a boundary dispute between Chile and Peru

In 1883, the War of the Pacific was ended by the signing of the Treaty of Ancón, in which Chile was granted possession of the Peruvian provinces of Tacna and Arica for ten years, after which a plebiscite was to determine permanent ownership. The plebiscite was not held, however, because negotiations between the countries failed. Chile began colonizing the two provinces in 1909, leading to a diplomatic break between Chile and Peru in 1911.

In 1922, representatives of Chile and Peru agreed to arbitration by the President of the United States, but diplomatic relations between the two nations were not resumed until 1928. Direct negotiations followed, and the Treaty of Lima was signed on June 3, 1929. Under terms of the new treaty, Chile returned Tacna to Peru but was allowed to retain possession of Arica, in exchange for building a free port for Peru at Arica and an indemnity of $6 million.

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This page was last updated on September 14, 2018.