Pershing Unruffled

Pershing Unruffled

Last week the deliberations of the Tacna-Arica Plebiscitary Commission,* chairmaned by General John J. Pershing, reached an acute stage of discord when the Chilean representative, Agustin Edwards, withdrew from the Commission, protesting that there had been needless delay in promulgating the terms of the plebiscite, and that after four months of marking time no date for it had actually been set.

Early in the week cables from Arica envisioned a complete abandonment of the Commission's labors and made much of the alleged "slight" to General Pershing. Later the situation quieted. General Pershing was reported to have kept his temper and assured Senor Edwards that the, plebiscite will be hastened on the arrival of seven U. S. officers despatched last week to Arica to aid in securing an impartial vote.

The fiery President Leguia of Peru (see below) commented as follows on Senor Edwards' protest:

"Chile believed a plebiscite would satisfy its warlike rapacity; believed that the arbitrator's representative would be an accomplice in a fraud; believed that Pershing would serve as a docile instrument to cover electoral malfeasance.*

"But the United States arbitrator has refused to serve as an agent of crime and is serving as an agent of justice."

Former President Arturo Alessandri of Chile declared:

"Those charged with carrying the olive branch as messengers of that great American people, instead of bringing peace, seem to have carried out a program bringing conflict, discord and hatred among the two peoples which they were to join with the holy bonds of fraternity and love."

Since Alessandri is no longer in office, his words were ignored as of no official significance.

*Sitting at Arica, port of the Chilean-governed province of Tacna-Arica, to supervise a plebiscite ordered by President Coolidge, as arbitrator, to decide the future sovereignty of the provinces of Tacna and Arica, wrested by Chile from Peru when those nations were embroiled in the early '80's (TIME, Aug. 3, et ante).

*Referring to alleged Chilean preparations to prevent pro-Peruvians from voting when the plebiscite is held.