Evening star., 1928-12-13
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

The happy hunting ground of Bolivia
and Paraguay, known in the native
language as the "Gran Chaco," bids fair
to become the field of contention in the
next war. The disputed area IS as
great as all of New York and New Eng
land. It is covered with virgin forest,
inhabited sparsely by savages and hall
civilized aborigines, and until within
the last decade, when American ana
European oil companies began to ind
traces of oil in the land, it has not oeen
considered of immediate consequence on
account of its natural resources. Never
theless, in that region, there has been
for three or four centuries the seed OF
war between Bolivia and Paraguay. be-
cause Bolivia has disputed the latters
claims to its sovereignty.
Even that DISPUTE might not have led
to belligerency If a way had been found
to restore Bolivia's corridor across Chile
and Peru to the Pacific Ocean, lost as
consequence of the disastrous war with
Chile in 1879, or If President Coolidge
could have found way to restore that
access to the sea for the land-locked
country, as an auxiliary issue in the
arbitration of the Tacna-Arica arbitra-
ton. by which the boundary between
Chile and Peru was settled. Bolivia
offered to buv that corridor, and its
surrender by either Peru or Chile would
not have been of serious consequence to
either, while of untold Importance to
the inland nation. But now Bolivia IS
in despair as to access to the Pacific
and turning to the east. renews her
demand for a port on the navigable
Paraguay River. giving connection with
the Atlantic Ocean.
poIfy;a IN hnr dictrnCS 1C in a DAM
gerous mood and openly threatens to
seize by arms what she has tried for
MANY years to acquire bv negotiation
and what Paraguay has held for four
centuries by right of discovery and set
tlement and by concession from the
King Of Spain.
Both countries belong to the League
of Nations and that organization has
reminded their governments OF the
obligations to submit their differences
to international arbitration and refrain
from hostilities. At the same time the
communication from the League OF Ma
tions adroitly intimates that as this is
an American question there are means
of adjusting it in the Western Heml-
sphere--or words to that ettect-mean-
ing the Monroe Doctrine and its country
Of paramount interest, the united STATES
X X X
Both countries have signifed the IN
tention to adhere to the Kellogg-Briano
multilateral treaty, pledglng tnem not
to follow a national policy OF settllng
disnutes bv means of war. They have
not vet signed the treaty. much less
ratified it. and the treaty itself is not
vet in effect as between any nations, out
thew have promised to sign and ratlty II,
making war an outlawed means OF set
Ting disputes. J., ;,
In the meanwhile their blood IS boil
inp and. according to Bolivia, hostile
acfs have been committed within the
Gran Chaco, the disputed territory, by
Paraguay. but Paraguay claims tnaC
Bolivia fired the first shots When.
Paragueyan force drove Bolivian m
vaders back from the border. Inc
American conference now IN session IN
WASHINGTON is also actively seeking 10
prevent war. Such war mlgnt easily
| involve other nations.
So far. the attitude of Paraguay has
been strictly defensive, ana tnaI ol
Bolivia is actively hostile in pushing
the claim for an outlet to the sea
through Paraguayan territory. IL Is
granted that Bolivia sorely needs such
access for her commercials might be
said also of Switzerland and of certain
South American inland nations aside
| from Bolivia
If the organizations of neutral ma
| tions are given power to adjust the dif-
ficulty, it is predicted by diplomats
| that q settlement may be reached
which would include sale OF port
on the Paraguay River to Bolivia. to-.
gether with the right of navigation OF
| the great river to the sea, as the United
States and Canada share the ST. Law
renee without friction.
Ak y
Willis the dispute has grown acute