Evening star., 1925-03-07

! intensity as Chilean Ruano seekers
poured into the desert, and in 1879
open hostilities began. Peru. acting
In accord with her secret treaty OF
alliance and defense with Bolivia,
sought to mediate for peace between
Bolivia and Chile, but the discovery
of the secret treaty precipitated war
with Peru and Bolivia against Chile.
The latter country was at the same
time on the verge of hostilities with
Argentina, her neighbor on the east,
concerning a boundary dispute
Chile was Invariably victorious
against Bolivia. and finally defeated
the combined armies of Peru and Bo-
ltvia, in a battle of Tacna, in 1880.
The settlement OF the hostiIities as
| agreed to In conference aboard a
United States naval vessel, resulted
in her cediug to Chile all of the
Peruvian province OF Tarapaca to
Chile In perpetuity. and the Bolivian
provinces of TacnS and africa to be
held by Chile for 10 years, at the
end of which time a piebiscite of the
Inhabitants was to decide to which
country they should belong-to Chile
or to Peru. Bolivia was conciliated
for the loss of her corridor to the sea,
when Chile built for her a railroad
from africa to La Paz, with a free
port at AFRICA
u II u
When the 10 years expired in 1894.
II was found that the treaty had
failed to specify how the plebiscite
would be taken, and Peru refused to
agree that Chile alone should con-
duct 1t and should vote all ChiIeans
who had colonized the disputed terri
tory So no piebiscite was taken. 1t
is said that since the war of 1888
many Peruvian families have con-
ttnued to live in Tacna or africa SOLE
ly from motives of patriotism, await
ing the plebiscite that they might
vote for their fatherland
1t is argued that since the plebis-
cite which was stipulated in the
treaty was not held, the treaty was
violated and ceased to be valid in n,
provisions. Bolivia attempted to re-
claim her former rights, but both
Chile and Peru have refused to recor-
nize her interest in the present dis
pute.
When it appeared that hostiIities were
! again on the verge of being renewed
between Peru and Chile, on January 1S.
1922 Secretary of State Hughes tele-
graphed to both countries inviting them
J to send representatives to Washington
for direct conference. This was done
In May, 1922. : Bolivia again sought to
| become party to the negotiations but
was refused. The United States took
| no part in the conference. Out of three
months pourpariers resulted q protocol
referring the whole controversy to the
! President Of the United States for set
| tlement. That settlement Is now ready
for today's announcement. and 1t Is
| final
L.,
| In the settlement of the other bound
ary dispute-between Brazil. Colombia
and Peru, as announced on the last day
Of Secretary Hughes service, the claims
| Of the respective countries were based
upon treay between Spain and Portu-
| gal made in 1777. An amicable arrange
ment was brought about in a conference
held In Secretary Hughes ONCE in the
State Department. The special signifi-
canoe in both of these cases is not in
the territory involved, so much as it is
| in the recognition by South American
! nations of the fairness and disinter-
estedness of the powerful father of the
Monroe Doctrine, Uncle Sam, In seek
| ing peace upon this hemisphere with no
Interference from the powers OF Europe.
Copyright, 1925. by Paul V. Collins.)