The Coolidge examiner., 1933-07-21

A Gem Tween Two Oceans" Both OF them
trace their name back to one man. the daring
navigator who is commonly regarded the
"discoverer' OF the New World-Christopher CO.
lumbuS.
Within the last year two events have turned
the eyes of the North American republic to-
ward the South American. One of them was the
dispute between Colombia and Peru over the
violation of a treaty whose purpose it was to
define the boundary between the two countries
The headwaters OF the Amazon river are far
up in the eastern slope of the Andes which
forms the back country of Peru, Ecuador and
Colombia.
In 1922, however, a treaty was signed defn
Ing the boundary. which for the most part fol-
lowed the Putumayo river a northern branch OF
the Amazon which it joins in Brazilian terri
tory. In order to give the Colombians access
TO the Amazon. Peru ceded to Colombia the mar
row corridor from the Putumayo along the Bra
lillian frontier to the Amazon and including the
AmaZonian port OF Letcia.
Despite their resentment at this arrangement
II was accepted by the Peruvians of this eastern
back country-of which the Amazonian port of
lquitOs is the principal center-untll revolution
overthrew the government of President Leguia
who had made the treaty. On the morning of
September | of last year the Peruvians seized
Leticia and drove out the Colombian officials
At first President Sanchez Cerr0 was inclined
10 disavow this action, but later supported it.
alleging that the treaty of 1922 was not valid
because ii had never been put up to his people,
although the treaty was ratified by the congresses
of both countries.
ThereupOn the League of Nations took hand
In the affair. After an examination of the be
ginnings of the conflict 1t issued report which
condemned Peru's attitude and asked for the
restoration of the seized territory to Colombia
President Sanchez Cerro refused to comply and
thus brought Peru into conflict with the league
The league council at length proposed plan
which. on May %, was accepted by both coun-
tries, whereby Peru will evacuate Leticia and
the corridor, turning the jurisdiction thereof
over to 8 league commission which will act to
enforce order and therefore such lnterna-
tional forces as it may select; the entire ex-
pense of this operation being born by Colombia
The four members of the commission Col Ar.
thur Brown. representing the United States
Capt. Francisco Iglesas, representative from
Spain Or. Armando Mencia of Cuba. and Lemos
Basto the league representative from Brazil are
nov their way to Leticia to fulfill their duties
as league administrators
Along with international praise for the efforts
OF the league in effecting an amicable settlement
Ct the situation. credit also belongs to the sue
Cessful negotiations between Peru's new presi-
ueAl DT usual DcAdN NAuCS' anu IA AIiOHSO IO
rez. Colombian minister to England who with
President Enrique Olaya Herrera of Colombia
have established a closer earnest accord be-
tween the two nations.
The other event was the celebration last Jan
uary OF the four hundredth anniversary of the
founding of Cartagena, Colombia, with a pro
gram of festivities and an elaborate exposition
designed to recall the wealth and romance and
travail which four centuries had brought to this
ACarthage of the New World"
por; of call for noted navigators of the
world. from Columbus to Lindbergh Cartagena
txs ~ history more colorful and turbulent