Imperial Valley Press

BOLIVIAN OUTLOOK IS DARK
Little Hope For Peaceful Settlement of Row With Paraguay.

NEW CLASHES OCCUR
People of Both Nations Appear Determined To Use Force.

BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 11.
Latest dispatches from Asuncion, Paraguay and La Paz, Bolivia leave little hope today for an immediate peaceful settlement of the dispute which grew out of the border raid last week.
Each country blames the other for the heated battle at Fort Vanguardia which was the climax of a long standing dispute over the Chaco region along the Pilcomayo.
Berton, the newspaper La Prensa of the Argentine-Paraguayan border today said that fresh clashes had occurred in the disputed territory. News of the clashes was sent in private messages.
The Caripuyas of La Paz said to have military writers said that the Paraguayan government is planning a general amnesty for political prisoners and that military exiles will be allowed to return to the country.
Bolivia already has declared a state of siege.
Envoy Fired Upon
In passing through Paraguayan territory the United States envoy to Chile, Mr. Keena, told reporters on passing through that town that he met with several hostile demonstrations in Asuncion.
He also said that at Concepion on the Paraguay river shots were fired at his train.
The governments of both countries are solidly supported by all phases of political opinion.
A dispatch from Paraguay last night said that several of the river ports have been closed.
Bolivia's adherence to her policy of mounting arms posts within the disputed territory indicates that Paraguay will resist that militaristic cast.
The Bolivian refusal to accept the offer of the diplomatic commission at Montevideo for mediation of the dispute is taken to indicate a determination to sidestep further diplomatic negotiations which would halt the whole dispute over the Chaco region.
A much larger force could be placed in the field by Bolivia than by Paraguay. The Bolivian army is at present the strongest in the continent.
The Paraguayans, however, would in doubt be better acclimated to the Chaco district, where the fighting would no doubt occur in the event of war.
By LOUIS JAY HEATH
(United Press Staff Correspondent)
WASHINGTON, Dec. 11.—The Bolivian legation today notified the Pan American consultation conference here of its withdrawal from that gathering.
The legation note addressed to Chairman Kellogg of the conference said that in the face of attacks by Paraguayan troops on a Bolivian fort in the Chaco, the Bolivian delegates were forced to withdraw from the deliberations.
The note added it was impossible for Bolivia to discuss formulas for the peaceful solution of disputes between Latin American nations until Paraguay has made a formal and moral reparation for the injury Bolivia sustained.
The note further said the determination of Bolivia to withdraw from the conference will not hinder her, however, from subscribing later to any accord which the conference may reach.
The action of the Bolivians followed closely on a note from that country to all nations enjoying friendly relations with it, saying that Bolivia felt she was entitled to moral reparations from Paraguay before conciliation proceedings could be instituted.