STRUGGLE FOR TOWN

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11832, 13 January 1933, Page 2

STRUGGLE FOR TOWN

STORM BREWING IN THE UPPER

AMAZON

THU EE NATIONS WANT LET J CIA

BUENOS AYRES. Jan. 4.

All clamouring for possession of the international neutral town of Leticia, on the Amazon, Peru, Brazil and Colombia are concentrating gunboats, troops and pianos. The Salomon-Lozaiio Treaty awarded the Leticia region, formerly Peruvian territory, to Colombia, but recently Peruvian civilians ousted the Colombian Administration and took over the territory. Colombia wants Leticia, because it gives her another outlet to the sea.

Brazil has four warships, 200 'men and six planes on the spot. Peru has 3000 troops; with 10 olan :s at lquitos, near Leticia, and has seim 1500 men to Peurto AHui’a and other towns on the Putumayo River. /

Colombia lias four warships at Para, waiting for three others, befoie proceeding to Putumayo.

The President of Colombia recently inspected 30 fighting" planes on. ri'o Upiier Putamayo. Colombia has established IS dress-ing-stations,- and Bogota society, womOh ate already, there for duty, while Colombia is .rushing medical and surgical supplies by air and road. In • the meantime, Ecuador has addressed a memorandum to all too South American republics, demanding the right to be party to any negotiations, ■planning proprietary rights in the Amazon basin, ami, threatening to use force to protect the neutrality to Leticia.