Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-17
PERSH|NG FLATLY.
bLAMES CHILE IN
PLEB|SC|TE CRISIS
General Can See Little Hope
for Success of Plan With
out Reform.
WILL MINCE NO WORDS
IN REPORT TO COOLIDGE
Violence Toward Peruvians Is Held
Indica ton That Just Decision
Is Not Objective.
By the Associated Press.


Pershirg is returning to the United
States without much hope that his
successor, Maj. Gen. Lassiter, due
here in few DAYS. will soon see
affairs to shape themselves that a
plebiscite can be carried out In Tacna
and africa. He Is said to feel that
failure can be the only result. unless
there is a decided change in the con
duct of the Chilean residents OF this
territory, to bring about which a
restraining influence by the represen
tatives of their government seems
necessary.
President Coolidge's denial OF Chile s
appaal leaves the situation just as
IT was a month ago when the Chileans.
before appealing, frankly sought TO
end the plebiscite by withdrawing
from the plebiscite commission. Rul,
ings laid down by Gen. Pershing TO
which there was such a vehement OBJ
lection on the part of the Chilean
representa- tives will stand.
Pershing Long Silent.
The correspondent Of The Associ'
ated Press came here with Gen. Perish
observing the whole course of the
proceedings. The American commits
sioner has from the first spoken re-
servedly Of conditions denying com
ment for publication even when he
has himself been subject to verbal
attack Only once has he given the
correspondents permission to express
his views. This occasion was to an
nounce his objections TO the participa-
ton of unofficial Americans on either
side of the contest.
1t is understood. however. by those
familiar with the generals views.
that the whole story of the difficulties
he has encountered with the Chileans
will be given in the utmost detail TO
his successor. 1t is believed he Will
not mince words in this recital, which
il is forecast will run very much as
follows:
He will ascribe to the Chileans the
establishment of region of terror;
he will set forth to Gen. Lassiter his
conviction that the Chileans have not
sought to promote conditions that
would create a chance for a fair de-
cision at the polls, but to the con-
trary. He will tell his successor that
in his opinion the Chileans have given
no evidence of a wish fully to cor
rect the undesirable conditions which
their method of administration of local
government has made possible.
Sees Peru Withdraw.
Gen. Pershing will explain that un-
less the hostile acts against the Pc
ruvians cease. he fears the latter will
withdraw from the plebiscite, thus,
in any case, putting an end to an
attempt to solve the Tacna africa plob-
lem by the plebiscitary method.
AS far as the members of the Ameri-
can delegation are concerned, 1t is un-
derstood that he feels that the only
plebiscite in which they can partici-
pate must be able to stand the closest
scrutiny of justice to both sides and
that this is not possible without a
change in the present conduct of the
Chileans in the plebiscite territory.
Gen. Pershing on his arrival in
Washington will see the President and
will report the situation to him in
detail 1t Is understood he will urge
upon the President that three princi-
pal requirements, necessary to insure
the Peruvians freedom from molesta-
ton, ought to be fulfilled before the
plebiscite proceedings. beginning with
the registration of the voters next
month, are permitted to continue.
Would Return ExiIes.
These requirements are that Peru
shall be able to return exiled Peru
Wan voters to Tacna and africa with
out danger of violence from the Chill.
cans; that Peruvian electorate agents
shall be able to travel throughout the
territory without molestation. and
that Peruvian residents be freed from
ooorc{op q in aynraSSinp their nnip.
ions or from any penalty for entering
into relations with Peruvian electoral
canvasSerS.
In presenting the situation to Gen
Lassiter and later to the President, 1t
Is understood that Gen. Pershing will
cite as a glaring violation Of the first
requirement the recent descent by a
Chilean mob upon Peruvian voters
who were being landed from a steamer
at Tacna. He will cite as a violation
of the other requirements the con
tinued annoyance to which the Chill
cans subject the sellers Of a Peruvian
newspaper as well as Peruvian resi-
dents, and the activities of Chilean
the actions of all potential Peruvian
voters and which. he will explain, ex
ert great pressure on the inhabita mt
not only of the cities but in the re
moter country districts where the
dominance of the Chilean authorities
is complete.
While Gen. Pershing views as a
hopeful sign the forceful measures
taken by Agustin Edwards, the Chill
can commissioner, to prevent repeti
tions of violence against returning
Peruvian voters, he does not consider
that freedom for the Peruvians to con
duct an election campaign in safety
yet exists.