Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-19
Vindication of a Policy.


far more in the United States than the
names Of two rather barren provinces
intrinsically Of little value, that lie be-
tween Chile and Peru, on the west coast
of South America.
They have come to symbolic the de-
sire, on the part Of the United States,
for friendly interposition In the affairs
OF our Latin American neighbors who
ask for it; policy that contains a fair
amount of dynamite If there Is bungling,
but one that is founded on enough prac-
teal altruism to make it succeed under
skillful management.
The announcement that Chile and
Peru have settled their differences over
Tacna and africa, therefore, means
more than the settlement OF their pri-
vate squabble of forty-six years dura-
ton. The announcement contains a
Vindication Of our policy in Latin Amer
lea. 1t should be received as such.
More than once during the friendly
attempts of the United States to bring
Chile and Peru back to speaking terms
and to settle the argument over the
provinces lying between them this Ma
tons policy seemed on the point of
blowing up in a dense cloud Of acrid
smoke, with resulting damage not only
to ourselves, Chile and Peru but to sur
rounding territory as well. More than
once there was demonstrated the the
DRY that 1t is better to mind ones bust
ness at home than to NEEDLE in the af-
fairs of ones neighbors. For since 1922,
when the representatives of Chile and
Peru met here in Washington and ask
ed President Harding to arbitrate their
dispute, our efforts have been a series
of ups and downs. They were on the
ups when Chile and Peru agreed to the
processes Of arbitration. But they SEEM
ed on the downs when the arbitrators
decision was handed down. calling for
a plebiscite to decide the nationality
Of the provinces in dispute. They
seemed on the ups when the decision
was apparently accepted, but they went
to the lowest depths when Gen. Pershing
and his advisers endeavored to make
acceptable to both parties the procedure
in conducting the plebiscite They went
so low, indeed, that the United States
was pictured as a bungler who, instead
of cementing friendship between Chile
and Peru, had torn these two nations
farther apart than ever and added fuel
to the flames of their antagonism.
But last July, after many quiet and
persevering attempts, former Secretary
Kellogg induced the two countries to
re-establish diplomatic relations. That
much accomplished, he urged them to
settle their own quarrel through direct
negotiation. These negotiations were
undertaken last September, the State
Department offering its good offices to
facilitate them. The announcement OF
yesterday indicates success, although
success will only be written with the
ratification and signature Of a treaty,
putting on paper the agreement by
which Chile will take africa and Peru
will take Tacna. The course OF this
treaty may not run smooth. But the
chances are that it will eventually lead
to safety and security.
Bolivia, which had hoped to buy or
otherwise obtain at least portion OF
the provinces in dispute. thus giving her
an outlet to the sea, is left as far away
from the ocean as she ever was. But
Bolivia must be patient. If she stands
quietly by until the national honor OF
both Chile and Peru has been satisfied,
either or both of these countries may
be only too willing TO sell or to give
away white elephant, or parts thereof,
that has caused entirely too much
trouble already.