Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-15
Pershing Has Sympathy
At Home in Tacna Effort

Gen. Pershing has the sympathy and
confidence of the American people in
his difficult position In South America,
where he has tried to arrange a Just
plebiScite for the settlement OF the
four-decade dispute between Chile and
Peru over the possession of Tacna-
africa. Such is the impression to be
gained by a study of the comment of
the American press.
"Whatever the merits of the con.
troversy between Chile and Peru over
the sovereignty of TaCna-Arica, the
people of the United States will never
believe that Gen. John J. Pershing,
president of the plebiscite commission,
has acted otherwise than justly and al
together in keeping with his Nation 3
good will toward both parties to the
ISSUE" says the Atlanta Journal,
which further affirms: America
knows him too well, and so does the
world, to entertain any notion to the
contrary"
Recognizing the difficulties in the
generals way the Omaha World Her
aid declares that lit will not dim Gen.
Pershing'S fame rs a soldier if he fails
TO acquit himself with success and
brilliancy in a trying and difficult dip
tinues this journal, I'VE should like,
both for his own sake and for the
credit of the country he represents, to
see him emerge from the final settle
ment of the Tacna africa dispute &C.
claimed by both sides for his fairness,
justice and impartiality."
Calling attention to the fact that
the job was none of the generals
choosing, nor of this Nations,'' the
Asbury Park Evening Press recalls
that the disputants asked President
Coolidge to decide the controversy; he
decided in favor of the plebiscite that
Chile agreed to hold when she seized
the territory, long ago, and he sent
Pershtng to see that the vote was
fair"
Feeling that the problem is a diplo-
matte rather than a legal one, the
Schenectady Gazette suggests: Posi-
bly, the real solution lies in sending to
assist Pershing a diplomat familiar
with conditions, who can advise him
how to settle the trouble on a diplo-
matte rather than a legal basis. That
is what is needed" The New York
World, also, feels that an error was
made by the United States Sin ap.
preaching the quarrel as a legalistic
rather than a diplomatic question:"
and declares that the total result is
that the United States has fairly we'll
burned its fingers
X X *
Giving what it frankly states is
''bit of advice to the State Depart
ment," the Baltimore Sun would have
the Government bring Gen. Pershing
home and let Chile and Peru fight the
thing out between themselves In
this suggestion the Buffalo Evening
News concurs, stating: Unless Chile
recedes from her present position, un-
less both countries support Gen. Per-
shing's effort to solve their ancient
problem for them, President Coolidge
might as well close the matter"
However, the Boston Transcript
thinks the situation Is not one lightly
to be dismissed. THE Tacna-Arica
negotiations stand" the Transcript
says, beyond doubt, as the most i'm
portant international undertaking in
which the United States Government
has been engaged on the Western
Continent since the war" Because
of the great issues at stake, the AL
toona Mirror believes 1.-The American
Government should greatly emphasize
its friendly intent toward it's Spanish.
American neighbors. 1t should take
great special palms." In the opinion Of
the Mirror, Ito demonstrate by it's con-
duct toward those nations that It