Evening star., 1933-03-26

~ VERSHADOWED Dy tNe pres
ence of war clouds on several
of the worlds major interna-
~ tional frontS-the crisis in the
Far East. the rising of mill
tarism in Germany, the DantZig Incl
dent, the new alignment in the Balkans
the latest moves of the League of
Nations to preserve peace in South
America have passed almost unnoticed
to the reader of American newspapers.
Yet. coupled with these efforts, a
new development in international al
fairs has taken place which may mean
the end of an era, and the beginning
of a new one, in the relations OF Latin
America with the United States and
with the rest of the world.
On March l, the Council OF the
of Colombia and Peru a proposal to
avert war in the Leticia region. The
plan suggested that an international
army, under control of the League,
hold the Leticia territory pending ne
gotiations between the two interested
parties in the dispute. The Council
was acting under Article XIV. paragraph
3, of the Covenant, after Colombia had
denounced Peru for the illegal seizure
Of the little Amazonian port in viola
lion of the Salomon-Lozano treaty.
Details of the controversy are already
we'll known and need no repetition
here. 1t is also known that the
Leagues plan failed because of Perus
objections to the proposed international
army being formed with Colombian
troops.
Control of Area Asked.
The interesting fact. however, IS
that the League acted to prevent an
other open warfare, and that, with this
purpose it went as far as asking COM
plete control of the disputed territory.
And even more important than that is
the fact that it did SO with the ap-
proval of the United States. The State
Department not only indorsed the
Leagues proposition, but it appealed
directly to the contending parties, urg-
Ing its acceptance.
Last week, the possibilities of a di-
rect settlement provided for in para
graph 3 of Article XIV, having been eX-
hausted, the Leagues Council took the
next step and adopted unanimously
the report of its special committee, con-
tanning recommendations for the solu-
ton of the controversy, under para
graph 4, Article XIV.
This procedure is exactly the same
as that followed with respect to the
Z
with the adoption Of the report con-
demning Japan and the dramatic with
drawal of the Japanese delegation from
the Council.
On this occasion the report implicitly
condemns the Peruvian government, de-
claring that the presence of Peruvian
forces in Colombian territory is in
compatible with the principles of inter-
national law, with those of the covenant
of the League and with those of the
Kellogg BRAND pact. The report then
recommends the complete evacuation
by the Peruvian forces of the territory
contained in the Leticia trapezium and
the withdrawal Of all support from the
Peruvians, who have occupied that
area" 1t also provides for the OPEN
ing of direct negotiations, once the
first provision has been carried out, for
the final settlement on the basis Of
the treaties in force Of "all problems
outstanding between Colombia and
Peru.
Declarations Recalled.
The report, further on, recalls the
declarations of the assembly of the
League and of the 19 American re-
publics at Washington-not to reco-
gnize any territorial changes brought
about by the force of arms-and asks
the cooperation of all League men,
bers in the fulf1llment of its recon-
mendations.
After adopting this report the
Council of the League appointed an
Advisory Committee Ito watch the
situation, assist the Council in the
performance of its duties under article
T. paragraph 4, and help the members
of the League for the same purpose
to concert their action and their at
titude among themselves and with nom
member States" Thus, the Leticia
question has reached exactly the same
status, as far as the League of Nations
is concerned, as the Manchurian crisis,
although the latter took the Council
much longer. Probably the prompt
ness with which the League has acted
in the Leticia affair and the energy
with which its recommendations will
most likely be carried out may have
some connection with desire to i'm
press the defiant statesmen Of the
Rising Sun.
Nevertheless, this is not the only i'm
portant phase Of the Leagues latest
move. The main significance of this
far-reaching precedent lies in the fact
that, this time again. Geneva has had
the support of the United States. AS soon
as the adoption of the Leticia report
was known in Washington, Government
spokesmen approved it, and it was an
nounced that ''the Department of State
will cooperate with the Advisory Com
mittee of the League"
Following this announcement, fur
thermore. it was informally said by
official spokesmen that suggestions