Fears of another Pacific war

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33520, 29 April 1974, Page 12

Fears of another Pacific war

While world attention remains fixed on the two main areas of international tension — the Middle East and South-east Asia - trouble is brewing in South America: the possibility of war, before the ’.ear is out. between Peru and Chile, cannot be dismissed. Relations between the two countries — seldom cordial since the Pacific War of 1879-1884 — vere strained by last year’s coup in Chile. The late President Allende was admired by the generals who are still running Peru. The Peruvians have recently been purchasing arms from France and Russia claiming that these are needed for their defence now that the fall of Mr Allende has left them hemmed in bv anti-Leftist Governments. Peru’s rulers have rejected charges that they are preparing to make war on Chile Chile is having difficulty securing arms. The British Government recently forbade British companies to make further arms contracts with Chile. Chile has charged that Peru is preparing to retake the land it lost almost a century ago and has condemned as hypocritical Peru s recent plea that the countries of Latin America should not engage in a regional arms :-ce.

Chile recently complicated the situation further b\ announcing that it was willing to restore Bolivia s access to the sea. which Bolivia — then Peru s ally — lost during the Pacific War Since Chile is unwilling to be severed by a Bolivian corridor. Bolivia’s access to the sea must go through territory that was formerly Peru’s. Under the Treaty of Ancon, signed in 1929. Peru’s consent is required before any of its former territory is ceded by Chile to a third country. President Velasco of Peru has said that his country would never agree to the ceding of anv of its former territory to Bolivia. A further complication is Brazil's interest in a Pacific tort for Bolivia, which would facilitate Brazils access to .Japan and the rest of Asia. The Brazilian and Peruvian Governments are sharply divided ideologically Peru also fears that Brazil has designs ■ the Amazon basin, where imporstrikes have been made. Peru is likely to resist anv measures that would increase Brazilian influence in Bolivia, or on the Pacific coast of South America.

A second Pacific War is not inevitable. Chile is in no position to attack Peru, even with Brazilian and Bolivian encouragement. Peru may indeed be contemplating a pre-emptive strike against Chile. Events in the Middle East encourage the view that a country making a first, hard strike against a neighbour will be able to keep the territory it gains because the big Powers, or the international communitv (in this instance the Organisation of American States) can now be counted on to move quicklv to end such conflicts. Peru’s leaders should think carefully before justifying Chilean claims that Peru has aggressive designs and before antagonising other more*powerful neighbours.