Patagonia ¹

Abstract

THE dispute between the Argentine Republic and Chile with regard to the boundary line of their Patagonian possessions threatened at one time to result in a prolonged and sanguinary struggle. Happily this misfortune was averted by the decision, honourable to both nations, to refer the differences that had arisen to the arbitration of our Sovereign. A British Commission was accordingly appointed to examine the geographical features of the country and judge how far they could be reconciled with the terms of the treaties the interpretation of which was in question. As the head of this commission was chosen Sir Thomas Holdich, who had served his country as boundary commissioner in the wild inaccessible lands that lie to the north and west of our Indian possessions, and this selection was abundantly justified by the tact and skill with which a frontier more than 800 miles in length was traced in such a manner as to accomplish the almost unprecedented feat of satisfying both parties.