New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-08
Chile Notifies
League to Let
America Alone
No Jurisdiction in Affairs
Of Western Hemisphere,
She Declares, Threatening
to Resign From Assembly
MonroeDoctrineSupreme
Geneva Session Promises to
Reconsider Dispute Ris-
ing From Bolivian Claim
Special Cable to The Tribuus

Copyright. 1921, New York Tribune Inc.
GENEVA, Sept. 7.--Chile threw q
verbal projectile into the Assembly of
the League of Nations to-day when she
set forth the contention that the league
has no competency Or jurisdiction to in
tewene in matters of purely American
concern.
Augustin Edwards, head of the Chill
can delegation, made Chile's stand
known IN document challenging the
leagues authority to regulate interna-
tional disputes in the Western hemis-
phere, which involves one OF the funda-
mental principles Of the league. The
Chilean's declaration grew out Of b.
llvla's demand that the league inter
vene in the question of the revision Of
the 1904 treaty, by which Bolivia was
shut off from the sea through Chile's
possession of the west coast province
of Antofagasta. He revealed consider
able feeling against Bolivia for having
appealed to the league.
League May Revise Opinion
Long arguments from both sides on
the Assembly floor occupied the entire
morning session, ending temporarily
with the Assembly promising to study
the facts in the case and reconsider
whether the question should be in
cluded in the 1921 agenda.
The Chilean delegates went so far
as to invoke Article XXI of the league
covenant, which they contended ad-
mitted Of regional understandings like
the Monroe Doctrine and the principle
OF American international law accord
ing to which non-American states, and
consequently the league, cannot inter-
fere in questions exclusively affecting
the countries of the New World.
In view OF the fact that eight Latin
American nations already are abstain
ing from participation in the Assembly
meeting, and that Chile probably will
withdraw if the plea of BOLIVIA is up
held, the matter brought up to-day
strikes at the heart of the league and
was regarded as more than a simple
quarrel between two Latin-American
countries.
Chile, in effect, asked the Assembly
to vote the league incompetent to deal
with an American dispute, and it is
more than possible that the Chilean
delegates will make dramatic exit
from the association in few days,
emulating Argentina, which last year
Dolteu over Ihe proposed revision OF
Article / and this year failed to send
delegation.
Senior Edwards, pleading Chile's
cause, did not deny that this action was
contemplated, and fatty declined to
elucidate this stand on the leagues
incompetence in American affairs, say
ing enigmatically that the time had
not yet arrived to discuss the matter.
On the other hand, Carlos Aramayo,
the spokesman for the Bolivian dele
cation, announced that it was the opin-
ion of his delegation that all members
of the league have bound themselves
to accept the decisions of the league
and that the Monroe Doctrine cannot
be employed to evade the leagues
jurisdiction in international matters.
Senior Aramayo said Bolivia ap-
preached Washington last year to as
certain if the league encroached on
Continued on page four)