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Show Chile and Peru : Meager 'press reports from South America show the bitterness that for many years has existed between Peru and Chile is finding expression in both countries. Arica, in the province of Tacna, was a part of Peru and rich in nitrates and promised such wealth that the Chileans were covetous. Being a larger and stronger nation, Chile easily found a pretext for war against her neighbor and at the end of a short campaign Peru was forced to yield, and the nitrate field was surrendered to Chile. Neither country has since been represented by a minister, the national interests being cared for by consuls. The Chilean government now has, according to an Associated Press dispatch, "withdrawn her consuls from Peru in order to avoid untoward incidents which mighty take place in case of outbreaks. This will constitute a diplomatic rupture." Peculiar interest for Americans attaches to the present controversy con-troversy from the fact that their sympathies have largely been with the Peruvians," who some contend were despoiled of their richest rich-est territory much in the same manner that France lost. Alsace-Lorraine. Alsace-Lorraine. Previous to the present European war the United States y wat not hcld-in-high esteem by -the republics to the south anJU marvelous growth with attendant opportunities for exploitation ofj weaker nations was viewed with suspicion, and American statesmen! have been loth to become involved. The feeling against the United States was so bitter in Chile that the arrogant extremists of the latter country threatened war and to bombard San Francisco with their one formidable battleship. But this attitude has so completely changed by the lofty ideals of President Wilson for the betterment of conditions throughout the world, that the Peryvians perhaps deem the present an opportune time to present their claims for justice. It will be interesting to note the president's position should the appeal be made. |