International boundary surveys and demarcation in the late 19th and early 20th centuries

Much of 19th century colonial boundary making of the was carried out in conferences, by diplomats who were ignorant of the geography of the areas to be delimited. In an attempt to put boundary making on a more rational footing, two British army officers, Hills and Holdich, and a politician, Curzon, made a number of recommendations. As an experienced boundary surveyor, the suggestions of Holdich should have carried the most weight. However, while the ideas of Hills, Curzon and Holdich had much to commend them, with the notable exception of Holdich's Argentine/Chile boundary in Patagonia, their ideas were rarely followed.