Evening star., 1925-11-19
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL y. COLLINS.

equality between Chilean and Peru
Wan citizens, so that the plehscite e
would express the viii of the voters
without military and administrative
intimidation.
1t is alleged that President Cool
idge's decision did not contemplate
that Chile would institute martial law
in the disputed region and exile the
Peruvian voters, which. it is claimed,
is what has taken place
What can an American neutral do
toward preserving fair play while one
party exercises military and dictato-
rial power over the other party?
What President Coolidge will de
eide i'll that regard will be based upon
Gen. Pershing's reports, which are
state secrets.
1t is pointed out that in case a
Chilean evacuation of the terrft ory
be decreed, il would take several
weeks to recall the troops and with
draw their supplies. Would United
States troops take their place? 1t
would be difficult to set up Il neutral
government TO guarantee peace and
order until the vote could be taken,
and it is not at all certain that the
Chileans would comply with an order
TO evacuate, since they are strongly
Contending the right to remain. based
on the original Treaty of Ancon
ignoring the Complementary act CON
| ferring upon the arbitrator full dis
cretlon to require evacuation or any
other conditions precedent TO a vote.
| Chile denies the right of the United
States to make any inquiry into her
administration of the territory There
are American cruisers in the harbor
of africa for the protection of Ameri-
| can officials and others, and persons
from these vessels, although bearing
insignia of their connections with the
United States, have been mobbed in
the streets by Chileans. their insignia
and their official portfolios taken from
them. These acts have been officially
dlsavowed and apologized for by
Chilean authorities, but repeated a
few days thereafter.
Certain Peruvians undertook to sell
on the streets a small newspaper con-
tanning Peruvian propaganda. They
were mobbed and driven to seek safety
| in the residence of Gen. Pershing. who
personally ordered the mob dispersed,
authorized the PeruvianS to continue
the sale of their papers and sent Amer
leans with them as guards, but both
the Peruvians and the American
guards were then set upon by the
mobs.
While officials are refusing to give
out any information regarding the
critical conditions in Tacna-Arica, a
| periodical Of California, the West
Coast Leader, has sent two unbiased
correspondents to the region to de.
scribe the situation.
| These correspondents depict condi
tions of complete terror among Pc.
ruv1an women left in africa after their
husbands had been driven into exile
on the charge that thew We're ICON.
| spiring against Ckile. The CORE.
spondents allege that wherever they
went ABOUT the city they were followed
ana spled upon by Chilean police or
plain-clothes detectives. The Peruvian
women on whom they called were fear.
! 1ul that the visit of the Americans
would compromise their safety on
charges OF further conspiracy.
| X y X X
| The Peruvians point to the defect in
| Chilean title to the territory. which
they allege IS conceded by Chile in its
| contract 10 Sell certain of the terri
tory 10 SollVla, in case the plebiscite
awards full possession. Without the
unquestlonabie right of transfer, un
| condltloiai upon any future contin
gency' 1t IS argued, there is no owner
snip; therefore, they argue, all pos
session is held In trust, subject to the
| stlpulatlonS of the "complementary
act putting the conditions of the
pleblsclte into the full control of Presi
dent Coolidge.
ecoryrSht. 1a2s. b Haul Y. co1uuaa