LEAGUE AND TREATIES

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 215, 9 September 1921, Page 5

LEAGUE AND TREATIES

POWERS OF REVISION. SOUTH AMERICAN DISPUTES. EFFECT ON MONROEISM. By Cable.—l'ress Association.—Copyright.) GENEVA, September 8. An interesting problem affecting tho Monroe Doctrine and the power of the League of Nations to revise treaties was discussed at the Assembly.

Bolivia is requesting the Assembly to revise the treaty made between Bolivia and Chile in 1004, whereby Bolivia surrendered certain territory to Chile. The Bolivian delegates claimed that Article 10 of tho Covenant empowered the Assembly to reconsider the treaty. The Chilian delegates opposed, arguing that the treaty had been carried out, therefore Article 10 was inapplicable. They also protested against an attempt to utilise the League in order to recover territory surrendered under the 17-year-old treaty.

Other Bolivian delegates in dull and long speeches pleaded that the League should rescue Bolivia from her semidependent status. A Chilian delegate hinted that the League was not competent to deal with the matter because it is purely an American affair. The Chileans broadly suggested that the League could not interfere in questions exclusively affecting countries of the New World.

The Assembly eventually postponed the subject, but it must sooner or later decide whether it is competent to deul with purely South American questions, especially as the South American delepates number nearly one-third of the Assembly. The United States' refusal to share the Lenpnie's work is lurking as an unknown factor behind South American Questions and will not make the League's task easier.

It is nofeworthv that Peru, who was Bolivia's ally in the war of 187!), promised to support the Bolivian ria'm. but hoi- dnVpates Mve not yet attended thr> Asseniblv.—("Times.")

The Amendments Commission of the T.eapuc of Nations reieet<vl Argentina's flemnnd put forward in 1020 for the immediate n''ini«sion to the T.enTue o f all sovereign States.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.)

Article 10 of t'>e T.eamie of Nations fovennnt states: "The Assrmb'y may from time to time adviw therecortsirlerntion by members of the Len«nin of treaties which h;ive become inapplicable, and <he consideration of international conditions whose continuance might endanger the peace of the world."