ECUADOR AND PERU.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 821, 19 May 1910, Page 7

ECUADOR AND PERU.

FEAR OF WAR. By Telegraph—Press Association—OoDrriuht. Now York, May 17. Notwithstanding that the EucadorPeru boundary dispute has boon referred to the arbitration of the King of Spain, it is feared thta Ecuador will .dcclare war. against Peru unless other Powers intervene. HISTORY OF THE DISPUTE. FACTORS AT WORK. . Feeling in Ecuador over tho boundary dispute with Peru has gradually intensified. In April, at Quito, the capital of Ecuador, an attack was made on the Peruvian Legation; for which Peru has demanded ample satisfaction. Interested Neighbours. It is said that Colombia (to the north of Ecuador) is ready to' back up Ecuador, nsainst Pern. It is also alleged thai Peru's powerful southern neighbour Chilt. is covertly urging on Ecuador for Chile's own purposes; tho explanation being that Peru has on the south a boundary dispute (concerning tho Arica and Taen'a provinces) with Chile as well as on the north a similar quarrel with Ecuador. The more worried she is by Ecuador on the one hand, the more is Peru to submit to Chilian dictation on the other. And, consequently, if Chile and Tern reach an agreement regarding the plebiscite, which is to settle the future, nationality of the Arica and Tacna -provinces; the strain in the relations between Peru and Ecuador is expected to relax. Spanish King Arbitrator. The present outbreak of ill-feeling between the two neighbouring countries is based ujwn a bonmlnry dispute which dates back to the creation'of the Republic of Ecuador in 18.10. The frontier in the unexplored Hinterland was ill-de-fined, and has been a constant source of trouble. Many unsuccessful attempts were made by tho two Republics to com? to an agreement. Finally, a. few year« ago, the King of Spain was asked to'arbitrate on the question, which involved a claim of over 100,000 square miles of land rich in rubber, timber, and probably gold, and lying about the head-waters of the Amazon. It appears (hat tlia award will soon l>e made, .and, according to reports which have appeared >l the South American newspapers, it will not be favourable to Ecuador. The news, seemingly, embittered feeling in that Remiblie. and led to the attacks on the Peruvian Legation at Quito and oil the Consulate at Guayaquil. Pan-American View-Point. "Washington (writes the correspondent of 'The Times' in that city) is disquieted and irritated by the Latin-American outlook. Everything is at sixes and sevens just when this country was preparing to make tho impending Pan-American Conference in Buenos Ayres the occasion of a renewed demonstration of Pnn-Ameri-can solidarity and of America's friendship for her southern neighbours. "There is official confirmation of the reports that a warlike feeling is running high in Peru and Ecuador over the boundary dispute, and that Colombia is ready to back up Ecuador. Peru has a milder boundary dispute with Chile. Argentina and Bolivia are hardly on speaking terms for similar reason?. Constant outburst* of anti-American sentiment are reported fr'jn Bogota. Mexico is pursuing a Central American policy of her own, having recognised President Madriz in Nicaragua before the United States were prepared to do so.

"Extent in the case of JVru, Ecuador, and Colombia. there is little danger 0 f actual trouble, hut the general atmosphere is unfavourable In the renewed prowlli of (lie sentiment of Pan-Ainori-can peace and goodwill, which (lie last' Administration fostered so cleverly ami which lias since Iwen retarded by several untoward events."