Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-07
EVOLUTION OF TWO MAJOR
LATIN DISPUTES HAILED
Mexican Church and Tacna.Arica Settle.
ments Called Proof of New Spirit for
Peace, Following U. S. Examples.

the governments Of Chile and Peru were
further and further from a settlement,
blaming each other for having placed
obstacles in the way of holding the
plehiscite. Meanwhile the sovereignty
OF Tacna and africa remained unset
tied, though Chile continued to occupy
them and Peru continued to raise her
voice higher in protest and even threats
Of recapture. So the question remained
for many years, while effort after ef-
fort was made and diplomatic missions
were exchanged between the two coun-
tries, all to no effect. At last, In 1922,
when all attempts to arrange for the
agreed to submit the difference arising
from the war Of '79 to arbitration by
the President of the United States.
Under a protocol signed in Washing
ton the governments of Santiago and
Lima asked the executive power Of this
Nation to decide whether or not the
plebiscite should be held under exist
ing conditions and-in the event of an
affirmative decision-that he undertake
TO carry it out. Otherwise, they asked
that he use his good Offices with the
two nations to seek a direct agreement,
omitting the plebiscite.
Here began the Intervention OF the
United states in the question. Pres1-
dent Coolidge, after studying the state
ments OF both sides, decided that the
plebiscite should be held, in spite of the
fact that so, many years had passed
since the time fixed for 1t in the treaty
of peace between Chile and Peru. Chile
was pleased with this decision. for a
plebiscite would have undoubtedly been
favorable to her, since she was in pos
session of the territory in dispute and
had been for 40 years. However, it was
not long before the arbiter was con-
WINGED OF his mistake, for. once the
plebiscitary commission had been in
stalled In Arica-composed of 1Ameri-
cans, Chileans and Peruvians-and the
process OF registration of voters begun,
it was found that the abuses and
frauds on the part of Chilean authori-
ties and populace were such that Gen.
Lassiter, president of the commission,
declared the plebiscite impracticable,
and all the plebiscitary machinery came
down with a crash, to the undisguiSed
satisfaction Of Peru. who had held that
the only possible settlement was the
unconditional return of Tacna and
africa to her sovereignty.
Suggestions Submitted.
Then began the second phase Of the
Intervention of the Department of
State In this problem. Since the plebi-
scite had fallen through. the inter11a-
tional prestige Of the United States de-
manded that a direct agreement be
reached by the two disputantS. Efforts
were made looking to such agreement,
and the Secretary of State submitted
to the governments of Chile and Peru
various suggestions for an anlicable
agreement, either by declaring the dis
puted provinces neutral territory,
erecting them into little independent
state dividing them between the two
nations, or, lastly, ceding them to a
third nation, Bolivia, which also took
part in and was a victim of the War
Of the Pacific, in consequence Of which
she lost her ports and is now a nation
clustered within her mountains, with
out access to the sea. This later for
mula met with the approval of the
world, which praised the act of justice
which the United States endeavored to
obtain for a weak people, oppressed by
its neighbors. As was done for Poland
in Europe, the United States tried to
get for Bolivia a direct outlet to the
sea, indispensable for her sovereignty
and her progress. However, all Of the
suggestions from Washington failed, one
after the other, in the face Of the OBJ
stinacy and irreconcilable attitudes of
the rulers of Chile and of Peru. This
caused suspension of negotiations.
which threatened to entail more COM
plications as time went on.
However, by the time two years had
passed popular feeling among the PEG.
pie of both countries had Gained down,
and, doubtless impelled by the recent
progress achieved for ideals Of peace
throughout the world, the governments
of both Chile and Peru let it be under
stood at the White House that II con-
oil iof
would be Sympathetically received. This
was done, and almost year ago Chile
and Peru resumed diplomatic relations,
long broken off, and began at once new
negotiations looking toward a direct
agreement on the sovereignty OF Tacna
and africa. These negotiations lasted
some months, the Department OF State
taking a prominent, though informal,
part in them, and at last, not long
ago, oficial announcement was made OF
the final settlement. 1t is based on
United States, somewhat modltled ana
with added details. providing for the
division of the territory in dispute.
africa remains in the possession of Chile
and Tacna is returned to Peru.
Bolivia Situation Unsettled.
Thus it is that one of the Oldest
|
| tied, though it is much to be regretted
that the agreement did not include
Bolivia, that inland nation which had
a part in the war Of '79 and which
because of it is now deprived Of free
communication with the rest Of the
world. The situation of Bolivia Is now
| the only unsettled problem remaining
from that conflict. The Tacna and
africa agreement has not solved every
problem of its aftermath, as some be-
lieve. Bolivia Is still without seaports.
she has been stripped OF possessions
and her hands bound, and this sltua-
ton, before long, the BoliVians state,
will demand a solution.
| AS to the other great problem which
has just been satisfactorily settled In
Latin America, in this also a solution
was reached through Intervention Of
high personages of this country, such
as Ambassador Morrow and Father
Walsh of Georgetown University and
others. The proximity to this country
of Mexico, the scene Of this dispute,
has made the various phases OF the
religious question in that country well
| known in the United States. 1t Will
suffice to recall that the break between
| the Mexican government and the Cath
Ollie Church was occasioned by certain
legal restrictions which the authorities
of Mexico desired to impose upon the
clergy resident In its territory, to which
the clergy objected.
This was followed by the imposition
of extremely severe measures by the
government, and then, as repriSals, by
| the breaking out of armed resistance
| Of the Catholic elements, which rose
| to the defense Of the church through
out the country. Thus began q fearful
civil war. which for several years has
been destroying lives and property in
certain states o. Mexico. This was the
more serious through becoming involved
| and connnlicated with rartV nnliticS