On April 9, 1880, the Colombian Government, using the previous border conflict with Peru as an excuse, severed trade relations with Peru.
Upon receiving the news in Vienna, the Austrian Government was in an uproar, with calls to show the Colombian Government a lesson.
Anyone with a modicum of political sense understood what Colombia's choice meant.
Before this, the Austrian Government had promised both Peru and Bolivia to ensure the continuation of their international trade during the war.
Conceding to the British blockade of the coastline was due to the sheer power of the Royal Navy, which the Austrian Navy could not match—it was an unavoidable situation.
Now that the land trade routes were also lost, did the Vienna Government still care about its face?
The French were also troubled by the same issue; the Paris Government had made similar promises to Peru and Bolivia.
