The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-04-24
Chile and Z Peru tosAttempt
Settlement of Ownership :,
of Disputed Lands i
CONFERENCE INITIATED
BY PRESIDENT HARDING
Conference to Be Opened Soon
at Washington With U. s.
Acting as Mediator -: ..ry~
By A. L. Badford'

Omitted Press STAFF Correspondent)
Washington, D. c., April Cd
A n OF h er important international
conference will open in n Paw
days in this capital, which is RAPIDLY
an International center of first rank.
This is the conference between
Chile and Peru designed to bring
about a sett clement of the long-stand-
ing. Tacna-Arica controversy between
those two countries, which for years
has been barrier to complete inter
national accord in South America.
The conference was initiated by
President Harding, when in the mid
die Of last January, during the midst
of the Conference on the Limitation
of armament here, he addressed invi-
tations to the Governments Of Chile
and Peru to send plenipotentiaries to
meet on common ground in Washing
ton to the end that they "may settle,
If happily it may be, the existing diff
ficulties, or may arrange for the set
Element of them by arbitration"
In due course, Chile and Peru ac-
cepted the invitation of the United
States, and President Harding's initi-
alive met with general praise from
South America.
Later, the governing board Of the
Pan-American Union decided to turn
over the beautiful building of the
Union here for the scene Of negotia-
lions between Chile and Peru. This
building one of the most beautiful in
Washington, was also the scene Of
much work of the Washington dis
armament conference. 49,.
What is the Tacna-Arica question?
Tacna and africa are the names Of two
provinces on Che West coast 81 South
America, which were formerly Peruvi-
an territory, but which are now held
by Chile, as the result Of the war Of
1879 between those countries. 10. L..
However, the question of the real
ownership of these territories IL still
unsettled, Article 3 of the treaty OF
rAncon, of 1883-this treaty ended
the war between Chile and Peru
provides for plebiscite In the Prov
lnces Of Tacna andd africa ten years
after the ratification of the treaty, to
decide to which of these two cOun-
tries these territories should 20 to.
The treaty of Ancon was ratified
in 1884, but the plebiscite was not
held in 1894 in accordance with the
pact, nor has it been held since, due
to the inability of the two countries
to agree on methods for the holding
of it.
In the meantime, the case Of Boliv-
ia was injected into the situation. The
President of that country in q tele-
gram to President Harding asked that
Bolivia be allowed a representation in
the Washington negotiations. ~ -
Bolivia was the other participant in
the so-called "War Of the Pacific" be-
ing the ally of Peru. Chile as the re-
suit Of her victory, acquired ire sea-
coast OF Bolivia through q separate
peace treaty with that country. Since
that time Bolivia has had no
outlet to the sea. situation she has
constantly but vaifly tried to extric-
ate herself. n
President Harding replied to the
Volivian president refusing that conf,-
try's plea for representation at the
conference here. He explained Tint
Chile and Peru was to take up the
question to which Chile and Peru
were the only parties-the treaty OF
Ancon. But the Bolivian case may
come up later. &Fi~ ~
Chile is represented here by Carlos
Aldunate-Solar and Luis lzquierdo, as
the two chief delegates, and Alejand-
no Alvarez, as couselor of the Deiega-
ton; and Peru by Melton "a Portas
and Herman Velarde, as the delegates
and Scion Polo, as the counselor, all
prominent experienced statesmen.
The Presidents invitation for the
two countries to meet in conference
here in fully expected to be one Of the
most important steps ever taken by
this government in Latln-Americail
affairs, as some sort of a settlement
of this question Of 40 years standing
is looked for. ,...
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