The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1932. IN SOUTH AMERICA.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1932, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1932. IN SOUTH AMERICA.

The hostilities that have recently taken .place between Bolivia and Paraguay have been caused by disputed rights of the two. countries affecting the Gran Chaco region, a territory of about 11(3,000 square ini es. The district is partly enclosed by the rivers Paraguay and Pmcomayo. Bolivia contends she has always maintained that her territorial rights extend to the Paraguay River, a claim which Paraguay has denied, following the denial with peaceful penetration until, in 1928, when the last big -dispute arose, Bolivia asserted that Paraguay had occupied! the- whole of the Chaco. Frontier incidents while the question of boundaries was in dispute led to Bolivia’s breaking off diplomatic* relations in December, 1928. These were not fully resumed until May, 1939. when a judicial body, chosen by the Pan-American Union, took up the dispute. The efforts made by the League of Nations to effect a settlement were reviewed at the October meeting cf the Council of the League, when the president said he head called the attention of the two Governments to their obligations with regard to peaceful settlement embodied in the League Covenant. He also referred to the efforts made by the committee of Neutral Powers sitting in AYnshington and to the very important declaration of the 19 American Republics on August 3 asking that the dispute be submitted immediately to some form of peaceful settlement and adding that they would recognise no territorial arrangement which had not been brought about by peaceful means. The Council set up a committee to follow developments, and this committee sent a telegram to the President of the Committee of Neutrals in Washington expressing its desire to support the efforts being made and to be kept informed of developments. The Committee of Neutrals, in acknowledging the telegram, said that any remarks received from the Council would have careful and sympathetic attention. Accordingly, on the suggestion of its committee, the Council sent a telegram to the Committee of Neutrals, in which it stated that the point which particularly preoccupied it was the fact that the armed forces of the two countries were in close contact, thus inevitably leading to the risk of serious incidents prejudicing peaceful solution. The Council therefore considered it (particularly desirable that, without in any way prejudicing the final solution of the dispute, the Governments should withdraw their forces to such a distance from one another as would eliminate existing risks, and the Council's experience indicated that the most effective method of meeting such a situation was tlie despatch of a commission of military officers to proceed to the spot and', in harmony with military commanders on both sides, to report on the measures taken to reduce the dangers of local fighting. The Council also added that it would welcome any further information on the progress of the Neutral Committee's efforts to secure acceptance of a. basis for final arbitration. A reply w«k received stating that the Committee of Neutrals hoped to he in a position, ’ivlieit T-ii'eumstVnees permitted, to send a commission of military officers on the isnot. Negotiations for suspension of hostilities and for the event-mail settlement of the disnuh. were now proceeding satisfactorily. AH the rrembe’-s of the League had been filled with real anxiety at the | continuation cf the grave situation. Tt •sec-mo 1 inconeeivahV that, when both Governments declared their determination to settle the matter in nccordnrn*-. with their duty as members of the League, the danger of armed conflict should be allowed to "ersjst. This was nil the more so in view of all the friendly assistance proffered so that the dispute mh-H he -ottVl in a j spirit of complete justice and impartiality.