The Diplomatic History of the Peru-Bolivia Boundary Author(S): H
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The Diplomatic History of the Peru-Bolivia Boundary Author(s): H. S. Toppin Reviewed work(s): Source: The Geographical Journal, Vol. 47, No. 2 (Feb., 1916), pp. 81-95 Published by: Wiley on behalf of The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1780012 . Accessed: 26/12/2012 10:28 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. Wiley and The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) are collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to The Geographical Journal. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded on Wed, 26 Dec 2012 10:28:23 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions The Geographical Journal. Vol. XLVII. No. 2. February 1916. CHINESE MAP OF SU-CHOU USED BY GENERAL GORDON. map of which the central portion is here reproduced is the work THE of a Chinese draughtsman, and represents the city of Su-chou with its surrounding moats and islands. The notes in English and the various marks in coloured chalk are by General Gordon, who used the map in his siege of the city or to illustrate a report. The map bears his signature, which is reproduced. The breach in the walls (upper righl-hand corner) is clearly marked on the original in red chalk, which is hardly distinguishable on the repro- duction. The meaning of various lines and spots in red, yellow, and black is not evident, except perhaps to some one familiar with all the details of Ihe operations against the city, which surrendered to Gordon and his Chinese Army after a siege of some weeks in December 1863. This valuable addition to the Museum is the gift of a nephew of General Gordon, Mr. Donald Gordon, to whom the thanks of the Society have been conveyed. THE DIPLOMATIC HISTORY OF THE PERU- BOLIVIA BOUNDARY. The late Captain H. S. Toppin. Among the papers of the Peru-Bolivia Boundary Commission entrusted to the Society for the preparation of the Official Report%was thefollowing summary of the Diplomatic History made by the late Capt. Toppin for the guidance of the Commission, It forms a useful key to the complicated history of the Boundary, The principal documents will be published in ftdlin the Official Report Map^p. 160. 1823. rPHE first reference to the question is found in Article 6 of X the Constitution of 1823, which reads: "Congress will determine the boundaries of the Republic, in agreement with the States possessing common frontiers as soon as the independence of Upper and Lower Peru is arrangedP 1825. On February 17 Bolivia requested the Peruvian National Congress to conrie to a decisive resolutioq with regard to the limits of the G This content downloaded on Wed, 26 Dec 2012 10:28:23 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 82 THE DIPLOMATIC HISTORY OF Republic. The Peruvian Congress decided that the time had not arrived " to determine the limits of the Republic, since the provinces of Upper Peru were still under the Spanish yoke. ." The four districts of Upper Peru?La Plata, Potosi, La Paz, and Santa Cruz?declared their independence in August 1825. 1826. The Cabinet Council, in a decree dated May 18, recognized the Republic of Bolivia as a sovereign and independent state. Complying with the already quoted legislative resolution, that the boundaries of Peru should be arranged as soon as these provinces con- stituted themselves an independent state, Peru sent her first mission to Bolivia, entrusting it to Don Ignacio Ortiz de Zevallos, who adjusted some political treaties and a portion of the southern boundaries. The Peruvian Government on December 18 of the same year disapproved of these treaties. Note.?The following sections are mainly summarized from a memorandum pre- sented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Peruvian National Congress, November 1903, and from other official sources, Peruvian and Bolivian. 1831. In the Treaty of Peace signed at Arequipa on November 8 of this year, it was stipulated, in order to settle the boundaries, that two commissions should be formed, one to draw up- a topographical map of the boundary, and the other to inquire into the land rights of the occupiers on either side of the frontier. The frontier was to follow natural features ; existing rights were to be respected; and in the case of compulsory transfer, compensation to the satisfaction of each party was to be given. Nothing seems to have come of these arrangements. From this period a status quo was stipulated with regard to boundaries, and the naming of commissions to study the frontiers. 1839. In the Preliminary Peace Convention, which took place in Tacna on 14 August 1839, ^ was agreed that " The Governments of the Republics of Peru and Bolivia undertake to make a demarcation of the boundaries of both countries; the Desaguadero, which forms a natural boundary and the only one which can serve as a point of departure for this demarcation, being fixed as the starting-point." This proposal was not carried out. 1847. In a treaty made at Arequipa on 3 November 1847, the subject was brought up afresh. 1848. A second agreement, made the following year (1848) added that the demarcation would be made after the commissions had studied the position of the old landmarks. These were to remain intact, both states binding themselves to preserve the territory which had always belonged to them. 1863. The next treaty was on 5 November 1863. Both countries again agreed to name a commission for the study and demarcation of the frontier, reiterating their obligation to maintain themselves within the This content downloaded on Wed, 26 Dec 2012 10:28:23 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions THE PERU-BOLIVIA BOUNDARY. 83 status quO) and to recognise and respect the actual existing boundaries, until the commission had concluded its labours. The commission was, however, not named. 1886. On 20 April 1886, there were signed at Sucre a preliminary treaty of boundaries, and a complementary protocol, which obtained the approval of Congress in both countries, but were not carried through. The predominating ideas in these negotiations were as follows :? National commissions were to be appointed to study and settle the line of boundaries, keeping to the clearly established frontiers. Peruvian and Bolivian towns were to be left to the nation to which they belonged; but in vague or uncertain cases the dividing line would be determined according to the titles of authority, possession, and usufruct, which would be enforced to this effect. In the absence of titles, a dividing line would be offered for consideration, which would be equitable and to the mutual interest of both parties. Any places about which they could not come to agreement would be left to the decision of an Arbitration Tribunal. The complementary protocol appointed a personnel for the commission " and appointed as arbitrator the Government of the Spanish Nation." The next step for the two Governments was to draw up in detail the protocols setting forth their respective requirements. The fundamental part of Peru's demands was that Peruvian or Bolivian towns actually established should continue to belong to their own nations, " and that titles of dominion, possession, and usufruct, should be taken into account in doubtful cases, giving them the preference to which they have a right, in the same order in which they are named, in such a way that where titles of dominion exist, possession or usufruct cannot be presented against them as a counter-proof." The Bolivian Congress, while sanctioning the treaties introduced a clause to the effect that The towns that have been politically organized, and are found to be outside their own territories, should be reserved for their respective countries. Ratifications of this treaty were not exchanged, and the problem of boundaries between the two countries was not solved. After 1886, no further treaty was made relating to boundaries between Peru and Bolivia, until November 1903. So far, these early negotiations had been mainly concerned with the southern portion of the boundary, that is to say from the Pacific to Lake Titicaca. In the meantime, however, various discussions had been taking place as to the ownership of the immense hinterland to the north, the forest country around the headwaters of the Amazon, on the Atlantic side of the Andes. This is the region with which the recent Boundary Commission was chiefly concerned. We must turn now to the negotiations for the boundary between Brazil This content downloaded on Wed, 26 Dec 2012 10:28:23 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 84 THE DIPLOMATIC HISTORY OF and Bolivia, which had a great influence upon the final determination of the Peru-Bolivia boundary. 1867. In this year, Bolivia and Brazil were commencing to arrange their frontiers, and a treaty was drawn up which afterwards became known by the names of its negotiators, Mufioz-Netto. By this agreement a portion of Brazil's frontier was to run in a geodetic line from the Con- fluence of the Beni and Mamore to the headwaters of the Yavari. Peru protested on the ground that part of this territory belonged to her.