Evening star., 1933-12-19
PARAGUAY
!. TRUCE AGREED ON
Armistice in Chaco War Is to
X Last Until Dec. 81.
49, Hailed at ParIey.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
MONTEVIDEO, December ia
temporary peace was proclaimed in the
blood-stained Chaco Boreal today as
Paraguay and Bolivia, hereditary en-
emies, agreed to a Christmas season
armistice.
The fighting, which has claimed tens
of thousands of lives in the last ~
months, will cease at midnight tonight
for a truce which will last to midnight
of December 81. Members of the Peace
Commission of the seventh Pan-Amerl-
can Conference, in session here, said
they hoped the peace could be mace
permanent. .
paraguay proposed the truce yester-
day in the midst of a successful Oh
. fensive against her enemy; BOLIVIA ac-
cented with the suggestion that the
League Of Nations Commission, now III
Bolivia. arrange a permanent armlStlce
and submit the conflict to the World
Court at the Hague. ...,,
THE Pan-American Peace Commission
session today was turned INTO peace
Jubilee. The conference itself sent It's
Fluctuations to the presidents OF BoilVla
and Paraguay, to the League Oh NauonS
at Geneva and to President Gaprlel
Terra of Uruguay. to whom both ma
tions had submitted their agreements
to the truce.
Citizens Hail News.
Delegates from both Paraguay ana
Bolivia addressed the Pan-Amerlcan
Commission and told Of their natlonS
desire for peace. .,
Meanwhile the citizens of MonteVldeo'
intensely interested in the war LOT con-
troll of many thousand square miles oI
Central South American territory, cele-
brated the armistice joyfully. Many
thousands gathered to hear the news,
crowds shouted "vivas!" and whistles
were blown.
In the midst Of this celebration
castro Roias OF Bolivia announced that
his nation would adhere to the Argen-
tine anti-war pact. which has been
signed by most of the nations OF
America.
He told the conference members:
! INV country went to war to defend
what it believed to be It's rights: Para-
puay was similarly actuated. ms at
titude conformed with the conception OF
national dignities, but Bolivia Is ready
with the same dignity, to seek solu-
IlOn O1 lIlG SOA4Ai4St III JNAAAN'ANNN-
Commission En- Route.
Conference leaders were informed
that the League of Nations CommlS-
sion. now in Bolivia. left La Paz today
for Asuncion, Paraguay, passing through
the Chaco Boreal. which separates botn
nations, and coming to MonteVldeo,
where conversations will begin looking
toward a permanent settlement OF the
war.
TO bring with it formula acceptable
to both nations and providing for the
virtually total disarmament OF both
countries.
The enmity between Paraguay and
Bolivia dated back more than nifty
years. 1t began in the war, fought our
ing the Civil War in the United states,
!, when Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina
combined against Paraguay and cut her
off from her former outlet to the Az
Iantic Ocean. At that time Paraguay
lost practically every able-bodied man
in battle.
Later Chile and Peru fought over
their own frontiers and Bolivia, then
a buffer State, lost her outlet 10 the
sea.
wilderness Valueless.
Thus were left two countries. OF
practically equal power, largely smut
, off from maritime commerce. BOLIVIA
claimed the right to an outlet to the
sea down the waterways Of the Gran
Chaco, of which the Chaco Boreal
a part, and Paraguay claimed the Chaco
Boreal as her own.
The wilderness was largely unex-
plored and, although it is believed to
contain some oil deposits, Is still re-
garded as of virtually no economic
value. ,.
In July, 1881, hostilities broke out
practically simultaneously at two small
, forts. Boqueron and Vanguardla;;
owned, respectively, by Paraguay ana
Bolivia. An undeclared war resulted
into which all the resources OF botn
nations were thrown.
The League of Nations, the united
States and various neutral South Amer
ican nations extended their dlplomatlc
services in attempts to end the connict,
but the warfare steadily grew more IN
tense and in June, 1882, Paraguay maze
her official declaration OF war
There has been only one previous
cessation Of hostilities, That was last
Christmas at the request OF Pope plS'
LEAGUE Halls MOVE.