Leticia dispute
Encyclopedia
The Leticia dispute was a 20th century territorial dispute
between Colombia
and Peru
. It concerned a trapezoid of territory which connected Colombia to the Amazon River
and its port of Leticia. Although the area is remote and characterized by tropical jungle
, it has some strategic importance because it is Colombia’s only outlet to the Amazon River and by extension to the South Atlantic.
The port of Leticia had been founded by Peruvians in the 19th Century, but, despite popular protests in Peru, had been ceded to Colombia in a 1922 Treaty. In late 1932 an armed band of Peruvian civilians and soldiers (supposedly acting without Peruvian government approval) took Leticia and forced the Colombian residents to flee. The Peruvian President tried to disassociate himself from these actions, but popular opinion quickly forced him to support the seizure of Leticia. The Colombian Government responded forcefully, sending an expeditionary force which defeated the Peruvians and retook Leticia.
The League of Nations
was asked to mediate with the support of Brazil
ian diplomats, and eventually oversaw the peaceful return of the area to Colombian control. The process generated an interesting historical precedent: for the first time ever soldiers wore the armband of an international organization (the League of Nations) as they performed peacekeeping duties. The soldiers were Colombian, and the use of the League armbands was primarily a face-saving device to permit the Peruvians to leave without appearing to submit to the Colombians. Nevertheless, the use of these 75 Colombian soldiers as international peacekeepers was an antecedent of United Nations
peacekeeping
several decades later.
Territorial dispute
A territorial dispute is a disagreement over the possession/control of land between two or more states or over the possession or control of land by a new state and occupying power after it has conquered the land from a former state no longer currently recognized by the new state.-Context and...
between Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
and Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
. It concerned a trapezoid of territory which connected Colombia to the Amazon River
Amazon River
The Amazon of South America is the second longest river in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined...
and its port of Leticia. Although the area is remote and characterized by tropical jungle
Jungle
A Jungle is an area of land in the tropics overgrown with dense vegetation.The word jungle originates from the Sanskrit word jangala which referred to uncultivated land. Although the Sanskrit word refers to "dry land", it has been suggested that an Anglo-Indian interpretation led to its...
, it has some strategic importance because it is Colombia’s only outlet to the Amazon River and by extension to the South Atlantic.
The port of Leticia had been founded by Peruvians in the 19th Century, but, despite popular protests in Peru, had been ceded to Colombia in a 1922 Treaty. In late 1932 an armed band of Peruvian civilians and soldiers (supposedly acting without Peruvian government approval) took Leticia and forced the Colombian residents to flee. The Peruvian President tried to disassociate himself from these actions, but popular opinion quickly forced him to support the seizure of Leticia. The Colombian Government responded forcefully, sending an expeditionary force which defeated the Peruvians and retook Leticia.
The League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
was asked to mediate with the support of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian diplomats, and eventually oversaw the peaceful return of the area to Colombian control. The process generated an interesting historical precedent: for the first time ever soldiers wore the armband of an international organization (the League of Nations) as they performed peacekeeping duties. The soldiers were Colombian, and the use of the League armbands was primarily a face-saving device to permit the Peruvians to leave without appearing to submit to the Colombians. Nevertheless, the use of these 75 Colombian soldiers as international peacekeepers was an antecedent of United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
several decades later.