OPEN HOSTILITIES.

Mataura Ensign, 30 January 1911, Page 5

OPEN HOSTILITIES.

i * PERU AND ECUADOR. BY ELECTRIC TELECRAPH. COPYRIGHT. PER UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION. Received January 30, 8.5 a.m. LONDON, Jan. 29. Router states that the Ecuador and Peru frontier dispute has culminated in open hostilities at several points on the frontier. It was recently cabled that Peru had . agreed to submit the boundary dispute with Ecuador to arbitration by The Hague Tribunal. At the end of November last, it was reported, the King of Spain communicated to' the Governments of Peru and Ecuador that it had come to his knowledge that the President and Congress of Ecuador in accordance with their declarations did not wish to decide the question pending - with Peru by arbitration. He therefore I resolved to renounce his functions as arbitrator. The boundary dispute dates back to the creation of the Republic of Ecuador in 1830. The question at issue concerns the possession of over 100,000 square miles of land rich in rubber, timber, and probably gold lying about the ■ head waters of the Amazon. Since King Alfonso consented six years ago to t arbitrate a Commission of Inquiry ap- ? pointed by him reported in favor of certain modifications to the advantage of - Peru; the premature publication of these recommendations early last year produced some serious discontent in Ecuador and led to an attack on the Peruvian Legation in Ouito. The United States then intervened, and hostilities were averted by the decision of the dis- > putants to accept the mediation of the - United States, Brazil and Argentine; s but it was understood at the time that Ecuador desired the suspension of the King of Spain's arbitration.