FIGHT FOR GRAN CHACO

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19803, 19 May 1934, Page 17

FIGHT FOR GRAN CHACO

DEFINITE STAND BY UNITED STATES DEMAND FOR ARMS EMBARGO United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received May 18, 9.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, May 18. Within a few days President Roosevelt will take cognizance of the League of Nations’ effort to bring peace in the war between Bolivia and Paraguay for the possession of Gran Chaco and Will send a message to Congress dealing broadly with all phases of the question with perhaps a request for authority temporarily to place an embargo on the export of munitions to the belligerents. ARMS EMBARGO PROPOSED. BRITISH MINISTER’S STATEMENT. British Official Wireless RUGBY, May 17. In the House of Commons, Mr R. A. Eden proposed that a census should be taken to secure an embargo on arms destined for either Bolivia or Paraguay. He recalled that only a year ago he asked the Council to take steps to levy an embargo on the supply of arms to these countries. The Commission had visited South America, but the conflict continued. The British Government expressed a hope that the Council would send a telegram to 17 Governments, whose co-operation was necessary, to inquire whether they were prepared to agree to an embargo proposal. It might be that in some cases the Governments had not at the moment the necessary powers to put an embargo into effect. Where this was so, the British Government trusted it would be found possible to take the necessary legislative action as an emergency measure. Mr Eden also recalled the report of the Commission on the dispute, and expressed the view that neighbouring countries, more especially if the two belligerents refused to accept an honourable and just settlement, should exercise stricter control over transit traffic, a complement to control that which other nations should exercise over certain exports. “To these countries,’’ said Mr Eden, “I would address a special appeal to forbid the transit of war supplies accross their territories, to Bolivia and Paraguay. Senseless loss of life, the utterly unjustifiable imposition of human suffering, and the meaningless destruction of the best resources in men and material of these two countries, have already endured too long. It is our privilege and responsibility to bring them to an end.’’ BOMBING OF TOWNS. BRITISH OFFICIAL CONCERN. British Official Wireless RUGBY, May 17. British representatives at La Paz (Asuncion) have been instructed to represent to the Government to whom they are accredited, the concern felt by the British Government regarding the bombing of towns of no military importance, and threatened reprisals in contravention of the League Convention of 1899. ACTIVITY AT GENEVA QUESTION REFERRED TO JURISTS United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received May 19, 1.10 a.m.) GENEVA, May 18. The arms embargo question on Bolivia and Paraguay has been referred to the Committee of Jurists.