Minister, &c.,
His Excellency Dr. Don Bernardo de
Irigoyen,
Minister for Foreign
Affairs.