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1856 Argentina–Chile treaty

Map of the East Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego and Strait of Magellan Dispute. In blue and green are the boundaries claimed by Argentinian[1] and Chilean[2][3][4][5] historians respectably as uti possidetis iuris in Patagonia.

The Treaty of Peace, Friendship, Commerce and Navigation of 1856 between Chile and Argentina (Spanish: Tratado de paz, amistad, comercio y navegación entre la República de Chile y la Confederación Argentina) was the first boundary treaty[citation needed] between Argentina and Chile. Article 39 of the treaty proposed the use of direct diplomatic negotiations and arbitration to resolve disputes.[6] It established that the boundaries should be based on the uti possidetis principle based on what each country possessed before the Chilean and Argentine wars of independence beginning in 1810. It also postponed the solution of the East Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego and Strait of Magellan Dispute into the future. Article 40 of this treaty established a 12-year limit on the effect of its articles about commerce and navigation. The Boundary treaty of 1881 between Chile and Argentina mentions this treaty to say that the later treaty is "in fulfillment" of Section 39 of this treaty.[7]

Background

Main article: East Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego and Strait of Magellan Dispute § Chilean incorporation of Southern Patagonia during the 19th century
Chile founded Fort Bulnes on the coast of the Brunswick Peninsula in 1843 to take possession of the Strait of Magellan and the surrounding territory, prompting diplomatic protests from Argentina.

The government of President Manuel Bulnes dispatched the schooner Ancud to take possession of the Strait of Magellan on behalf of Chile. The intendant of Chiloé, Domingo Espiñeira, organized and directed the operations, which were carried out by Frigate Captain John Williams Wilson. On September 21, 1843, he completed the takeover of the Strait of Magellan at the historic site of Puerto del Hambre, founding Fort Bulnes.[8]

Between 1852 and 1855, both countries engaged in a highly detailed historical and geographical debate, amassing a significant collection of documents to support their respective claims.[9]

The Chilean minister Antonio Varas, upon learning of the historical studies published by Miguel Luis Amunátegui in 1853, regarded them as a revelation. Although these studies claimed the uti possidetis iuris boundary to be the same as shown in the map by Juan de la Cruz Cano y Olmedilla of 1775 (excluding the Cuyo region, which had been transferred to the jurisdiction of Buenos Aires by the King of Spain in 1776), the Chilean government sought to assert sovereignty up to the Río Negro.[10] Upon learning of Amunátegui’s book, the Argentine government tasked Dalmacio Vélez Sarsfield in 1855 with drafting a response, which was subsequently countered by Amunátegui. The following year, amidst these academic disputes tied to the governments of both countries, the treaty was signed.

Sources

Tratado de paz, amistad, comercio y navegación entre la República de Chile y la Confederación Argentina Wikisource

References

  1. ^ Dalmacio Vélez Sarsfield (1853). Discusión de los títulos del Gobierno de Chile a las tierras del Estrecho de Magallanes. Imprenta Argentina.
  2. ^ Eyzaguirre, Jaime (1967). Breve historia de las fronteras de Chile. Editorial Universitaria.
  3. ^ Lagos Carmona, Guillermo (1985). Los Títulos Históricos: Historia de Las Fronteras de Chile. Andrés Bello. (p. 197) We note that the Loa river is at 22 degrees and that Baleato, in 1793, indicated 21.5 degrees for the beginning of the Kingdom of Chile, with the Loa at its mouth in the Pacific. (...) (p. 540) According to the Map of Cano y Olmedilla, the limit of the Kingdom of Chile "(...) through the desert of Atacama (...) From here it turns to the S., S.E., S.E., and S., keeping in general this last course until near the 29° parallel, from where it takes a S.E. direction. SE. and S., generally keeping this last course until the vicinity of the 29° parallel, from where it takes a S.E. direction, skirting to the east the 'Province of Cuyo' which, of course, appears to be included in the territory of the Kingdom of Chile. In the latitude of 32°30' the line turns to the S.W. until reaching the Quinto river, which, as the legend says 'communicates by channels with the Saladillo in time of floods'. It follows the river down to the meridian 316°, counting to the E. of Tenerife, where it turns a stretch until it reaches the Hueuque-Leuvu river (or Barrancas river) at 371/2° latitude. From here it runs along the river for a stretch to the S.E., and then turns to the E. and falls into the Atlantic Sea in the vicinity of parallel 37° between Cape Lobos and Cape Corrientes", "a little north of the current Mar del Plata". (...) (p. 543) In this document it is seen that those of the province of Cuyo end to the south at the source of the Diamante River, and that from that point to the east, the dividing line goes to the point where the Quinto River crosses the road that goes from Santiago to Buenos Aires.
  4. ^ Amunátegui, Miguel Luis (1985). Títulos de la República de Chile a la soberanía i dominio de la Estremidad.
  5. ^ Morla Vicuña, Carlos (1903). Estudio histórico sobre el descubrimiento y conquista de la Patagonia y de la Tierra del Fuego. Leipzig: F. A. Brockhaus.
  6. ^ "Treaty of Peace, Friendship, Commerce and Navigation between the Argentine Confederation and the Republic of Chile (translated)". Hathi Trust Digital Library. London:HMSO, issued by the Foreign Office. 30 August 1855. pp. 1200–1213. Retrieved 10 August 2019. British and foreign state papers. v. 49, pp.1200-1213 ... Ratifications exchanged at Santiago, April 29, 1856.
  7. ^ "Treaty between the Argentine Republic and Chile, defining the Boundaries between the two Countries (translated)". Hathi Trust Digital Library. London:HMSO, issued by the Foreign Office. 23 July 1881. pp. 1103–1105. Retrieved 10 August 2019. British and foreign state papers. v. 72 1880/1881, pp.1103-1105
  8. ^ Anrique, Nicolás, *Diario de la goleta “Ancud” al mando del capitán de fragata don Juan Guillermos (1843) para tomar posesión del estrecho de Magallanes*, Santiago, Chile, Imprenta Barcelona, 1901, p. 86.
  9. ^ Mario Barros Van Buren (1998). "OUR RELATIONS WITH ARGENTINA" (PDF). Revista Marina. Retrieved April 23, 2024. The Argentine government claimed all the territory south of the Diamante River, including the Strait and Tierra del Fuego.
  10. ^ Mateo Martinic Beros (1971). Chile's Presence in Southern Patagonia 1843 - 1879. Editorial Andrés Bello. Retrieved December 8, 2022.


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