Evening star., 1926-03-25
TACNA-AR|CA CRISIS
TO COME SATURDAY
Possible Failure Threatens
American Prestige in
Latin Countries.
nv FREpERVC WILLIAM VILE


nv E'REpERIC WILLIAM VILE.
Tacna. africa. ancient hone NJ con-
rention between Peru and Chile. once
again has reached the point Of crisis.
ami Developments OF mmea sura BILE
sravitN confront all parties At issue.
TheN concern in a very important de-
gree the United States itself. Al
though this country Is not directly
involved in the controversy over pos
session of the disputed area on the
west coast OF South America. the
prestige and authority Of the Cn!ted
States are at stake to an extent that
cannot he overestimated
Having offered our good offices"
two wears ago tn bring about set
tlement Of Latin America 8 ''-Alsace-
Lorraine problem" it is virtually in
cumbent upon the United States 10
see through the arbitral settlement
finally decreed ny President Coolidge
In March. 1928. If the Washington
Government shrinks from seeing
things through. it Is an open secret
throughout South America that either
Chile or Peru. or both. will appeal 10
the League Of Nations.
Would Hart American Influence.
Appeal TO the league TO make peace
between South American countries
would. nearly every Latin American
authority asserts come close 10 put
ting an end TO North American In
fiuence In the region over which for
1903 years we have thrown the pro-
tecting ma rftle OF the Monroe Doc
trine Virtually all of Latin America
is in the League Of Nations. A
Chilean statesman. Augustin Ed
wards. a wear or two ago was presi-
dent Of the League Assembly. Ii II
an open secret in The diplomatic world
thar Charles Evans Hughes. then
Secretary OF state. preferred the
United States mediatory Offices to
Peru and Chile in knowledge that un-
less the Tacna africa knot was thus
unraveiled. resorts to the League or
Nations sooner or later. would he In
evitable.
That In the contingency that now
looms on the South American horizon.
Next SATURDAY. March %, may bring
fateful decisions. On that day there
Axpjres the I2.day period of postpone
X
conjunction with the American
plehiscitary commission now al africa,
at the end Of which the registration OF
voters for the plebiscite was scheduled
to take place. The State Department
is in momentary expectation OF al
vices from Gen. William Lassiter.
United States Army, the successor or
cen. Pershins as chief of the
plebiscitary commission, as to the next
step.
Resolutions Are Opposed.
Two opposing resolutions were sub
mtted to Gen. Lssstter. Peru asked
for indefinite pOstponement of the
registration and the plebiscite. Chile
asked for immediate holding Of both
the plebiscite proper is to follow, by
arrangement. six weeks after the reg
istration has taken place.
Interested governments a few days
ago OWNED some possible new step by
the United States when the party of
American officials, appointed to assist
in the registration and plebiscite, was
unexpect edly recalled from New York
Just about as 1t was to take ship Tor
Tacna- africa. The party consisted OF
William X. Valance, one OF the assist
ant solicitors Of the State Depart
y
finger print experts, who were to func
tion In Tacna AFRICA az a sort OF cleo
tior hoard. Their primary duty was
10 act as committee Of challengers.
in order to assure as strictly honest
a count Of the plebiscite vote as might
huma My be possible. The explanation
for the sudden post ponement of the
Valance expedition was that the reg
istration date had been post poned. ana
that until II was tiXed for another
time there was no hurry about the
departure Of the party. The election
board does not technically begin OBJ
erations until after registration day.
Peru Doubts Fairness.
No one In possession OF the facts in
the hotly controversial situa ton pre-
tends to he able to forecast what the
next few days will bring forth. or what
the immediate future holds In store.
Peru claims that no registration or
plehiscite election ca possibly be hon
est because OF the oppression and
"ba rba rism" with which Peruvians
charge Chile, which Is in administra-
tive possession Of the disputed section.
Chile on the other hand. charges that.
knowing the sentiment In Tacna africa
to be Overwhelmingly pro-Chilean
optimistic Chileans say II Is 10 to 80
per cent their way-P Peru has resort ed
to every sort Of "thuggery" to he.
cloud the issue and steal the cleo
zion. All fatalities In Tacna africa In
recent months are attributed by
Chileans 10 Peruvian instiga ton, with
Chilea ms almost exclusively the VIC
tins.
Bolivia, which abuts both Peru and
Chile. Ia being named az the source
wherefrom some hour amic-
able settlement Of the Tacna-Arica
suua bible might he derived. There is
one scheme for the purchase by Ro-
livia Of the Chile owned railway run.
nins through the Tacna-Arica coun-
try from Ia Paz tBolivia) to the sea
at africa. This project has in mind
the crea ton Of a neutral zone Of three
or four miles on either side Of the rail-
road, the territory beyond the zone
nearest to Peru and Chile then going
to those respective countries.
tCopyriKht 1920