402 



ADDENDUM. 



failed in his object. The Bolivian government issued the following 

 decree, dated "La Paz, 27th January, 1853 :" 



"Whereas, 1st, the eastern and western parts of the republic, en- 

 closing vast territorial of extraordinary fertility, intersected by navi- 

 gable rivers flowing to the Amazon and to the La Plata, offers the most 

 natural channels for the commerce, population, and civilization of these 

 districts ; 



" "Whereas, 2d, the navigation of these rivers is the most efficacious 

 and certain means of developing the riches of this territory, by placing 

 it in communication with the exterior, and applying to its waters the 

 fruitful principle of free navigation, as useful to the interests of the 

 republic as to those of the world ; 



" Whereas, 3d, by the law of nature and of nations, confirmed by 

 the conventions of modern Europe, and applied in the New World to 

 the navigation of the Mississippi, Bolivia, as owner of the Pilcomayo, 

 of the tributaries and the greater part of the Madeira, of the left shore 

 of the Itenes from its junction with the Sarave to its emptying into the 



Mamore, of the western bank of the Paraguay to the Marco del I , 



as far as 26° 54' of south latitude, and of the greater part and the left 

 shore of the Bermejo, has the right to navigate these rivers from the 

 point in her territory in which they may be susceptible of it to the sea, 

 without any power being able to arrogate to itself the exclusive sover- 

 eignty over the Amazon and La Plata ; 



" Whereas, 4th, this navigation cannot be effected without the neces- 

 sary ports are afforded for trade ; • 



" Therefore, be it decreed : 



"Art. 1. The Bolivian government declares free to the commerce 

 and mercantile navigation of all the nations of the globe the waters of 

 the navigable rivers which, flowing through the territory of this nation, 

 empty into the Amazon and Paraguay. 



" Art. 2. The following are declared free ports, open to the traffic 

 and navigation of all vessels of commerce, whatever may be their flag, 

 destination, or tonnage : 



" In the river Mamore — Exaltacion, Trinidad, and Loreto. 



" In the Beni — Renenavaque, Muchanis, and Magdalena. 



"In the Piray — Cuatro, Ojos. 



" In the Chapare — Coni and Chimore, tributaries of the Mamore, 

 the points of Asunta, Coni, and Chimore. 



" In the rivers Mapiri and Coroico, tributaries of the Beni, the points 

 of Guanay and Coroico. 



" In the Pilcomayo — the port of Magrinos, on the east coast of the 

 Paraguay, La Bahia Negra, and the point of Borbon. 



