Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-03
By FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

A LTHOUGH acknowledged 10
~ bristle with delicate issues
a confidence in Washington is
4 a general that the Tacna-Arica
mess eventually will be un,
rslveled without serious consequences
That opinion prevails not only at the
White House and the State Depart
ment, but in Washington'S Latin
American quarters.
One of the foundations of optimism
is the early arrival in Chile of Senior
Don Beltran Matthew. who has just
rehnquiShed the Chilean ambassador
ship at Washington to become foreign
minister of his country. Senior Ma
thieu represented Chile in the United
states for more than seven years. He
is entirely convinced that America s
sole desire in the Taena-Arica bust
mes is to get it settled promptly and
settled fairly TO al concerned.
Desires TO Preserve Peace.
Senior Matthew also knows that the
United States one dominating motive
in the affair is to preserve peace in
Latin America. lie is expected to be
a powerful influence lin inducing his
government and people to abide honor
ably by the plebisCite recommended
hy President Coolidge and put in mo-
ton by Gen. Pershing.
So much having been said. it would
be misleading to suggest that all is
for the best in the situation. On the
contrary. the situation contains possi-
hil<ties of far-reaching effect upon the
future relations of the United States
with the Latin American republics.
In the first place, there is now pretty
general admission that it was q psy
Geological mistake to send a man of
military type. like Gen. Pershing, to
deal with u purely diplomatic contro-
versy like Tacna- africa. Latin Ameri-
cans are not easily handled by a
stern dsciplinarian. even though he
can, like Gen. Pershing. sometimes in
case the iron hand within the velvet
glove. \ Squabble that is nearly half a
century old. and that has been per-
petuated by temperamental people
like the ChileanS and PeruvianS, re-
quireS ConCiIiatory treatment of the
most adroit nature. Strong arm meth
DDS, under such conditions, common
" get nowhere.
But even, as now seems probable.
if Gen. PerShing Is superseded by
diplomat, the obligation upon the part
of the United States to bring about a
TaCna-Arica settlement will remain
The first necessity is that the plebi-
SCite urged by President Coolidge be
held. The second necessity will be to
see that the result of the plebisCite is
respected by both Chile and Peru. no
matter how it results. 1t is conceded
by everybody at interest that the
United States can in no circumstances
SCuttle out Of the imbroglio. Like H.
-. Wells wartime Mr.. Drifting. Uncle
Sam has got to ''see it through" If
he does not. North American prestige
in South America. It is obvious, will
suffer an irreparable blow.
Does Not Weld big Stick"
No one in a responsible place at
Washington imagineS that the United
States. in the last analysis, would use
armed force to impose President Cool
idge's award. g. the result of the
plebiscite-upon either Chile or Peru.
in case either of them should be in
clined 10 disrespect it. Mr.. Coolidge
is not the Rooseveltian statesman
who would use n big stick under
such circumstances except on the
gravest provocation. Nor would Amer
lean public opinion be likely to expect
or approve Il United States military