THE GRAN CHACO DISPUTE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22460, 22 July 1938, Page 13

THE GRAN CHACO DISPUTE

Century of Bloodshed Ended PARAGUAY AND BOLIVIA Six Nations Act As Mediators (UlirraP F»M» ASSOCIATION—COPVBIQHT.) (Received July 21, 11.55 p.m.) BUENOS AIRES. July 20. After a century of bloodshed, costing more than 100,000 lives, the Gran Chaco dispute between Paraguay and Bolivia was finally adjudicated by the intermediation of six American nations. A treaty, the terms of which were settled to-night, will provide for ratification by popular referendum, after which the Presidents of six nations, including the United States, will set up an irrevocable boundary in the Chaco district. The boundary between Paraguay and Bolivia in the section ■ known as Chaco (part of the Gran Chaco which comprises parts of Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina) has been in dispute Since 1870. Friction between the two republics became serious in December, 1928, and diplomatic relations were broken off, not to be fully resumed till May, 1930—only to be severed again in the next year. Efforts were made by neutral countries to induce the republics to sign non-aggression pact; but open warfare broke out in 1932. The fighting continued till 1935, when an armistice / was signed. In October that year he republics -igned an agreement to apSolnt an international commission to ecide in the dispute; the earlier "peace protocol" having bound them to gubmit the dispute to arbitration. A year later Bolivia and Paraguay, at a pan-American conference, pledged themselves to settle the dispute by peaceful means. However, in February last year, Bolivia intimated to the League of Nations that the dispute had not ended. , „ On July 9, 1938, delegates from Paraguay and Bolivia signed an agreement to arbitration in the dispute. Statesmen of several American republics, Including .the United States, have been working for three years to achieve a peaceable settlement. '. -