166 Chapter 2
Participants: 220 France/140 Brazil
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (Negotiated)
Fatalities: 26–100 deaths
Narrative: A Brazilian chieftain in a border region disputed by French Guiana seized
a French settler. The colonial government dispatched a force of French marines to
secure the release of the hostage. Fighting broke out between the marines and the
Brazilians. Brazil and France offered differing accounts of how the clash started.
The French increased their naval presence in the region and began readying troops
in Guiana. The two countries agreed to submit their border issues for arbitration on
August 15.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from May 11, 1895. End Date changed from
May 25, 1895. Outcome changed from Unclear. Settlement changed from None.
Fatalities changed from None.
MID#624
Dispute Number: 624
Date(s): February 22, 1963 to March 4, 1963
Participants: 220 France/140 Brazil
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: In April 1963, France sent lobster boats to fish in South American waters.
In some instances, these boats would be over the continental shelf of Brazil. When
the Brazilian government recognized this, it ordered the French to move out to deeper
waters, and leave the lobsters on Brazil’s continental shelf for the Brazilian lobster
boats. Rather than acquiesce to Brazil’s demands, the French government sent a
destroyer to accompany its lobster boats. Brazil then put its navy on alert. The two
countries decided to send the disagreement to adjudication, but no agreement was
reached through this means. In December 1964 an agreement was finally worked out
in private between diplomats.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from April 1963. End Date changed from
Missing.
140 Brazil/255 Germany
MID#400
Dispute Number: 400
Date(s): April 5, 1917 to October 26, 1917
Participants: 255 Germany/140 Brazil
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: A Brazilian ship was sunk by a German U-boat on April 5, 1917, and a
second Brazilian ship was hit on April 12. Brazil began seizing German ships and
arrested three German spies on April 16. On April 20, both sides broke off diplomatic