boundary between the argentine republic and chili., the 23d of July, in the year of our Lord, 1881

boundary between the argentine republic and chili.

In the name of Almighty God.

As the Governments of the Argentine Republic and of the Republic of Chili are desirous to settle in a friendly and becoming manner the existing dispute between the two countries as to boundaries, and in fulfillment of the thirty-ninth article of the treaty of April, 1856, they have resolved to draw up a boundary treaty, and to this end have appointed their plenipotentiaries, viz:

• His Excellency the President of the Argentine Republic, Don Bernardo de Irigoyen, secretary for foreign affairs; His Excellency the President of the Republic of Chili, Don Francisco de B. Echeverria, the consul general for said republic;

Who, after exhibiting their full powers and found them in due form for the purpose have agreed on the following articles:

Article 1. The boundary between the Argentine Republic and Chili is, from north to south, up to parallel 52° latitude the Cordillera of the Andes. The frontier line is to run in that direction over such of the highest peaks of said cordillera as may divide the waters, and is to cross the springs that start from both sides. Any difficulties that should arise on account of there being certain valleys that are formed by the bifurcation of the cordillera and wherein the divisional line of waters may not be clear, will be amicably settled by two experts, one to be named by each party. Should these experts not come to any understanding, a third one appointed by both governments, will be called upon to decide said difficulties. A record will be drawn up of the operations the experts may make, in duplicate copy, signed by both experts, as regards the points they may have agreed upon, and, besides, by the third expert as to the points he may settle. This record will carry full weight with it, once signed by them, and will be held to be good and valid without any necessity of other formalities or steps. A copy of the proceedings will be sent to each of the two governments.

Art. 2. In the southern part of the continent and to the north of the straits the boundary between the two countries will be a line, which, starting from Point Dungeness, will be continued overland up to Mount Dinero; thence it will proceed westwards, following the highest elevations of the chain of hillocks that exist there, until reaching Mount Aymont.

From this point the line will be continued up to the intersection of meridian 7 with parallel 52° latitude, and thence westward, coinciding with this last parallel to the watershed of the Andes.

The territories to the north of said line will belong to the Argentine Republic, and those to the south will belong to Chili, without this affecting what Article 3 determines as regards Tierra del Fuego and the adjacent islands.

Art. 3. In Tierra del Fuego a line will be drawn, which, starting from the point called Espiritu Santo, latitude 52° 40′, will continue southwards, coinciding with the western meridian of Greenwich 68° 34′, until it shall strike Beagle Channel. Tierra del Fuego, divided in this manner, will be Chilian on the western and Argentine on the eastern side.

As regards the islands, the islands of Los Estados, the remaining small islands there may be in the immediate neighborhood thereof on the Atlantic to the east of Tierra del Fuego and eastern coast of Patagonia, will belong to the Argentine Republic; and all the islands to the south of Beagle Channel up to Cape Horn and such as there may be to the west of Tierra del Fuego will belong to Chili.

Art. 4. The same experts referred to in article 1 will determine on the ground itself the lines indicated in the two preceding articles, and will proceed in the same manner as that determined on therein.

Art. 5. The Straits of Magellan are neutralized, and free navigation thereon insured to the flags of all nations. With a view to guaranteeing this freedom and neutrality, no fortifications nor military defenses will be raised that may clash with that object.

Art. 6. The governments of the Argentine Republic and of Chili will exert full dominion ever after over the territories that respectively belong to them by virtue of the present agreement. Any question that should unfortunately arise between the two countries, whether it be in connection with this compromise or owing to any other cause, will be submitted to the decision of some friendly power, the boundary line, whatever the issue, such as is fixed by the present arrangement to be the unalterable one between the two republics.

Art. 7. The ratifications of this treaty will be exchanged within 70 days, or before, if possible, and the exchange will take place in the city of Buenos Ayres or in Santiago, Chili.