The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-05-13
By HARRY l.. ROGERS International News Service Staff


 Correspondent
 Washington, May 13.-As the war clouds lowering over the Pacific coast of the United States were dis so, President Harding hopes, vii the misunderstanding which have exist ed between Peru and ChiH for nearly 40 years be cleared up as result of the Tacna-Arica conference, which is to open here this month.
 The general feeling of optimism as to the outcome of the conference is prompted largely by the a1acrity pute accepted the invitation of Presi- dent Harding to meet and discuss their differences. By her action in accepting the tender of the good of- reversed her previous policy of in sisting that discussions should be conducted directly between the chan celiors of Santiago and Lima, with out the intervention of a third party.
 It must be understood, however, that the United States is in no sense an arbiter in the controversy and, un- less she is specifically invited to as- sume such a role, will make no effort to act as umpire The President feels that the so called Tacna-Arfca dis pute is the most serious problem in Latin-America and would like noth- tied, but he has no idea of attempting to impose his views upon either of the participants
 From the first there has been the question as to the place in which the conference should be held. The Pan- American Union Building, utilized to advantage during the Arms Confer ence, obviously was the first to sug- gest itself, being the home of 21 American republics making up the Pan-American Union and being dedi- cated to the furtherance of good re- lations between those nations. All the connotations of the famous Home of Peace" were such as to purpose in inviting the disputants to Washington, namely to provide a, neu- tral atmosphere conducive to calm de- liberation rather than heated discus sion.
 For a proper understanding of this ancient boundary dispute, which has become known throughout Latin America the Tacna-Arica ques- War of the Pacific" in which Peru and Bolivia were disastrously defeat ed by Smile, and the Treaty of Ancon, which concluded that war in 1883. The Disputed Territory
 The disputed territory, now known as the Province of Tacna. consists of the departments of Tarata, Tacna and Africa and lies between the terri tories proper of the republics of Peru and Chile. Prior to the Treaty of
 
 that time has been held by Chile be- cause of the failure of the two coun- tries to agree upon the terms of the p1ebiscite provided for in the treaty. The area of Tacna Province is 23,- 300 square kilometres. It contains about 37,O00 inhabitants. The total area of Chf1eis 750,572 kilometers and the total population of 3,952,475 Thus less than per cent. of Chilean territory lies within the limits o1 Tacna, and less than one per cent. o1 the Chilean people live there. Briefly, 1t may be said that Chile | wishes to retain Tacna, because she believes she won it fairly in a wal which occastoned some sacrifice Peru hopes to recover what she lost | through the misfortunes of that war | and Bolivia aspires once more for ar outlet to the Pacific ocean. LacEins l the present strength to retake hel old pors of Antofagasta from Chile she would be content with Africa