Evening star., 1938-07-03
POWERS BOLSTER
AMERICAN PEACE
United States and Chile
Press Bolivia and
Paraguay.
BY CARLOS J. vIDELA.

TdT dyudy.
BY CARLOS J. vIDELA.
NEW YORK, July 2 (N.A.NA.).-l
The peace Of South America, which
has been hanging on thread these
last few months, took = new lease on
life this week end a. representatives
Of the United States and Chile put
pressure on Bolivia and Paraguay. who
fought the Chaco War three years ago
and are still at odds.
For three years delegates Of Argen-
tina. Brazil. Chile, Peru. the United
States and Uruguay have been sitting
at Buenos Aires. Argentina, trying to
conciliate this century-old dispute be-
tween the two small and belligerent
countries in the heart of South Amer
lea. A week ago, after much maneu-
vering, the Bolivian representative an
nounced he was through and was leav-
ing for home right away, inasmuch Is
Paraguay refused to see eye to eye with
him on the Chaco question.
At this announcement South Ameri-
can chancellories felt deep alarm, for
the withdrawal Of one Of the two liti-
gants from the peace parley at Buenos
Aires could mean only q resumption
OF war in the Chaco jungle. where
100000 men lost their lives during the
last campaign.
Neutrals Spurred to Act.
II diplomatic efforts to appease
Paraguay and Bolivia had been rather
perfunctory up to this point. the re-
alization Of the possibility Of another
war at this very untimely juncture "a
pan-American conference Is to open
in December) galvanized the neutrals
into strong action. The fact that
Spruille Braden, American delegate
and Manuel Bianchi, his Chilean COL
league. have SO far succeeded in max
Ing the Bolivian plenipotentiary stay
at buenos Aires shows that strong OUT
side pressure can work to good effect
IN the solution Of the Chaco conflict
More than that, this fact sheds 4
revealing light upon the workings of
the lethal marionette show that PLAYED
such q long engagement at the Chaco
jungle 1t Is well known that Arpen-
tina egged Paraguay on, supplying her
with arms, ammunition and technical
guidance, while Chile backed Bolivia
In much the same manner. But that
was before DR.. Roberto M. Ortiz was
lnaugurated as the new Argentine
President, February 20, and before his
foreign minister. Jose Maria Cantilo.
undertook to repair the somewhat
1rayed edifice Of the A. B. c. (Areen-
tina. Brazil, Chile, the group that
typifies power politics in Latin Amer
lea.
friction Had Been Frequent.
friction between Argentina and
Brazil and Argentina and Chile had
been frequent before Mr.. Cantilo re-
amrmed the double axis" Border
and diplomatic incidents emphasized
their )ealousies and their aspirations
70 hegemony over the continent.
The resuscitation af the A. B. C. axis
has followed Foreign Minister Can
ulo's recent visits to Rio de Janeiro
Brazil and to Santiago. Chile. In Rio
the Argentine Minister saw his
Brazilian colleague. DR.. Oswaldo Ar
anna. until recently Ambassador at
Washington. and the two men estab-
lished the bases for q renewed accord
between their countries. This was
followed by Cantilo's visit to Chile.
where he was cordially received by
the chancellor, Jose Ramon Gutierrez
who later repaid this visit and Jour-
neyed to Rio de Janeiro with similar
purposes.
With the A. B. G. machinery again
hltung on all eight, 1t became an
easier task to exert q measure of con-
troll over the two headstrone con-
tenders for possession of the Chaco.
The prestige of the United States. now
very high in Latin America, made the
Intervention of our Ambassador-at-
large. Spruille Braden, both welcome
and fruitful. II the A. B. c., aided by
the United States, insists on 4 strong
attitude toward war in the Chaco.
there Is ground to believe no resort to
arms will take place.
Paraguay Keeps Gains.
AT present the solution Of the Chaco
affair depends on the acceptance by
both parties of 4 final border line. It
Is suggested that Paraguay cede to
Bolivia q small river port, to allow the
latters trade to reach the Atlantic.
Paraguay so far refuses to give up
any part Of her territory, after having
won the last war. To preclude any
Intervention of the World Court in
this matter, Paraguay served notice
April rs that 1t denounced the clause
OF the peace pact containing reference
to that tribunal.
Tempers in both Bolivia and Para.
quay are running high. Both gov
ernments exist by the grace Of the re-
spective armies, each eager to jump at
the other. Under ordinary circum.
stances, q renewal of their bloody war
could be expected at any time. With
the A. B. c. working smoothly and the
United States lending the weight of
its prestige, the prospects of war may,
at the moment, be discounted.
tcoryrisht. 1888. By the North American
Newspaper Alliance. Ine.)
Billy Bemis to Marry.
LOS ANGELES. July 2 R.-Billy-