Imperial Valley press., 1932-09-17
SEEKING
TRUCE: IN
DISPUT
Neutral Nations Working
On Paraguay And Boil
via To End Fighting.
HOPE FOR SUCCESS
Both Countries Express
Willingness To Cease
HOstilities.
BY LEWIS JAY HEATH
United Press Staff Correspondent

BY LEWIS JAY HEATH
United Press Staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Sept. II. A
truce between warning Bolivia and
Paraguay appeared nearer today
than at any time during the recent
weeks of bloody fighting in the dis
puted Gran Chaco territory.
The commission of neutrals COM
posed Of diplomatic representatives
here of the United States, Colom-
bia, Cuba, Mexico and Uruguay
who have labored to bring about
a cessation of hostilities were
heartened by the receipt here of
conciliatory notes from both bel
ligerent governments.
The neutrals had asked the two
governments to agree to an i'm
mediate suspension of hostilities
and withdrawal of troops in the
Chaco to create a neutral zone 20
kilometers wide.
Bolivia replied the 20 kilometer
zone was impractical for geograph-
ical reasons but expressed a will
ingness to suspend hostilities and If
necessary give guarantees. The
neutrals communicated Bolivias
answer to Paraguay. Later the
Bolivian delegates Enrique Finot
and Eduardo Diez de Medina called
upon Assistant Secretary of State
Francis White, chairman of the
commission of neutrals and advised
him Bolivia desired an immediate
suspension of hostlities in line with
her written communication. This
was communicated Immediately to
Paraguay in a second note.
Later the Paraguayan govern
ment replying to the first proposal
OF the neutrals not only expressed
Willingness to suspend hostilities
but suggested the complete mill
! tary evacuation of most of the
Chaco.
The Paraguayan note couched in
clear terms said Paraguay was
willing to cease, hostilities on con-
dition that the day for suspension
be fixed by the neutrals in ad-
vance and agreed to by both bel
ligerents and that sufficient time be
given to permit the news to reach
remote advanced Paraguayan out
posts and regiments in the war
zone.
For geographical reasons, he
Paraguay government also held
that 20 kilometers neutral zone was
impractical.
Paraguay further suggested that;
both countries begin effective demo-
bilization.
LA PAz, Bolivia, Sept. II. DIP
Angry crowds in the streets of
the Bolivian capital demanded to-
day that airplanes be sent to bomb
Asuncion, Paraguay, after Bolivia
charged to the League of Nations
that Paraguayan soldiers bayonet-
ted Bolivian wounded and stretcher
bearers at Fort Boqueron, in the
Gran Chaco.
Military headquarters denied
report broadcast from Buenos
Aires that the Bolivians had raised
the white flag at Fort Boqueron.
where Bolivians and Paraguayans
have engaged in desperate fighting.
If the white flag was raised, it
was merely for The opportunity of
burying numerous dead, military
officials said.
ASUNCION, Paraguay, Sept. II.
(U.P)-The government instructed
its representative at Washington
today to notify the neutrals there
there that Paraguay is willing to
cease hostilities today in the Gran
Chaco frontier dispute with Bo-
livia.
The attitude OF Paraguay has
been awaited as an important fac
tor in halting the warfare, which
now appears likely.