The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-04-07
MORROW To FIX.
TACNA-AR|CA
BOUNDARY
Former Canal Zone Governor
Picked by Coolidge to Act
for U. S. on Group
By LLOYD LEHRBAS

Brisadier General Jay j. Morrow.
retired, of New York city. who has
just been selected by President
Coolidge to represent the United
States as a member OF the Tacna
africa Boundary Commission, is one
Of the best known engineering or
ficers In the United States army
and during his period of active
service has held a number or inn
portant assignments.
A native of WesI Virginia, Gen
eral Morrow entered West Point
from Pennsylvania and during his
long service before retirement
served through all the grades up to
Brigadier General. He Is now q
brigadier general In the Officor~
Reserve Corps.
Twice during his active service
he returned to West Point as an In
structor In engineering subjects, in
addition to other details. He
served in the Philippines and was
the leader of the Lake Lanao exs
petition; served as engineer COM
missioner of the District Of Column
bia and as a member OF the
Alaska Railroad Commission, ana
for two years was engineering of
hcer In charge of maintenance or
the Panama Canal.
Governed Canal.
Four years ago he was appointed
governor of the Panama Canal
Zone and served in that position
until October is last year, when he
retired from active service.
With the Peruvian and Chilean
members OF the boundary commits
sion, General Morrow will fix the
disputed bondary lines of the prov
inces OF Tacna and africa, defining
the territory which is included in
the plebiscite to be held to deter
mine the sovereignty of the prov
lnces as between Chile and Peru.
Tacna and africa lie between the
republics OF Chile and Peru and
have been in dispute between the
two nations for more than forty
years. General John j. Pershing
was named president OF the
plebiscitary commission, which will
have general supervision OF the vot-
ing under the award handed down
by President Coolidge as arbitrator.
Before either Chile or Peru Sc.
cures legal right to the territory,
however, the exact territory in
vOlved must be decided, and Presi-
dent Coolidge chose General Nor
row as his representative on that
work.
Coolidge Award.
Under the Coolidge award the
northern boundard of Tacna.Arica
was set as the Sauna river, which
was a victory for Peru, as Chile
claimed that the boundary line ran
In a manner which would have,
taken a part of the Peruvian prov.
ince of Tarata away from Peru
and made 1t a part Of Tacna-
africa.
The southern boundary, which is
extremely important, because 1t
will settle ownership of extremely
valuable borax lands, which are In
litigation between private interests
lies, was set by the treaty of An.
con as "the ravine and Canarones
river" Authentic maps of the
district and accurate geographical.
information are missing, however,
and although both Chile and Peru
agree that the boundary line is the
Camarones river 1t is necessary to
make an exact geographical line as
1t existed on October 20, 1888, in
order to avoid all further dispute.
UnderJ the Coolidge award Ger
tain requirements for voters are set
forth, including the granting of the
vote to natives of Tacna and, also,
to natives of africa; so 1t Is con-
sidered probable that the boundary
commission will define the terri
torial lines of the provinces before
the plebiscite is held in order to
ascertain the eligibility OF voters.