Dr. Charles W. Hackett, of the University of Texas, has been elected a member of the Board of Editors of THE HISPANIC AMERICAN HISTORICAL REVIEW, to take the place of Dr. Isaac J. Cox, whose term of office has expired. Dr. Hackett is well known in historical ranks as one of the younger men in the Hispanic American field. He received his training at the University of Texas and at the University of Calfornia under Professor Herbert E. Bolton. He has done excellent work in research, both in connection with his university work and with Carnegie Institution of Washington. Dr. Hackett first brought to the attention of scholars of the United States, and with good evidence, the fact that Balbao was still living after the date on which his execution had been reported. Like all Professor Bolton's students, he believes in visiting the countries whose history he is teaching. The REVIEW considers itself fortunate in having his coöperation. Dr. Cox, the retiring editor, has an enviable record in the ranks of teachers of Hispanic American history, and has added materially by his writings to the materials at the command of students. Although his name, in accordance with the regulations governing the Board of Editors of this REVIEW, is taken off the cover page, the REVIEW is still assured of his help and advice.

It is a pleasure to announce that Dr. Charles E. Chapman and Dr. William Spence Robertson, formerly members of the Board of Editors, have been elected Advisory Editors of the REVIEW. This is most fitting from every point of view, for, besides being scholars of international reputation, Professors Chapman and Robertson first suggested the founding of a quarterly review to

-treat of Hispanic American history. To both, the REVIEW has been constantly indebted in many ways since its inception for help and advice.

There was some fear, with the close of the last year, that THE HISPANIC AMERICAN HISTORICAL REVIEW might have to cease publication. It is most gratifying to be able to state that it will still continue. The readers of this REVIEW doubtless know well that the expenses incident to its publication have been heavier than its income from subscriptions. The deficit has been generously subscribed by a friend of the enterprise.

In order that the REVIEW may continue to be published, it is hoped that those who are able will aid it by

Continuing their subscription

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Subscribing Fifty or One Hundred Dollars (or any larger sum) as sustaining subscribers

It has been generally conceded that the REVIEW has made a place for itself. It must not fail for lack of material support.

In this number of the REVIEW, Dr. Carlos M. Trelles, of Matanzas, Cuba, the authority on Cuban bibliography, writes an introduction to a Cuban bibliography of the Monroe Doctrine. It is understood that the actual list (which will not appear in the REVIEW) will be published somewhat later in Cuba.

In this number also begins a Chilean bibliography by Dr. Sturgis E. Leavitt, of the University of North Carolina, which is the result of research work in Chile. Although Dr. Leavitt, calls it a "literary" bibliography, it has immense value historically, and is, in consequence, most suitable material for this

REVIEW.

During, the course of the year, papers by scholars, not only of the United States, but of Hispanic America and Europe, will be published. The sections devoted to Book Reviews, Notes and Comment, and bibliographical Notes and Lists, will be continued. Readers are urged to send in material for Notes and Comment and for Bibliographical Notes. J. A. R.

THE TREATY OF TORDESILLAS AND THE ARGENTINE-BRAZILIAN BOUNDARY SETTLEMENT

By the award of President Grover Cleveland, in 1895, was terminated the vexed Argentine-Brazilian boundary dispute, which had its origin in the treaty of Tordesillas more than four hundred years before. This was only one of several territorial controversies growing out of the ambiguous agreement between Spain and Portugal, but it was the most serious, and the last to be settled on the old southern frontier of the two rival powers in South America.

Jealousy of Spain as a result of the discoveries of Columbus was excited in the breast of John II. of Portugal even before the Admiral reached his home port after his first voyage; for unfavorable weather forced him to find shelter in a Portuguese harbor on his return trip, which led to an interview with King John, who thus learned of the result of Columbus's venture. The Portuguese king promptly claimed the newly-discovered lands, apparently basing his title upon a treaty made with Spain in 1479, which grew out of a grant of Pope Nicholas V. to Alfonso V. of Portugal, made in 1456.1 This papal bull is especially interesting as it shows Prince Henry the Navigator's intention, thirty years before Dias rounded the Cape of Good Hope, to send expeditions as far as India. The bull gave to the Portuguese sovereign not only all territory which might be discovered south of the capes of Bojador and Nam "through Guinea", but also all lands beyond the southern coast of Africa "as far as the Indians".

1 Frances G. Davenport (ed.), European Treaties bearing on the History of the United States and its Dependencies, to 1648, pp. 33-48.

2 Ibid., pp. 9-33.

As "the land of the Indians", or the "Indies", was an indefinite term which applied to the whole region extending from east Africa to China and Japan, John II. seems to have thought that Columbus had visited these lands, merely following a different route from that in which Portugal had so long been interested. Shortly after Columbus had reported to his sovereigns the results of his voyage, Ferdinand and Isabella instructed their ambassadors at Rome to obtain from the Pope a grant of the new lands. Such a grant was secured May 3, 1493, by means of two bulls, which gave to Spain all the territories discovered by Columbus, or which he hoped to discover, "lying towards the western parts and the ocean sea" not already possessed by any other Christian prince. And on May 4, within a few hours after these two grants, the Pope issued an additional bull qualifying and explaining the preceding ones. This last document, couched in vague, contradictory half Latin, half Spanish terms, proclaimed the famous papal line of demarcation, which gave Spain all territory to the west of a meridian one hundred leagues to the west and south of the Azores and Cape Verde. The fact that the Cape and the Azores islands were many degrees apart appears to have been overlooked by the Pope and his advisers, or ignored by them. Contrary to the common view, this line was not proclaimed as a result of a protest from Portugal, for that nation would have in no wise been satisfied with such a division. Rather, the papal line appears to have been the result of specific instructions from the Catholic Sovereigns to their ambassadors at Rome to secure for Spain all lands to the west of Cape Verde and the Azores. Pope Alexander VI. was a Spaniard and a personal friend of Ferdinand and was inclined to favor Spain; but, in order to protect the territories granted

Ibid., pp. 56-70.

4 Ibid., pp. 71–79.

'Henry Harrisse, The Diplomatic History of America: its First Chapter, pp. 31-35.

to Portugal by earlier bulls, he appears to have been induced by his scientific advisers to move the line desired by Spain one hundred leagues to the west."

Portugal, since it claimed about a third of the world, including the lands discovered by Columbus, was much displeased by the arrangement secured by its rival, and was planning to make good its pretensions by resort to forcible measures when Spain suggested that a conference be held at which the conflicting claims could be discussed. Out of this suggestion grew the long-lived and troublesome treaty of Tordesillas, of 1494. This agreement made no mention of preceding papal grants or divisions, and simply stipulated that in the Atlantic there should be drawn from pole to pole a division line three hundred and seventy leagues to the west of the Cape Verde Islands, the lands to the west of which should belong to Spain, and those to the east, to Portugal. The treaty further provided that within ten months a joint expedition of the two countries should sail westward the stipulated distance from the Cape Verde Islands and, commencing either at the north or the south, mark the distance in degrees or leagues, according to which should prove most convenient; and where the line cut the land-if such cut should take place a tower of demarcation should be erected.' Ferdinand and Isabella instructed Columbus to be responsible for putting the demarcation provisions of the treaty into effect in behalf of Spain; and told him to head the Spanish expedition himself, if possible. But the demarcation never progressed beyond the theoretical stage, for in the year following, 1495, the two interested governments formally agreed to postpone sending out the joint expedition, in order to have its work preceded by a discussion of the fixing of the line by a conference of experts. But in the mean time, the Spanish government instructed, the demarcation line was to be put on all sailing charts. None of these things was done, however: the experts

"Harrisse, Diplomatic History, p. 39.

Ibid., pp. 58-70.

'Davenport, Treaties, pp. 84-100.