BRAZIL AND ARGENTINA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2396, 11 January 1909, Page 2

BRAZIL AND ARGENTINA.

A TREATY OF ARBITRATION

A cablegram recently hinted that trouble was jaending between Brazil and Argentina but there has been no subsequent confirmation of the suggestion, and the Brazilian and-Argen-tine newspapers now available show that there was no definite anticipation of a difficulty at the end of October. The suggestion seems to have been based on an interview published by the London ‘‘Daily Chronicle’’ with “a gentleman who is intimately versed in all matters relating to South America.” This authority undertook to explain why Brazil was building a new navy. ‘‘lt means a war,” he said, “a war that we in Brazil have known to bo inevitable for a long time past, and the Government. has had no mote subtle an object in ordering these ships than any other competent Government would have under the same circumstances. Here is Uruguay sandwiched between Brazil and the Argentine, with its principal port practically commanded by ‘the Argentine,” he continued, speaking of the cause of the quarrel. “Apart from tho envious eyes which the latter country lias necessarily cast on tho little State. Brazil suffers from the inconvenience of the north-eastern frontiers of Uruguay being freely uked for passing contraband goods into its country. It seems to me more than probable that, unless something can be amicably arranged between the two big States over the buffer State, the last will be the primary cause of a war which cannot be long deferred, and will suffer accordingly.” The “Brazilian Review,” discussing this bellicose statement, declares that the authority who knows all about iSonth America must have been ignorant of one fact, and that is “that a treaty of arbitration is almost immediately to be -signed beween Brazil and Argentina, .so that any dispute which may arise between them maybe removed from the danger zone, which treaty all well-wishers of the two countries trust will lead to the spiking of the guns of the jingoes, who, for some rime past, have been trying to stir up strife in these regions.” On the other hand, the Argentine newspapers sadmit that’thc naval appropriation of, £15,000,000 is due to a desire to “follow the pace set by Brazil.”