§ 17. Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the present position with regard to the disputes between Bolivia and Paraguay, and Peru and Colombia?
§ Sir J. SIMONIt is difficult within the scope of an oral reply to give the hon. Member full details as to the present position in these two disputes. Briefly, the facts are as follow: In the case of the dispute between Bolivia and Paraguay, fighting in the Chaco territory, the sovereignty over which has been in doubt for many years, brake out in June last. Efforts have been made by the Conference of Neutrals at Washington, by the neighbouring Powers, and by the League of Nations to effect a settlement. Unfortunately no success has attended these efforts so far, but fresh proposals are now, it is understood, under consideration between the Governments of the neighbouring countries.
As regards the case of Peru and Colombia, Leticia and Tarapaca, places in the territory ceded to Colombia by the 1922 treaty between those two countries, were occupied by Peruvian civilians from the Department of Loreto in September last. Tarapaca was retaken by a Colombian naval expedition on the 15th of February. No serious hostilities appear to have occurred since then, though diplomatic relations between the two countries have been broken off. The Colombian Government have referred the whole question to the League of Nations under the terms of Article XV, and the Council of the League has requested a small committee to endeavour, in collaboration with the representatives of the two parties, to effect a settlement by conciliation in accordance with paragraph 3 of the above-mentioned Article.
§ Mr. MANDERWill the right hon. Gentleman be prepared to deal with the question of the export of arms to these countries in the Debate to-day?
§ Sir J. SIMONI rather understand that the Debate to-day is confined to the Far East, but I will bear the suggestion in mind.