Treaty of Ancón
Encyclopedia
The Treaty of Ancón was signed by Chile
and Peru
on 20 October 1883, in the Ancón District
near Lima
. It was intended to settle the two nations' remaining territorial differences at the conclusion of their involvement in the War of the Pacific
and to stabilise post-bellum relations between them.
Under the treaty's terms, Chile gained control over the province of Tarapacá
. Chile was also to occupy the provinces of Tacna
and Arica
for ten years, after which a plebiscite would be organised to determine their nationality. However, for several decades following the two countries were unable to reach agreement on the terms the plebiscite.
Finally, in 1929, through the mediation of the United States
under President
Herbert Hoover
, an accord was reached. Under the Tacna-Arica compromise
, Chile kept Arica, while Peru reacquired Tacna and received USD $6 million indemnity and other concessions.
Another important chapter in the treaty said that Chile could not give sovereignty of former Peruvian territories to other nations without asking Peru first. The Chapter have been invoked once, during the Chilean proposal of 1975 that offered Bolivia sovereignty over some minor ports.
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
and Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
on 20 October 1883, in the Ancón District
Ancón District
Ancón is a district of northern Lima Province in Peru. It is a popular beach resort, visited every summer by hundreds of people from Lima.Officially established as a district on October 29, 1874, the current mayor of Ancón is Jaime Jesús Pajuelo Torres. The district's postal code is...
near Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
. It was intended to settle the two nations' remaining territorial differences at the conclusion of their involvement in the War of the Pacific
War of the Pacific
The War of the Pacific took place in western South America from 1879 through 1883. Chile fought against Bolivia and Peru. Despite cooperation among the three nations in the war against Spain, disputes soon arose over the mineral-rich Peruvian provinces of Tarapaca, Tacna, and Arica, and the...
and to stabilise post-bellum relations between them.
Under the treaty's terms, Chile gained control over the province of Tarapacá
Tarapacá Province (Peru)
The Province of Tarapacá was an old territorial division of Peru, which existed from 1837 until 1883.* It was created in 1837, in Litoral Department....
. Chile was also to occupy the provinces of Tacna
Tacna Region
Tacna is the southernmost region in Peru. Its name originates from the Quechua words taka and na , which would mean "a place to hit". This expression is thought to be related to the Quechua conquest of the Aymara people...
and Arica
Arica Province
Arica Province is one of two provinces of Chile's northernmost and most recently created region, Arica and Parinacota . The province is bordered on the north by the Tacna Province of Peru, on the south by the Tamarugal Province in the Tarapacá Region, on the east the Parinacota Province and on the...
for ten years, after which a plebiscite would be organised to determine their nationality. However, for several decades following the two countries were unable to reach agreement on the terms the plebiscite.
Finally, in 1929, through the mediation of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
under President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Clark Hoover was the 31st President of the United States . Hoover was originally a professional mining engineer and author. As the United States Secretary of Commerce in the 1920s under Presidents Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge, he promoted partnerships between government and business...
, an accord was reached. Under the Tacna-Arica compromise
Tacna-Arica compromise
The Tacna–Arica compromise was a series of documents that settled the territorial dispute of both Tacna and Arica provinces of Peru and Chile respectively....
, Chile kept Arica, while Peru reacquired Tacna and received USD $6 million indemnity and other concessions.
Another important chapter in the treaty said that Chile could not give sovereignty of former Peruvian territories to other nations without asking Peru first. The Chapter have been invoked once, during the Chilean proposal of 1975 that offered Bolivia sovereignty over some minor ports.