DISPUTED PROVINCES

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 120, 25 May 1925, Page 16

DISPUTED PROVINCES

WAR PERIL IN SOUTH AMERICA,

Washington is greatly agitated by the unexpected results of the arbitration by President Coolidge in the dispute between Peru and Chili regarding the possession of the provinces of Tacna and Arica, states the New York correspondent of the "Daily Mail." Since Uie award, the United States Administration has had ■ abundant opportunity of philosophising on tho maxim, "Blessed bo the peacemakers." For while Chili (whose demand for a plebiscite succeeded) has given itself over to national . rejoicing, Peru hns been indulging in violent demonstrations against liio United States. ' ■ ■

Tho territory has been in dispatc since .the war of 1883, and President Coolidge appointed General Pcrshing as the head of (ho Commission to superintend the plebiscite. Now, in the words of tho "Washington Post," "it looks as if the efforts of the United States to solve the Tacna-Arica problem may result in serious difficulties between America and Peru, if not in actual war between Peru and Chili."

Poru objects passionately to the terms of the plebiscite. It has prepared a strong protest against' it for presentation to tho United States Government. According to the "Washington Post." the Note flatly refuses to abide by the award, but this version is denied. Pern does demand, however, that, pending the plebiscite, the Ctulean garrisons in disputed territory shall be replaced by native constabulary. It contends ' that ample arrangements should be made for the return for the purposes of the election of the Peruvians driven out of 'Tacna and Arica by the Chileans, who occupied the provinces after 1883.