182 Chapter 2
Coding changes: Start Date changed from March 15, 1873.
MID#1510
Dispute Number: 1510
Date(s): October 15, 1878 to December 6, 1878
Participants: 155 Chile/160 Argentina
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (Negotiated)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: This dispute concerns the Chilean seizure of an Argentine boat, the Dev
onshire. The Devonshire was seized by the Magallanes in the Santa Cruz river as a
result of an order by President Avellaneda to protect Chilean rights in the area. Argen-
tina responded by dispatching a garrison of ships to the area to drop anchor. By the
time they arrived, the Devonshire was already released and a settlement of the issue
short of war seemed likely. Argentina was genuinely averse to war and Chile mostly
wanted to signal to its domestic audience that it could defend itself against its eastern
neighbor. Argentina and Chile eventually settled this dispute with the Feirro-Sarratea
Treaty of December 6, 1878. Both sides agreed to a bipartite tribunal on joint access
of the straits, though it did defer the question of sovereignty for a future discussion.
Argentina also sent assurances to Chile that it would not disclose the terms of the
treaty to its public.
Coding changes: End Date changed from November 26, 1878. Outcome changed
from Unclear.
MID#1511
Dispute Number: 1511
Date(s): May 1879 to November 1879
Participants: 160 Argentina/155 Chile
Outcome (and Settlement): Compromise (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Argentina occupied the Patagonia region, an area whose ownership was
disputed by Chile. Chile was involved in the War of the Pacific against both Bolivia
and Peru since February 1879 and could not effectively respond. The progress of the
War of the Pacific left Chile open to more general negotiation on this territorial issue,
and the United States mediated in 1881. Argentina gave up claims to the Strait of
Magellan in exchange for confirmation of sovereignty in the Patagonia.
Coding changes: End Date changed from June 16, 1879. Outcome changed from
Compromise. Settlement changed from Negotiated.
MID#1513
Dispute Number: 1513
Date(s): October 1897 to November 2, 1898
Participants: 155 Chile/160 Argentina
Outcome (and Settlement): Yield by side A (Negotiated)