Page:A history of Chile.djvu/302

274 A HISTORY OF CHILE ing principally Chilean labor. In short, it was Chi- lean and foreign capital and energy combined which developed the wealth of the nitrate regions. The Bo- livian Indians and half-breeds contented themselves with selling water and vegetables about the oficinas. Bolivia may have been cheated in her arrangements with Chile, but it was not until after she had discov- ered that Chileans could produce wealth from her des- erts that she thought of rescinding her treaty contracts. In 1873, February 6th, Bolivia and Peru entered into a secret agreement, the object of which was declared to be the mutual guarantee of the independence, sov- ereignty and territorial integrity of the two countries, and mutual defence against exterior aggression. The exterior aggression was anticipated from Chile. On August 6th, 1874, another treaty was signed with Bolivia, by which Chile agreed to withdraw her claim to half the duties in Bolivian ports on condition that all Chilean industries established on Bolivian territory should be free from duty for twenty-five years. There was also a further waiver on the part of Chile of her claims to the territory between the twenty-third and twenty-fourth parallels. The Bolivian congress on Feb- ruary 14th, 1878, almost four years after the treaty had been made, concluded that it would ratify the treaty on condition that a tax of ten cents per quintal (hun- dred-pound weight) on all nitrates should be paid. Being remonstrated with for a breach of the treat}', Bolivia refused to remit the tax and declared that ni- trates in the hands of exporters would be seized if the levy were not paid. Chile then sent her fleet to protect the property of her citizens. The ports of Antofagasta, Cobija and Tocapilla were blockaded. On the 24th of January, 1879, the Chilean govern-