Evening star., 1928-12-15
CONC|L|AT|ONOF OFFER
ANSWERS AWAITED
Paraguay Expected to Ac-
Cept Mediation, but BoIiv-
ian Response Uncertain.

Confident that their action has served
at least to check the spread of war feel
ing in Paraguay and Bolivia, the dele
gates of the 18 republics who have
rendered the good offices of the Pan
American Conference to mediate the
boundary dispute settled down today to
period of "watchful waiting"
Replies were expected at the State
Department to the kilograms sent late
yesterday by Secretary Kellogg to the
foreign ministers of Paraguay and
Bolivia, containing the text of the reso-
luton adopted earlier in the day by
the international conference. Favorable
reception of the proffer of mediation is
expected to dissipate the possibility of
a war between the two nations which
might draw others into the conflict.
The messages were sent to Thomas
Manuel Elio, newely appointed minister
of foreign affairs of Bolivia and to
Jeronomo Zubizareta, minister of for
eign affairs for Paraguay
Bolivian Reply in Doubt.
While it is confidently expected that
the Paraguayan reply would be favor
able to conciliation of the dispute which
very nearly precipitated war, the at
titude of the Bolivian government
arouses degree of uncertainty as to
the immediate outcome of this move to
restore friendly relations.
In sharp contrast to the militant
tone of the Bolivian reply to League
of Nations as reported in dispatches
from La PaZ. that governments Min
lister in Washington, Diez de Medina,
expressed his private opinion today
that Bolivia would accept the good Of
fees extended by the n-American
conference.
The minister thought, however, that
acceptance by his country would be de-
pendent upon an understanding that
some kind of reparation should be re-
ceived by Bolivia for her alleged act
of aggression. The act having been
committed, he explained, Bolivia be-
lieves itself justified in maintaining this
position
Expressions from Paraguayan sources
were more hopeful. DR.. Juan v. Rarni-
rez, the Paraguayan charge d'affaires,
declared his belief that war with Bo-
livia as an outgrowth of the boundary
dispute is now remote"
Speaking outside the conference, DR..
RamineZ said that public opinion in
the United States appears to me to be
sincerely against war between Para
quay and Bolivia. / am convinced that
public opinion in the United States is
sufficient to prevent war"
The Paraguayan charge was likewise
confident that his government would
accept the mediating offer of the Wash
ington conference.
While replies were being awaited the
delegates assembled at the Pan-Ameri-
can Union at noon today to take part
in the exercises marking the unveiling
of a bust to Andrew Carnegie. Henry
L. Pritchard, president of the Carnegie
Endowment Fund for the Advancement
of Teaching, made the presentation
speech and Secretary of State Kellogg
accepted the statue on behalf of the
Union.
This brief interlude, however, did not
diSpell the general anxiety over the sit
uation confronting the conference.
Although Minister Medina did not at
tend the plenary session yesterday at
which the action was taken, he tenn
pSISO IllS SCdI6Iil6Hb dDUuJ COuCllldSlOn
with the declaration that his absence
did not mean withdrawal from the con-
ference and that his delegation was
still willing to participate in any activ-
tiles that did not directly touch upon
the immediate crisis.
Moves Importance Seen.
The move made by the Pan-American
Conference is more significant than
early interpretations indicated While
at first it appeared that the conference
merely was voicing its earlier expression
for hope, the action taken yesterday is
regarded as really direct move intend
ed to halt the preparations for war.
Backed by unanimous vote of 18 ma
tionS. the conference has appealed di-
rectly to the premiers of the two dis
putants and has set an example for
"open diplomacy that is expected to
| produce a helpful moral effect upon the
rest of the world
The move is believed to be especiallv
important with reference to Bolivia. In
| some circles it is held that Bolivia cam
not afford to hold out against the ex-
pressed desire of all other South Amer
ican nations and the United States as
well for an early and peaceful ADJUST
ment of the boundary controversy.
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