Evening star., 1925-04-10
TEXT OF REPLY TO PERU INSISTS
TACNA-ARICA DECISION is FINAL
Coolidge Stresses Statement That A,card Is Beyond
Appeal-Declres Commission Named WM
Assure Ultimate Justice to All.

that the president of the PERUVIAN
defense commission gives formal as
surance" that Peru Will not fail to
carry out the award.
A general reply is made to the Pc
ruvian contention that acts Of terror
ism have been committed under chill
can authority, the President pointing
out that these should be brought to
the attention of the plebiScitary COM
mission when it has been constituted
and adding again that the award is
final and without appeal" BY way OF
observation, the arbitrator calls at
tention that Peru had full opportunity
to present such requests before the
award was made, but did not take
advantage of it.
"Of course" the reply continues,
orderly procedure and the agree
ment forbid that a party to
the arbitration should wait until after
the award is rendered before making
requests for findings Nevertheless,
the arbitrator did not permit the in
forests of Peru to be prejudiced -
lie considered the whole question
carefully and fixed the conditions un-
der which the plebiscite was to be
held 80 as to afford the most ample
protection to the rights of both par
ties to the arbitration"
Sure of Fair Ballot.
Taking up in order the six requests
Tor additional guarantees submitted
ny Peru, the President says that the
first. proposing evacuation of the ter
ritory by Chilean civil. military and
police forces to be replaced by Amer
lean authorities and forces" Is beyond
the scope of his authority under the
terms of submission Tho ruling is
made, however. without prejudice TO
the powers of the pIebiscitary COM
mission, which are declared to be
ample TO guarantee to every quail
ihed voter full assurance of personal
protection as we'll as the assurance
that his vote may be freely cast and
VIII be fairly counted"
On the second point, request that
installation of the commission be
haStened, the President points out
that both the United States and Chile
have named their representatives on
the commission, and adds:
1t is suggested that nothing stands
In the way of the constitution of the
commission as soon as similar action
shall have been taken by Peru"
The third request made by Peru,
that the six-month limit OF time for
holding the plebiscite be dated from
the evacuation of the territories by
Chilean civil and military authorities
is dismissed as answered under the
first heading.
The fourth point. requesting that
Peruvians resident for Ave years in
Tacna and africa and subsequently
expelled be qualified TO vote. is held
to be unnecessary and inadmissible"
because it would involve revision OF
an inter-related general plan as to
the plebiscite which, lin the opinion
of the arbitrator, does justice be-
tween the parties
Meaning Not Clear.
The fifth request, that residents be
required TO prove the character of
their occupation as 1.-The only means
of avoiding fraud" in the plebiscite,
is. classified as proper for presenta-
ti6n before the Plebiscitary Commits
sion, while the sixth, asking that
consideration be given TO those Peru
vians convicted of common crimes
Under Chilean authority for the
very purpose of putting such Peru
vians out of the way and incapaci-
tating them from voting in any
eventual plebiscite," is. said by the
arbitrator to be mot clear as to the
precise meaning" The President
points out that the commission has
power to interpret the provision of
the award which denies registration
or a vote to persons imprisoned under
sentence for a non-politrcal offense
involving moral turpitude," and says
that specific cases under this heading
should go before the commission.
In conclusion, the President reit-
crates that the award made ample
provision not only for control by the
commission Of qualifications of voters
and prevention of fraud, but also for
appeal from the commissions decf-
sions to the arbitrator. The Presi
dents only purpose in undertaking
his arduous task" as arbitrator, the
reply adds, was to be of service to
two great nations friendly to the
United States. and it assures Peru
that:
so far as in him lies, acting al
ways within the we'll defined limits
of the terms Of submission, he the
arbitrator) will leave nothing undone
which scrupulous care and attention
on his part can accomplish in secur-
ing a fair election and equal justice
to both parties"