According to the most recent accounts, there is little present
chance of the South-American war coming to a speedy close. It may even extend. The Chilians demanded as the price of peace a large cession of territory from Peru, but this demand was decisively rejected. The war is, therefore, to recommence, and the Chilians are organising an army of 10,000 men, with which they hope to occupy Lima, and so bring the struggle to a triumphant close. Their persistence, however, has aroused a feeling of desperation in Peru, which may make immense offers to purchase allies, one of them being, it is rumoured, the Argentine Republic. This, however, is strongly denied. It is remarkable, considering the deadly nature of the struggle, that no offer is made to Spain, which, unless pro- hibited by the United States, could intervene with deadly effect upon either side. Chili in particular could not move a man, if the Spanish Fleet were at liberty to seal her ports. The traditional dread of Spain is, however, deeper in South America than even the bitter jealousies among the Spanish-speaking States, jealousies hardly intelligible. Peru has brought this war on herself, to gain territory, while 400,000 of her 500,000 square miles are unused or unexplored.
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