• U.S.

LATIN AMERICA: No Man s Land

2 minute read
TIME

There is a little strip of territory between Peru and Chile, called Tacna-Arica, which both countries claim and nobody really owns pending a plebiscite ordered by President Coolidge as arbitrator. If there is any man who really rules the little strip it is General John J. Pershing, President of the Plebiscite Commission, who is sitting tight in the little town of Arica.

Of recent years the Chileans have been dominant in the strip which they have held by force, and feeling is tense as the time for a plebiscite approaches. In the roadstead of the town lay last week the

Chilean cruiser, O’Higgins, and the Peruvian transports Ucayali and Mantaro. The stevedores of the town have boycotted the Peruvian ships. Aboard one of them the Peruvian plebiscite commissioners have been publishing a “newspaper” favoring their side of the question. In the town, the Chilean newspaper, El Pacifico, published a list of all families whom the Peruvian commission had called Up0n—by way of intimidation, it was asserted.

Trouble finally broke out. Peruvians selling the Peruvian papers were attacked by Chileans. They fled up the street and took refuge in General Pershing’s vestibule. In the presence of the General’s aides Chileans actually stoned the Peruvian newsboys—with potatoes.

General Pershing rushed to the rescue. He went straight to the house of the head of the Chilean plebiscite commission and demanded protection for the Peruvian newsboys from potatoes. It was promised. But more clashes occurred. The general is apparently in for excitement.

More Must-Reads from TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com