The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-07-23
U. S. FAvORS
BOLIVIA IN
LAND DISPUTE
Paraguay, Argentine
Not Considered

L ne boundary conference nelQ IN
Buenos Aires between representa-
tives of Bolivia and Paraguay re-
garding the disputed territory of
the Chaco Boreal held by Paraguay
and claimed by Bolivia was ended
without argument. The aggressive
purpose of the stronger party, b.
livia, which is virtual protectorate
Of the United States, became clearly
apparent.
The territory, about 100000
square miles, very thinly populated
by uncivilized Indians is still I'M
mapped, but in general under con-
troll of the Paraguayan government
which occasionally sends inspecting
officials.
Troops Sent.
Bolivia began to claim the Chaco
Boreal and to send troops and erect
forts as soon as it was discovered
that the territory, contiguous to the
extensive oil land holdings Of the
Standard Oil Co. of Bolivia, also
contains vast and promising oil
fields. Previously Bolivia never
pressed it's claims to this territory
When Bolivia's pressure increased
and the armed clashes between b.
liyian and Paraguayan troops in the
disputed territory became more fire.
quent, with actual danger of war
the Argentine government called a
conference at Buenos Aires of rep
resentatives of the two countries to
settle the dispute amicably by mu-
tual concessions. Argentina, which
has important economic and finan-
cial interests in Paraguay, desired
to save Paraguay from conquest by
Bolivia and indirectly to prevent the
extension Of the United States in
fluence from the Pacific to the At
lantic across the South American
continent through Bolivia and Para
quay and finally into Argentina.
Unable to Agree.
After several weeks of negotia-
tions the two parties, celebrating
under the Craftsmanship of an Ar
gentine neutral observer" they
were not even able to agree on what
should be arbitrated. The Argentine
arbitrator proposed that, pending a
settlement, the occupied districts in
the disputed territory should be de-
militarized and the forts dismantled
The forts of each country penetrate
deep into territory claimed by the
other, giving raise to frequent
clashes.
Paraguay agreed but Bolivia re-
fused to dismantle the forts recently
erected and only offered to reduce
the garrisons. The Bolivian dele
gates also refused to allow the arbi-
traitor to decide whether territory
held by an occupying force belongs
legally to that country or not and
is subject to arbitration. Further
more, the Bolivian delegates re-
quested that a part of the Chaco
should be declared Bolivian terri
tory Immediately, before and indie
pendently of the arbitration decision
and that only the possession of
part of the Chaco should be arbi-
trated. Bolivia did not indicate
which part it is willing to have ar
bitrated. In other words, it wanted
immediate concessions from Para
quay before entering into any ne
gotiations. Paraguay sometime ago
offered Bolivia that part of the
chaco Boreal which would give b.
livia access to the Paraguay River
and thus enabling Bolivia to build
seaport on the naYigable part of
the river for vessels able to carry
goods and passengers to the Atlantic
through the mouth of the Rio Plata
Bolivia's Claims.
Bolivia, however, claimed not less
than all the territory of the Chaco
down to the angle where the River
Pilomayo joins the Paraguay, which
is across the river from Asuncion
the capital of Paraguay. Paraguay
was unwilling to have Bolivian army
and forts on the bank of the river
opposite to its capital.
Reports are being repeatedly pub
lished that Bolivia is mobilizing.
The Bolivian government press is
making an intensive chauvinistic
war propaganda against Paraguay
publishing stories that Paraguay
prepares to invade Bolivia. para
quay has 100000 inhabitants and
Bolivia 2,5o0,0OO.) To reach the
capital of Bolivia the Paraguayan
soldiers would have to climb the
western ridge of the Andes, about
$4,000 feet. Bolivia is receiving
arms from the United States.
Rejected Draft.
At the recent Pan-American Con-
gress at Havana the Bolivian dele
cation rejected the first draft Of the
commission on maritime neutrality
which provided that neutral coun-
tries may allow" the transition of
arms and ammunition to belliger-
ant if it is landbound country
Bolivia insisted that this be changed
to read that the coastal countries
should be obligated to allow the tran
sit Of arms to landbound belliger-
ants. Paraguay accepted the first
draft and opposed the second. Para
quay and Bolivia are the only other
landbound countries on the Ameri-
can hemisphere. Hughes supported