DEPARTMENT OF STATE Publication 3016 International Organization and Conference Series II Released April 1948 NOTE: Beginning January 1, 1948, the "Conference Series", "The United States and the United Nations Report Series", and the "United StatesUnited Nations Information Series" are being combined into one comprehensive group. This series will be known as the "International Organization and Conference Series". The publications in this category will be classified into smaller units as follows: International Organization and Conference Series I General II Regional American Republics European and British Commonwealth Far Eastern Near and Middle Eastern and African III United Nations (including Commissions) DIVISION OF PUBLICATIONS For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office Appendix Two-Documents Pertaining to Work of the Conference Part 1-Proposals for Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance. A. Proposals for the Preamble . B. Proposals for a Statement of General Principles C. Proposals for Action in Case of Aggression, Disputes, or Other D. Proposals for Procedures and Agencies of Consultation and Action. Appendix Three-Other Documents. Part 1-Statement of the U. S. Delegation Regarding Definition of the Report of the Special Committee of the Governing Board of the Pan American Union Appointed To Analyze the Projects Submitted for the Inter-American Conference on the Maintenance of Continental Consultation on the Principal Points of the Treaty To Be Signed at THE UNIVERSITY CHAPTER ONE Preparation Background N February-March 1945, shortly before the termination of the war in Europe, the American Republics met in the Inter-American Conference on Problems of War and Peace at Mexico City and agreed to expand their system of collective self-defense to cover attacks by any American state on another, as well as attacks by a non-American state on this continent. They accordingly adopted a declaration known as the Act of Chapultepec,1 in which the governments declared: "That every attack of a state against the integrity or the inviolability of the territory, or against the sovereignty or political independence of an American state, shall . . . be considered as an act of aggression against the other states which sign this act. . . . "That in case acts of aggression occur or there are reasons to believe that an aggression is being prepared by any other state against the integrity or inviolability of the territory, or against the sovereignty or political independence of an American state, the states signatory to this act will consult among themselves in order to agree upon the measures it may be advisable to take." 1 1 Appendix three, part 4, p. 219. 1 The act then listed measures which might be agreed upon at the consultations referred to above, indicating that the American Republics anticipated the use of military force, if necessary, to put an end to aggression. Inasmuch as the conclusion of an agreement involving the possible use of military force, except for the duration of the war, was considered to exceed the authority of the executive branches of at least some of the governments represented at the Conference, and since the Act of Chapultepec was not designed for ratification by legislative bodies of the respective countries, the act also recommended in part II that the signatory countries consider the conclusion of a treaty which would give permanent form and validity to the principles stated in the act. It was further indicated that the act should be made consistent with any general international organization when established, having in mind that the San Francisco Conference for the establishment of the United Nations was to be held shortly thereafter. It was subsequently agreed among the American Republics that a special inter-American conference should be convoked to conclude the treaty referred to and that it should be held in Brazil at a date to be determined by the Brazilian Government. Subsequent developments with respect to Argentina made it undesirable to hold the Conference as early as had been originally anticipated. However, in June 1947 the Brazilian Government announced after consultation with other governments that the Conference would be convoked at Quitandinha near Petropolis, State of Rio de Janeiro, on August 15, 1947. Preparations This Conference was almost unique in the nature and extent of the advance consultation and preparation which had been undertaken by the American Republics on a multilateral basis. In view of the fact. that it had been originally planned for an earlier date, ample opportunity had been afforded for such preparations both in procedural and substantive aspects of the work of the Conference. With respect to procedural matters, the regulations had been approved by the Governing Board of the Pan American Union on September 13, 1945.1 Pursuant to a previous suggestion by the Brazilian Government, the Governing Board of the Pan American Union had agreed on the same date that the agenda of the Conference should consist of "the preparation of an inter-American treaty of reciprocal assistance to give permanent form to the principles embodied in the Act of Chapultepec." |