File No. 180/41.
Inclosed herewith are two copies of the annual message which the
President himself read to Congress, together with translations of the
extracts relating to the United States, the relations with Peru, the
situation between Peru and Ecuador, and the legation in Japan.
[Inclosure—Translation.]
Opening of the National Congress—Joint session
of the two Houses, June 1, 1910—Presidency of Luis Antonio
Vergara.
The lack of precision in the boundaries of the old Spanish colonies
of America has unfortunately given rise to other controversies of
the same kind, and among them the dispute affecting Peru and Ecuador
is especially sensitive.
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Not only the old and strong chains of friendship that bind us to
Ecuador, but also our interest in preserving the continental peace,
have induced us to multiply our efforts in order to obtain a
friendly solution of the difficulty.
Being inspired by this high motive and within the sphere of action
corresponding to us, under the circumstances, we insinuated at an
opportune moment the idea of a mediation. We hope to see the good
offices that three friendly powers have offered crowned by an
agreement equitable and satisfactory to the aspirations and harmony
of the interests of Ecuador and Peru.
* * * * * * *
The traditional cordiality of our relations with Brazil have remained
unchanged, and it gives me pleasure to testify to the fact that the
intervention of her Government brought about the agreement which we
reached with the United States of America to submit an ancient
diplomatic claim to arbitration.
* * * * * * *
Our diplomatic relations with Peru have been interrupted once
more.
In the course of the negotiations that took place in order to
establish the basis of the plebiscite that should determine the
nationality of the Provinces of Tacna and Arica, Peru saw fit to
withdraw the legation she had accredited in Santiago.
I deplore that this resolution will postpone the opportunity for both
countries to come to a definite agreement on this important
question, a solution of which would be beneficial for both; and we
can not understand the reasons of that Government for not
considering our propositions, which are inspired by conciliatory and
equitable sentiments, and unite with the desire that animates us to
carry out the clauses of the treaty of Ancon referring to Tacna and
Arica.
Various measures destined to augment the agricultural and industrial
development of Tacna and Arica have drawn from the Government of
Peru some observations which we have not esteemed proper, because
those measures constituted acts of internal administration, executed
in the exercise of the sovereignty which the treaty of Ancon
conferred on Chile, and in fulfillment of the duties which that
sovereignty places upon us respecting the advancement and progress
of the people submitted to the laws of the country.
The diversity of origin and tendencies between the civil and
ecclesiastical authorities of Tacna and Arica has brought about
difficulties.
For that reason, and from the fact that no priest, Chilean or
foreigner, has obtained the necessary authority to exercise his
ministry, the Province of Tacna has been deprived of all religious
services.
In order to remedy the inconveniences of the situation I applied to
the Holy See, and His Holiness has seen fit to create a general
military vicary, that shall attend to the religious services of that
Province after a fashion.
The protocol celebrated with the United States of America to submit
the Alsop claim to arbitration has been approved by the Government
of that country and also by ours.
The contracting parties shall defend their respective rights before
the court of arbitration in the manner and as amply as they shall
consider convenient.
* * * * * * *
The minister of Chile to Japan is already at his post, a mission that
has the double purpose of strengthening our friendly relations with
that Empire and to correspond to the permanent legation established
by that country in Chile.
* * * * * * *
The foreign commerce of the Republic, the importation as well as the
exportation, reached in 1909 the figure of $568,512,672 of 18d.
The exportation decreased from $319,149,072 in 1908 to $306,429,909
in 1909.
The decrease is due exclusively to the fall in the price of
saltpeter. In spite of the fact that the quantity of saltpeter
exported increased by 750,895 metrical quintals, the value of the
exportation diminished by $22,995,000. On the other hand, there was
an increase in the exportation of animal and vegetable products,
especially of barley and wheat.
The customs receipts reached the sum total of $113,143,084 of 18d, a
sum superior to that received in 1908 by $3,242,728. The import
duties, which reached the sum of $40,390,108, increased by $736,385,
and the export duties, which produced $71,876,356, increased by
$2,721,084.
* * * * * * *