Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-21
fTACNA-AR|CA ROW
ENDED AS CHILE
AND PERU AGREE
Former to Get africa, Latter
TaCna, Official Announce
ment Says.
DISPUTE, BORN IN WAR,
THRlVED FOR as YEARS
Agreement Is Result of Diplomatic
Negotiations Undertaken at In
vitation of Secretary Kellogg.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
SANTIAGO, Chile, February 21.-The
Tacna-Arica boundary dispute, born ir
war and thriving through As years or
international strife, has been settled
by peaceful means.
! Official announcement here today says
that an agreement has been reached
between the governments of Peru and
Chile, the two countries involved, by
which the Province of Tacna goes tc
Peru and that of africa to Chile.
The boundary between the two prov
inces is fixed slightly north of the rail-
road leading from the Port of africa
to La PaZ, Bolivia. This railroad, o1
the utmost Importance to Bolivia, since
it is her sole outlet to the Pacific. re-
mains in Chilean territory until II
crosses the Bolivian frontier.
The railroad from Tacna to africa
will be in Peruvian control, while spur
which is to be constructed at africa con-
F, meeting the two lines will be under
Chilean control
The agreement is the result of diplo-
matte negotiations undertaken just four
months ago, after resumption of diplo-
matte relations between them at the in
! vitation of the United States Secretary
Of State, Frank B. Kellogg, last July.
The Tacna-Arica dispute has its birth
In 1879 when Chile occupied the two
provinces in the course of war with
Peru and Bolivia. The treaty of Ancon
ended the conflict in 1884, and provided
they should remain In Chilean control
for 10 years when a plebiScite would be
undertaken to determine their future
state.
Peru maintained the Chilean govern
ment attempted unfair naturalization
or the two provinces and the plebiscite
was not held, the argument between the
two countries continuing furiously for
more than 25 years. War was often
being such that il might have involved
nearly all of South America.
In January, 1922, the United States
Government, seeing the dangerous as
poets of the situation, offered its good
Offices. President Harding became ar
bitter in July, 1922. He was succeeded
by President Coolidge, who. In 1925,
handed down his own decision which
upheld the necessity OF a plehiscsge. Fixed
the northern boundary of Tacna and
provided for boundary commission to
decide the southern Tacna boundary, or
that which borders on africa.
Negotiations Fail.
Gen. John j. Persning headed COM
mission which was dispatched by the
United States Government to the dis
puted territory to make arrangements
for and oversee plebiscite, but the
quarrel between the two countries was
such that this was never held. Maj.
Gen. William Lassiter succeeded Gen.
Pershing in 1926, his negotiations for a
plebiscite failing also.
boundary commission, headed by
jay j. Morrow of the United States,
was formed. On october 10 of last year
this boundary commission, at the sug-
gestion of Secretary Kellogg, adjourned
for four months to permit direct nego-
tiations between the two governments.
On February 10 an announcement
was made that the resumption OF the
boundary commissions work had been
postponed until February %. There
were intimations from various quarters
that an announcement of concord be-
tween Peru and Chile would be forth
coming before this meeting.
OF No Great Value.
The territory which has been in dis
pute has no great actual or potential
commercial value. Chile's famous nitrate
fields lie to the south. africa, the chief
town, has dwindled greatly in population
in recent years and now probably has
not more taan 5000 population. 1t Is
however, important as the seaport
through which most of the Bolivian
trade with the Pacific is handled.
The region is of volcanic origin and
has sulphur and borax as practically It's
only minerals. 1t is richer in agricul-
tural products. however, growing large
quantities of coca plants, while along
the Sama River, northern boundary oi
Tacna, the world famous Moquega
raisins are produced.