American Legation,
Santiago, July 8,
1905.
No. 436.]
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
Message read by His Excellency the President of
the Republic of Chile at the opening of the regular sessions of
the National Congress, June 1, 1905.
Fellow-citizens of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies: In giving you
an account of the public administration during the past year it is
gratifying to me to announce to you that our relations with other
countries are friendly and cordial.
The demarcation of the limits of our territory with that of the
Argentine Republic is almost completed. There remain to be put in
position only a few pyramids at the sources of the Ñuble and Laja
rivers, a task which will be completed in the coming summer. The
slight difficulties still pending will be settled in a satisfactory
manner. The cordiality of our relations with the neighboring
Atlantic Republic encourages the hope that we may reach agreements
which shall continually strengthen the bonds which happily unite
these two countries.
The 21st of March the treaty of peace and amity with Bolivia was
promulgated, following the exchange of ratifications. This compact,
based on the bounds of the material interests of both countries,
assures them, in a not distant future, all the benefits which
commercial intercourse effects, not the least of which is the firm
establishment, under inalterable conditions, of the friendly
international relations of both countries. In the near future bids
will be asked for the construction of the railroad from Arica to the
plateau of La Paz, which, according to the terms of the treaty,
Chile must construct, and the necessary steps have already been
taken for fulfilling the promises which we thereby made.
The Government of Peru has thought fit to protest against some of the
stipulations contained in this treaty. Chile’s reply, in addition to
establishing the right which supports us in maintaining them in
their integrity, suggests the expediency of putting an end to the
sterile discussions in which we have been involved and of exchanging
them for agreements of a nature similar to that of those which have
terminated definitely and satisfactorily our differences with
Bolivia.
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