Evening star., 1923-02-25
BY BEN McKELwAY.

BY BEN McKELwAY.
HE ny IN an otherwise unsual-
ly pleasing ointment is the
refusal Of Mexico. Peru and
Bolivia to send delegates or
take part in any way In the proceed
ings Of the fifth pan-American con-
gress, in Santiago. The extent to
which this imperfection will mar the
outcome of what promises to be an
important step toward closer relations
in tho western world remains to be
seen. It Is regarded as an unfortunate.
rather than as a serious. development
tries concerned have refused to par
ticipate in q movement which requires
the support Of all. regardless of indi-
viduaI differences Of opinion. Active
membership in the pan-American
congress is a duty. as well as
privilege.
IF the congress was held in Argen-
tina, or in any other South American
country this year. there might have
been different story. The refusal on
the part Of Peru and Bolivia to at
tend this year results directly from
the fact that Chile Is host. Mexico's
excuse might be likened to that Of
Mrs. Smith. who refuses to attend the
church social because Mrs. Jones
with whom she is not on speaking
terms-will be there. Mexico does
not relish the idea Of sitting at the
same conference table with Uncle
Co oil hor
| in the conference.
Basis of Refusal
1t is understood that the United
| States still retains strong hopes that
Peru may forget her differences with
Chile and take part in the conference.
But as the time draws near for the
| congress to convene and Peru re-
| mains as steadfast as she ever was,
| 1T would appear that this hope is
weakly founded. When Chile sent the
| usual invitation for Peru to send her
delegates to the congress Peru re-
piled that she could not do so as
long as Chilean persecution Of Pc
ruvians in Tanca and africa continued
She conditioned her acceptance on
some assurance from Chile that these
| alleged prosecutions would be dis
| continued. Chile replied. in effect,
| that there were no prosecutions of
Peruvians, and there the matter
| ended There are some who argue
| that Chile's reply should have been
| more conciliatory, that she should
have gone out OF her way to assure
| Peru Of her sincerity In desiring that
she take part In the congress.
On the other hand, 1t Is pointed
out that anything bordering on an
| assurance from Chile that Peru's de-
| mands would be met would consti-
tute an admission that Peruvian
| claims were we'll founded. Peru has
| steadfastly charged Chile with out
rageous treatment Of Peruvian citi-
| zens in the contested Tacna-Arica
district, and Chile has just as stead
| fastly denied Peruvian allegations.
The result is that while Peru and
| Chile have entered into one agree
ment to submit their old quarrel to
the United States for settlement,
| while, in fact, their quarrel is in
the process OF being permanently ad-
justed, the firft pan-American con-
gross is made the agency for renew
ing bitterness between the two
countries which should have been
buried with the hatchet inferred
ofdcially with such imposing cere-
monies In Washington a few months
lago. Peru may feel she has ample
justification for refusing TO partici.
pate In the congress. But 1t should
be remembered that the pan.Ameri.
can congress is not a Chilean con-
kress. Chile merely happens to be the
meeting place. Peru has taken a slap
at the host, and hits the guests az
we'll.
i Why Bolivia Stays Out.
Bolivia's declination to participate is
also founded, in part, on the fact that
Chile is entertaining this year. Bolivia
is contending her right to a seaport OF