Tacna-Arica

On the Pacific coast of South America, midway between Chile and Peru and separating Bolivia from the ocean, lies the ill-omened nitrate-pregnant area of Tacna-Arica.

Since the close of the Chile-Peruvian war (1882), these nations have been vainly attempting to hold a plebiscite in order to determine which of them shall have Tacna-Arica in perpetuity, though Chile has administered it ad interim.

The situation is rendered inextricable by the fact that this once-Peruvian region has been gradually "Chileanized" until there is little doubt that the population now on the ground would vote at a plebiscite in a manner quite different from that to have been expected in the '90s.

Chile and Peru, despairing of ever holding a satisfactory plebiscite under these circumstances, appealed to the U. S. for mediation (TIME, Nov. 26, 1923, et seq.). As a result, first General Pershing and then General Lassiter were despatched to try and hold an impartial plebiscite. General Pershing returned broken in health and disgruntled at the fierce contention which he encountered. Last week the cables reported further disquieting news.

General Lassiter, as everyone knows, is considered one of the mildest-mannered and most ably diplomatic of U. S. officers. He was despatched from Panama to Tacna-Arica (TIME, Feb. 1) reputedly because his reputation for tact in dealing with Germans when his troops took over the Coblenz bridge head (1919) suggested that he might be able to cool Latin hotheads. . . .

Yet last week General Lassiter felt obliged to introduce a resolution before the Tacna-Arica Plebiscitary Commission (of which he is chairman) intimating that the holding of a plebiscite is impossible in view of the failure of Chile to guarantee fair voting conditions to anti-Chilean Tacna-Aricans. After several days of hesitation the commission adopted the motion.

Seemingly the only hope of settlement lies in the heretofore abortive efforts to negotiate a diplomatic settlement at Washington (TIME, May 17), which continue among the Chilean and Peruvian Ambassadors and Secretary Kellogg. The latest proposal to be seriously discussed was the creation of a Bolivian corridor through Tacna-Arica to the sea--Tacna-Arican territory north and south of the corridor to be held respectively by Peru and Chile.