The Evening Herald

CHILEAN NAVY IS INCREASED
BUENOS AIRES. May 24. (By Mail)-Purchase by Chile of the British dreadnought Canada and two British destroyers, is regarded by diplomatic circles here as an indication that events are moving swiftly towards a definite conclusion of the Tacna-Arica controversy between Chile and Peru This dispute has long threatened the peace of South America. It is considered that such an increase in Chile's naval power must have an important bearing on the settlement of the international dispute for the possession of the port of Arica now held by Chile but claimed by both Peru and Bolivia. While Chile's naval forces already exceed those of Peru, it is pointed out that the acquisition at this time of three fighting ships would constitute a powerful argument to enforce a settlement of the differences between the two nations over the title to the two Pacific provinces. Peru's seaports, naturally. would be at the mercy of Chile in any resort to arms. Purchase of the vessels at this time is believed in some quarters to be especially significant in view of a widely held opinion that the Tacna- Arica dispute will reach a definite crisis within a year. Well informed observers say Peru will likely seek a settlement of the question before the League of Nations of which she is a member. She is unable to reach an agreement with Chile on the long delayed plebiscite which was to determine the sovereignty of the provinces and the opinion is held here that she can expect no arbitral aid from the United States owing to the fact that the American government in a recent note to Chile accepted a policy of "non-intervention" in the Tacna and Arica case Chile, on the other hand, will resist interference by the League of Nations, it is believed, having unequivocally made her position clear in a reply to a note of the United States saying that she will not accept intervention "from any power or powers. Chile's position is that under the terms of the treaty of An- con, her rights are so clear that there is nothing to arbitrate. Consequently, it is predicted that Chile will hasten the dispute to a conclusion before it reaches the stage of consideration by the League of Nations, with the idea of presenting the league with an accomplished fact, thus forestalling Peru's attempt to gain an arbitration, This "accomplished fact," it is asserted, would be the cession to Bo- livia of the port of Arica in return presumably for certain compensations. Whatever may be the official attitude of the Chilean government and notwithstanding its repudiation of Peruvian charges that it has instigated Bolivia against Peru, it is a well known fact in South America that Chile's publicists and statesmen are entirely in sympathy with Boliv- ian aspirations for an outlet to the Pacific. It is not regarded as strange, therefore, that predictions are heard that when the Tacna-Arica controversy comes to a crisis, it will be seen that Chile is supporting Bo- livia's claims.