Evening star., 1934-11-23
Paraguay Is Defended
For War Over ChacO
To the Editor Of The Star:


Your editorial in the issue of No
vember 10, entitled '"The League and
the Chaco," calls for some comment
from any person well acquainted with
the Chaco question. You say: "By
accident or design, Paraguay has dealt
staggering blow to Bolivia in the
fierce war over the Gran Chaco at
the very moment the League of Ma
tions Is resuming its hitherto futile
efforts to settle the conflict"
This statement suggests that Para
quay has, "by accident or design"
dealt this blow to her enemy at an
inopportune moment. Nothing could
be further from the truth. The cap
ture of Fort Ballivian is the consum-
nation of one of the most outstand-
ing examples of military strategy that
the world has known. For more than
a year the tactics of Gen. Estagarribia:
the commander of the Paraguayan
Army, have had for their object The
subjugation of this Bolivian strong
hold. Whatever were the conditions
looking toward the termination of the
war, on the part Of the League of
Nations or of other friendly coun-
tries, the military situation necessar-
lily was question entirely outside the
political or diplomatic procedure, and
the brilliant young general of Para
quay pursued his duty with a result
that has placed him among the worlds
foremost strategists.
You further say: "Intermittently
throughout their long and sanguinary
conflict Paraguay and Bolivia have
scorned neutral efforts by Latin Amer
ican neighbors and the United States
to bring the struggle to an end by
arbitration"
This statement is not accurate.
Paraguay has consistently and with
out deviation indicated her desire TO
submit the entire Chaco question to
any impartial tribunal, but she has
insisted upon the cessation of hostili-
ties as preliminary to such procedure.
Her enemy has never agreed to this
condition.
Again you say: Their sister Amer
icas have special interest in bring
ing the senseless contest to an end
with a minimum of delay"
Where do you get the idea that this
is a senseless contest? If Mexico in
vaded Texas, do you imagine that
the United States would regard the
resultant war as senseless contest?
Paraguay did not inaugurate any war
against Bolivia. She was not even
prepared for any conflict. Bolivia in
vaded Paraguay, and the Paraguayans
are engaged in the defense of their
country. This is not senseless war.
Even the most ardent paciflst is in
clined to take up arms if his country
is invaded.
Bolivia, defeated by Chile, her Pa
ciflc littoral taken away from her,
became a land-locked country. She
sought way to the sea. Barred from
the Pacific, she looked toward the
Atlantic, and the little country of
Paraguay was the only obstacle to her
domination of the outlet by the Para
quay River. With her population Of
3.500,00 the conquest of a Para
guayan population of less than 1,000,-
900 was thought an easy matter. She
borrowed money from the United
States ostensibly for other purposes
and devoted it to preparation for war.
She imported a German general to
train her troops. She invaded Para
quay and met her Nemesis.
The Chaco conflict must be ended.
1t Is nothing short of criminal that
this war should be prolonged. You
are right when you say that the bel
ligerent countries are bleeding them
selves white. The Chaco is the only
matter of dispute between South
American countries. Settle this ques-
ton and no other boundary disputes
exist in South America. The con-
tinuance of the war does indeed make
travesty out of vaunted pan-Ameri-
can solidarity. But we are confronted
with certain circumstances. The in
vader has been defeated. Paraguay is
the victor. An armistice at the pres
ent moment means acknowledgment
on the part of Bolivia of defeat and
the victor will make the terms. Why
not? The victor has always made the
terms.
Paraguay must be made secure from
further aggression. There is no CUES
tlon of the right of Paraguay to the
Chaco. That has been settled def
pitely by a President of the United
States acting as arbitrator. 1t has
been settled by incontrovertible evi-
dence from thousand sources.
The Bolivians doggedly fight on.
confident that sooner or later the tide
OF battle will change in their favor"
And meanwhile the world, with all
It's altruistic aspirations for universal
peace, beats the air.
CHARLES H. MOORE.