South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-06-27
SOUTH AMERICAN
PROBLEMS AMONG
THELEAGUE'S FIRST
Territorial Dispute Between
Bolivia and Paraguay to
be Settled.

BUENOs AIRES. June 2s.-The
famous Tacna and africa dispute in
volving Chile. Peru and Bolivia. IS
not the only South American prob
lem which may go before the
League of Nations for settlement.
There has existed for years a con
troyersy between Paraguay and Boil
ivia over a striE OF territory IN the
hesrt OF South America as pig as
the state Of California. This, II Is
is on the program for
consideration by the league.
Il Is probably not generally
known that when the American
peace experts under Col House col
lected their data on world prob
lens for use az the Paris peace CON
ference. they included a report on
tho issues between Bolivia and Para
quay over the possession OF this ter
Titory. which Is called on Bolivian
maps the Bolivian Chaco and on
ParaRuayan maps the Paraguayan
Chaco.
The case Of the Chaco is known
10 have been also brought before
the conference by the Bolivian
peace delegate Sen Monies 10 was
decided, II - understood here. To-
postpone the question for early set
Element by the league.
Key TO Bolivian Ambition.
These problems hold for Bolivia,
hcmmed in on all sides by other
states. the realization OF her great
est political and commercial ambi-
tion. her own territorial outlet 20
the sea. Possession Of the port OF
africa would give her an outlet 10
the Pacific. and, curious as il may
seem. Possession Of the ChaCo. or at
least a part OF IT, would give her
degrees to the Atlantic. For the
Chaco borders the great River Para
quay. affluent of the River Plate.
and on the ChacO side OF the river,
1000 miles from BuenOs Aires, Is a
little port called Bahia Negra Here
ocean steamships from the United
States and Europe could take on
cargo transported across the north
ern edge OF the Chaco from the
Bolivian mines and farms.
But in the year 1886, few years
after Bolivia had lost in war the
Pacific port Of Antofagasta and was
turning her eyes eastward, Bahia
Negra was seized by Paraguay and
>has been in her possession ever
since. Paraguay Furthermore.
made land allOtments In the Chaco.
whose unsurpassed pasture and
great quebracho forests were be-
ginning TO attract the white man A
mysterious uueXplOred land.
stretching northward from the Pill
Comayo river on the Argentine bOr-
der and westward from the River
Paraguay into undisputed Bolivian
territory. IL has not been directly
crossed by white men since the days
OF the Spanish conquerors. since the
year 154S 10 be exact. Except near
the rivers IL is inhabited only by
savage Indian tribes 20 this day. but
both nations looked forward TO its
possibilities, which recently have in
cluded that Of finding petroleum.
Protests Seizure.
Bolivia protested the seizure OF
Bahia Negra and also made land al
lotments in the ChaCo II is true
that Bolivia had an eastern outlet
already by the River Paraguay. but
her commerce had to go through
the Brazilian river Fort of Corumba,
q little north OF Bahia Negra, NOV
ing down from the Bolivian city OF
Santa cruz by mule team, along the
-uorthern edge OF the Chaco, as Il
still does.
To uphold their claims both gov
crnments unearthed musty archives
in Madrid dealing with the eNpedi-
tions OF the Spanish COnquerors and
the land grants OF the Spanish
crown in South America. Various
diplomatic negotiations have been
initiated between the two govern
meuts from time 70 time looking 10
a division Of the territory. but either
one congress or the other refused TO
ratify the agreements which the
diplomats drew up
Reports Placed I'm Archives.
The report OF the American peace
experts on the question was placed
I'm official archives against the time
when the League of Nations was
ready TO take the matter up. Much
OF the material. IL Is learned, was
supplied by a young American sent
TO South America 20 investigate and
whose private OPINION Is that a lOgl-
cal settlement OF the dispute would
be an equal division OF the territory.
but which would give Bolivia her
coveted port.
There are interesting possibilities
I'm the settlement FOR those who have
received land grants in the Chaco
from one government or the other.
Some Of these are vast In extent.
one citizen from Argentina has Sc
cured in Paraguayau grants sole
title 20 an area larger than Holland
and Belgium combined.