Evening star., 1922-06-15
N.E.:AND PERU''>
TURN TO HUGHES
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
The way at last was opened today for
the United States to extend a helping
hand to Chile and Peru in their effort
here to solve the riddle of Tacna AFRICA.
After exactly one month of futile en-
deavor to find a ground for compromise.
the delegates of the two South American
nations to the Washington conference
turned their attention TO Secretary
Hughes in the hope that he could sug-
gest q basis OF arbitration acceptable To
both.
Although no official announcement wRs
made, 1he Secretary was understood 10
be entirely willing to undertake the task.
Since the conference began on May 15
he has kept himself well informed of
the elements of negotiation which
present deadlock, and TO have refrained
from Offering help to the negotiators
only because no favorable opportunity
hitherto had presented itself
The opportunity came today through
the decision of the Chileans to re
quest the ambassador of their coun-
try here to call on Mr. Hughes and
lay the situation before him. Am
bassador Matthews visit was expected
to take place before the day was
over, and since Peru already had made
similar oyertures, some move by the
Secretary was looked for almost i'm
mediateiy.
The role of Secretary Hughes is not
to be that of formal mediator. since
mediation has not been requested by
either side. To have accepted so
formal means of intervention, IL has
been felt. might have led to an i'm
preston in South America that undue
influence was being exerted by the
government of the United States. Mr..
Hughes is expected TO act rather i'll
an individual capacity. and to put his
personal abilities as a cohciliator at
the impartial COMMAND of the two
deleg ati0ns.
Although apparently confronted with
a barrier which they could not over
come unaided. the real difficulty be
tween the Chilean and the Peruvian
group appeared today to some observ-
ers to- be largely = question of phrase
oIogy. The turning Of a phrase which
would weld into one the two arbitra-
tion formulas 30 determinedly advo-
Gated from opposite sides of the con-
required these observers said. 10
crown the conference with success.
End to Conference Seen
On questions OF principle. it was
pointed out, both sides had taken po-
sitions so near together thl4 to bridge
the intervening space would appear
at first glance to be simple task-
Chile wants 10 arbitrate the method
of interpreting the Tacna-Arica pleb-
iscite clause of the Ancon treaty.
Peru proposes to arbitrate whether
the correct Interpretation OF thai
clause is that plebiscite now should
be held. AS frequently eventuates In
diplomatic discussions. however the
long quest for the magic phrase TO
embody both of these ideas apparent
ly has led into SO many byways that
the delegates merely have found
themselves going about in a circle.
Coming into the discussions with a
vision unclouded by the verbal bewil
derments of past phases of the con
ference. Secretary Hughes generally
is expected TO have suggestion
ready for the consideration of both
sides without delay. A few days more.
il was predicted today in many quar-
ters. probably would be enough to
bring the conference finally TO an
end