SOUTH AMERICAN RIVALS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 316, 1 October 1908, Page 7

SOUTH AMERICAN RIVALS.

. / ARGENTINA AND BRAZIL.. Ill*' TEI.EGUArH —I'IIESS ASSOCIATION—CorTRIG riTj Buenos Ayre3, September 29. - Argentina has approved of an arbitration treaty with Brazil. EUROPE'S INTEREST IN THE TREATY. . THE NEW WARSHIPS. ,The proposed arbitration treaty between Argentina and Brazil may have an .effecfj far beyond the limits of South America. Brazil has under construction in England three of the latest and most formidable battleships—one, the Alinas Geraes, was recently launched—two armoured cruisers, eleven torpedo boats, 6 torpedo-boat destroyers, and three submarines. Such a fleet would make Brazil altogether too powerful in South. American waters, so the neighbouring republio of Argentina has, in selt-proteotion, drawn out a counterbalancing programme of naval construction, at a cost variously stated at from seven to eleven millions. But when this scheme was presented to the Argentine Congress, a Buenos Ayres correspondent observed:—"The belief is generally 1 "- cntortained that, once Congress has approved this project, a pacific settlement beween the two republics will be arrived at before the large expenditure is actually necessary." This, no doubt, explains the treaty of arbitration, which Argentina has approved. If Brazil also approves tho treaty, will she ever accept delivery of the warships now building? And if sho does not, who will? A writor in the "Nineteenth Century" observes that the ships which South America has sold .could wipe all the fleets South America possesses off the seas. Despite official denials, liilory may repeat itself. It is even suggested that "the man behind tho gun" is really a speculating syndicate, which, building ostensibly for Brazil, knows that, if Brazil and Argentina compromise thoir differences, tSere are still several other buyers for modern fighting machines. 1 Then, once they are bought, more must be built- to counterbalance them, and tho whole process is "good for trade," although bad for tho taxpayer. But, as another writer remarks, "perhaps the best thing would be for the world to form a fund for having these battleships sunk, for no Government wants them, and if ony Government takes them it will certainly bo involved in difficulties with' its neighbours. ... A very little diplomacy and common sense among British and German statesmen should suffice to protect the taxpayers of both countries' against this audacious exploitation." Obviously, the progress of thev Argentina-Brazil arbitration treaty is of interest to Europo. It would be a peouliar paradox if a peacefulv settlement' in South America were to make for war among the greater Powers. . ■ Meanwhile, the' Brazilian Charge d'Affaires in London (M. de Lima i c Silva) . continues to affirm that tho warships ore for Brazil only; and that sho needs them independent of any settlement with Argentina. "Brazil (ho says) has an extensive seaboard, and needs a relatively strong navy to protect it. Even with this addition our fleet will not be disproportionately large. The rumour is also quite unfounded that these vessels are being built with a view to impending liostlities between Brazil , and the Argentine Republic or auy other Power. Tho last occasion of strained relations between Brazil and the Argentine occurred more than ton years ago, when a boundary dispute was settled m favour of Brazil by tho mediation of President Cleveland, of tho United States. Relations between tho two countries at present are perfectly amicable. The warships are each, of 20,000 tons." The first battleship, the Minns Gracs, was launched on tho Tyne on September 10, another will bo launched in December or January, and the third in the middle of next year. According to the "Daily Mail," each of these three battleships will have twelve 12in. guns and a speed of 22 knots. They will bo able to firo eight big guns ahead or astern, and ten broadside. The British Dreadnoughts only fire six big euns ahead or astern, and eight on tho broaasido. Tho Minas Geraes and her fellows will also have 22 4.7 in. quick-firers and eight 6-pounders.