Evening star., 1925-06-05
TREATIES PROPOSED
TO END DISPUTES
Two PaCts Would AmicabIy
Settle Latin-American
{ Boundary Rows.

In view of the many boundary dis
putes among various Latin American
states still awaiting solution, two pro-
posed treaties have been drawn up by
the Institute of International Law
which, if agreed to and ratified by all
the 21 republics of this hemisphere,
would assure the solution of all such
problems on peaceful basis and with
minimum of friction.
Any question like the Tacna-Arica
dispute between Chile and Peru, re
Gently arbitrated by President Cool
idge, would fall in the category COW
cred by these two draft conventions,
and the machinery provided by them
would be automatically set in motion
to reach some solution.
Chosen From 80
The conventions are two of 80
worked out by the institute under
resolution passed at the fifth Pan
American Congress held at Santiago
In 1923, and form part of the general
program of the codification of public
international law as applied to the
American republics. These particular
treaties, together with the other 2S
Will come up for discussion at the In
ternational Jurists' Conference to be
held in Rio de Janeiro some time this
year
One of the treaties fixes rules of be-
havior for the countries among which
q territorial dispute exists, while the
matter is as yet unsolved. The other
SPECIFICS the steps which shall be
taken to reach a settlement.
Under the first treaty the disputants
shall reach, either by direct negotia-
tion or by the good offices of some
friendly authority, "modus vivendi"
in the disputed zone which shall per-
NIT ln {,,tn
police powers, care for the hygiene.
and insure public tranquility in the
said zone" Should the interested par
ties be unable to agree on a ''modus
Vivendt,' then it is stipulated that
neither shall exercise, while settle
ment of the quarrel is still pending.
any acts of sovereignty which might
be prejudicial to the interests of the
other, but that both shall respect any
sovereign acts performed before the
dispute arose. Among other minor
provisions, 1t is also stipulated that if
a disputed zone should change hands
as result of the settlement, the coun-
try losing sovereignty shall be indem-
nlfled by the other for any public
works already constructed.
Invoke Friendly Nations
The second treaty is based upon the
Hague convention for the pacific set
tlement of international disputes.
The treaty provides that as soon as
a dispute shall arise the good offices
of friendly powers shall be invoked TO
try and arrange some settlement
Should this action bear no good re-
suits, then a commission of inquiry
snail be set up, on the understanding
however, that the findings of the
commission will be considered as re-
ports upon the disputes which were
the subject of the investigation. but
will not have the value or force of
judicial decisions or arbitral awards. i"
The commission itself will consist
OF five members, "all nationals of
American states, appointed in the fol-
lowing manner: Each government
Shall appoint two at the time of con-
vocation, only one of whom shall be
a national of its country. The fifth
shall be chosen by common accord by
those already appointed and shall per
form the duties of president.
a period of six months after the
publication of the commissions report
is allowed for the disputants to agree
to a settlement, after which "the
parties in dispute shall recover entire
liberty of action to proceed as their
interests may dictate" While the
commission is investigating, however.
none of the parties shall begin
mobilization or concentration of troops
on the frontier of the other, nor en-
gage in any hostile act of prepara-
tions of hostilities''
Final Appeals
Should friendly arrangement fail to
be reached even after the publication
of the commissions report. the dis
pute may be submitted to the chief
executive of one of the American re.
publics who shall act as Friendly
composftor" and render an award
Finally, should this last attempt at
Cancellation also fail the matter may
be referred to the Permanent Court of
International Justice at the Hague "or
to any other court Of justice which
may be constituted for this purpose
by the American republics"