The Washington herald., 1920-03-27
LEAGUE FAILS
TO AVERT WAR;
US. SUCCEEDS
Monroe Doctrine Blocks
Hostilities Between Peru,
Bolivia and Chile.
LEAGUE DOESN'T ACT
No Attempt Made to, Settle
misunderstanding Until
America Intervenes.
LEAGUE DOESN'T ACT
BY ROBERT r. BARRY.

The first controversy between
members of the league of nations
carrying a threat of war has been
adjusted amicably through the in
Prevention of the United States with
out resort to the provisions of the
league covenant. The nations par
ty to the quarrel are members of
the league. The league council did
not act. The United States is not
member of the league. 1t did act.
The Monroe doctrine was its weapon.
The quarrel was between Peru
and Bolivia. The Peruvian Lega-
ton and Consulate at La Paz, the
Bolivian capital. was attacked.
Stores and homes of Peruvians were
stoned. Chile, having n quarrel of
long standing with Bolivia, was re-
ported as being prepared to mobilize.
Peru and Bolivia were charter men,
bers of the league of nations. They
were signatories to the treaty of
Versailles. Chile was invited to join
the league. Her accession to the
covenant was filed some months ago.
No Reelection on League.
The incident commanded attention
in Washington because of its re-
lation to the league. In response
to the question. Where was the
league" Administration spokesman
declared there was absolutely no
reflection on the efficacy of the
league. They said the application
of the Monroe doctrine to the South
American dispute was in accord
ance with the Presidents frequent
statement that the covenant of the
league extended the Monroe doctrine
to the world. The failure of the
league council to act was cited as
proof of the "unfounded fears" of
league opponents that Europe would
NEEDLE in affairs of the American
continent should the United States
undertake to mix in European dis
pultS. htdS ut opponents al utu
that Europe had the power to do
so under the covenant. even though
the league failed to function in
this instance.
Under Article y of the covenant
Chile was obliged to respect the
territorial integrity of Bolivia. Her
old boundary dispute could be ad-
justed by the arbitration machinery
of the league. Under Article XXI.
Chile, Peru. and Bolivia agreed IF
there should arise a dispute be-
tween them likely to lead to a rup-
ture, they will submit the matter
either to arbitration or to inquiry.
and they agree in no case to resort
to war until three months after the
award of the arbitrator or the re-
port by the council"
All three nations were represent
ed as threatening to mobilize for
war. None of them carried the case
to the league council.
Council Took No Action.
Under article fifteen of the cove
nant, the league council had au-
thority to assume Jurisdiction of
the dispute. So far as has been
learned in Washington the league
council took no action looking to
interference in the controversy
with view to establishing the
processes of arbitration.
Then the United States stepped
in. 1t had recourse to the Monroe
Doctrine. 1t viewed the triangular
controversy as menacing the peace
of the Western Hemisphere. Joseph
H. Shea, American Ambassador to
Chile, was instructed to inform the
Chilean minister for foreign affairs
that the United States viewed with
CONTINUED on PAGE THREE