The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-07-09
racNA.AR1cA; cHILE's VIEW

Are Chile and Peru uOOmeu " o.
RI war over the Tacna-Arlca dis-
mite Arturo Alessandrl, express
dent of Chile, is afraid so. In MS
anartment in the Benjamin FRANK
lin Hotel in Philadelphia, last oatul-
dav afternoon, he unburdened MS
heart Peru is buying submarines
he said, some of them in the uniteu
states Chile's confidence IN Amer
lean fairness is shaken by the
Sudden decision Of General Lasslter
not to proceed with the pleolsclte
which was to decide by vote OF the
inhabitants whether Tacna anu
africa should belong to Chile OF
Peru.
Ex-president Alessandri is snort
stocky man, quick-moving, ana EN-
nhatic in gesture. His SKIN Is
ruddy, but his hair and eyes are
dark. His hands move constantly'
onening and closing as he talks.
He shifts necessarily in MS chan' >
gazing out the window, head thrown
back, when describing georgrahy VI
natural resources of province
leaning forward and fixing MS
auditor with eye and gesture Wnlie
he presents some point OF Justice u
of feeling. One feels that as an
orator he runs some risk OF pelns
carried away by his own emotions
Chile, said Alessandri, has been
irving to make peace with Peru
since the Treaty OF Ancon gave
Tacua and africa to Chile IN 1921
after Chile had defeated Peru ana
BOLIVIA in the WAR of the Paclhc.
By that treaty, Chile was TO nave
the provinces for ten years, after
which vote OF the inhabitants was
to decide whether they should pc
long to Chile or Peru. In 1884 the
election could not be held because
Peru was in the midst OF reVolu-
tion. and could not discuss the vol
ing rules. Since then every eHor'
to reach an agreement has failed.
When Alessandri became president
in 1920, he decided to make deIer-
mined effort to have the dispute
settled once for all. The provinces
include only 5000 square miles OF
desert land, practically without
value. Their total population is
less than $4,000. They are MOI
worth shedding blood over, but the
national pride of both countries has
become involved. That is the
difficulty.
On the 9th of March last, regis
tration began. 1t is. estimated tha'
in all there are about 5000 votes
$500 Chilean sympathizers I'M
mediately registered; but the Peru
VANS abstained.
General Lassiter on June IA, de-
cided that a fair election could not
be held, declaring that the chilean
officials were declining to protecl
Peruvian votes. This accusation
came as a great surprise to the
Chileans, who thought they had
done everything they had been asked
to to make possible a fair election.
In any case they think they have been
defrauded because, whether or not
the Peruvian could vote, they feel
that the registration demonstrates
that three-fourths of the votes
favor union with Chile.
Peru has been hostile to the cleo
ton, and has put every possible OBJ
stacle in the way, said Alessandrl.
There are two reasons for this. In
the first place the present president
of Peru, President Leguya, is a die
tator, who must keep his people
enraged against some neighbor TO
divert. their attention from his own
illegal rule. Thus 1t is to his in
terest to keep the old quarrel with
Chile alive.
Chile feels that the United States
has been duped by Peruvian
diplomacy, and has failed to rem
der Justice. Thus while President
Leguya gives his troops medals
which "They are to wear until the
Lost provinces of Tacna and africa
are once more under the Peruvian
banner" the rage of the Chilean
people flames hot against Alessandrl'
who got them into this mess OF
American arbitration, and against
the United States, which has failed
to recognize the just solution.
Meanwhile, Chile has the prov
inces, and Peru is buying sub
marines. Will wrath or wisdom pre-
vail Will Chile and Peru again
shed human blood for empty honor
and a few square mile OF desert
1t will take self-restraint on both
sides to prevent it,