Arizona republican., 1921-09-08
SOUTH AMERICAN. DISPUTE COMES. BEFORE LEAGUE
Monroe Doctrine Involved In Question Brought up by Bolivia's Demand Fl Delegates Not Inclined to Welcome Discussion.
IRepublican A. p. Leased Wirel

GENEVA, Sept. 7.-The Monroe doctrine and the competency of the league of nations in American ques- tions and in cases where one party to a treaty asks intervention to se- cure revision were principal subjects of discussion in and out of the as- sembly today The discussions were provoked by Bolivia's demand that the assembly put on the agenda the proposed revision of the Tacna-Arica treaty of 1904 between Chile and Bo- livia.
 The debate beaNn at the morning session. A canvass of the principal delegations shows large majority Is against establishing a precedent that the league may interfere to revise treaties, particularly treaties of peace.
 There also is a strong feeling that it is dangerous for the prestige of the league not to be able to consider questions such as raised by Bolivia, in which there are features that in the opinion of some of the delegates, would seem to justify arbitration. Be- sides, most delegates are disinclined to welcome at this time a debate in which the Monroe doctrine is invoked in manner which virtually calls for an interpretation of the leagues com potency in matters supposed to be covered by that doctrine. Augustin Edwards, representing Chile, argued that Tacna-A Africa was purely an American affair and that the Monroe doctrine applied in no sense to Euro pean states nor could the league of nations interfere.
 Senor Aramayo, for Bolivia. in formed The Associated Press that tho chancellory of the United States had been consulted regarding Bolivia's -ap- plication to the league before it was submitted and had decided mediation by the league was not incompatible with the Monroe doctrine.
 Try To Stop Debater
 A. T. Balfour of Great Britain. Lord Robert Cecil of South Africa. and President Van Karnebeek failed to keep the debate off the floor: they succeeded only in securing the con- sent of the Boligian and Chilean dele gations to let the matter rest after presentation of their cases until the delegates could study the documents.
 The situation in which an unsatis- factory issue to either adversary will put the league has revived specula- ton as to the proposed qualifications covenant. with provision for regional leagues with liasons between them This plan will come up at an early date before the committee on amend ments. There is considerable SUD- port for this proposal. many dele gates believing that only thus can the league work effectively. without being hampered by regional under standings between individual states Absence of the Central American | delegates, as well as representatives of Peru, continues to preoccupy the | league leaders, who. however. minim- | ize the effect. They still hope for | late arrivals. and places have beer reserved on all six committees for the absentees. It is announced Peru has an observer here, but the accredited l delegates have not arrived. The 1 committees of the assembly began work today noon and will sit daily | The first act of the committee or amendments was to reject the amend
 ment proposed by Argentina that al sovereign states should be member: of the league unless they voluntarily
 abstained from membership. It wa:
 on this question that the Argentine l delegation withdrew from the frs | assembly.