Evening star., 1927-12-31
TACNA,AR|CA DATA
BELIEVED READY
Recall OF Col. Kreger Indi.
Gates u. S. PlebiScite
Report Is Complete.

Belief that the long delayed Perish.
Ing Lassiter report on the Tacna-
africa plebiscite has been completed
has been occasioned by the recall
from special assignment OF Col. Ed
ward A. Kreger Of the Judge Advocate
General Corps and his assignment to
military du;y at the I'd Corpt Area
headquarters in New York.
Col. Kreser was selected by Gen.
Pershing In 1925 as member OF the
legal stan OF the American delega'
ton to the plebiscitary commission
at africa Since June. 1925. he has
been assisting Gen. Pershing and
Mai. Gen. William I.assiter. who
succeeded Pershins az America n
member Of the commission, In com
piIing their final report.
Tentative Draft Made.
According to the best information
available. a tentative draft OF the
report followed closely the closing
speech of Gen. Lassiter to the com.
mission in africa in June, 1876. AT
that time Lassiter reported that a
ple1iscite to determine the nationality
Of the territory was impossible on
account OF Chilean 'territoriZatjon of
Peruvians" and other unfair prac.
tees in violation of the spirit OF
fair plebiscite ordered by President
Coolidge.
State Depa rtment officials denied
today that the repOrt had been deiiy.
cred to them by Gen. Pershing. but
the possibility vas seen that since
Coolidge acted in the Tacna-
africa matter in a private capa city
as arbitra jor. the Pershing- -lassiter
report would not enter into the usuai
departmental routine.
The report, as elaborated by Col
kreCer. Is said to be an exceedingly
bulky document. containing minute
day by day narrative OF the activities
in africa Of the plehiscitary commits
sion which was stablished by Presi-
dent Coolidge to supervise the execu-
tion OF his arbitrai award Of March.
1925. In this award he ordered
p,ebiscite To determine the nationality
Of the territory disputed by Chile and
Peru and thus solve the dispute which
has kept the two countries on the
verge OF war since 1855.
No recommends tions for future ac-
ton 1t is understood. were included
in the report. which limited itself TO
stating facts and explaining why the
American delegation in africa saw It.
self obliged to declare n plebiscite i'm
possible and to blame Chile with the
faIiure to carry out its in,erna tionaI
obligations thus rendering the work
OF the plebiscitary commission futile.
Marked By Secrecy.
Unusual secret precautions were
taken in connection with the report
1hich. Il 10 believed. were dictated by
on the part OF the
Washington administration to have
the controversial Tacna-A africa problem
projected in the Forthcoming Pan
Congress. In Havana. Fears
atsn have been expressed in some
quarters that once the final report OF
The American delegation is In the
ha nds OF President Coolidge. at least
one Of the parties TO the dispute might
nrSe final procurement On the
whole Tacna-Arica problem ny the
arbitrator which. again In view OF
the Pan.American Congress next
month might be inadyisahle
While there In evidence that he re
port had been completed, there Is
none. even among President Coolidge s
advisers In the Tacna-Arica question.
that the report would receive publicity
or that any early action would be
taken upon IL by the srbitratQr. Since
the report itself does not make any
recem,n ndations. future steps are left
entirety In the discretion of President
Coolidge.