ON the afternoon of Wednesday, February 21, in the great hall of the Mexican Chamber of Deputies, the Inter-American Conference on Problems of War and Peace held its opening session. President Manuel Ávila Camacho of Mexico delivered an impressive address of welcome, in which he spoke especially of the part that America will play in the postwar world and the important contributions this continent can make. A reply was made on behalf of all the delegates by Dr. Caracciolo Parra Pérez, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela and chief of his country's delegation, stressing the duties of the American countries to the world at

This article is intended to cover the highlights of the Conference. A more detailed report will be submitted to the Governing Board by the Director General.-EDITOR.

large as well as to themselves. The following day, at a second plenary session, Dr. Ezequiel Padilla, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico and President of the Conference, addressed the delegates eloquently, placing special emphasis on the action that the Conference should take to improve the condition of the masses of the people.

The nations of the Americas looked to this Conference not only to strengthen the spirit of cooperation amongst the Republics of America, but also to provide for the safety and security of the Western Hemisphere. It is gratifying to record that the results of this momentous meeting have fully met these expectations.

The Inter-American Conference on Problems of War and Peace ranks as the most significant meeting held by the American

Republics since the First Conference at Panama in 1826. Its deep significance is due not only to the importance of the topics included in the agenda, but also to the fact that, since the Conference met at one of the most critical periods in the world's history, upon its decisions depend in large measure the future safety and welfare of the American nations. Upon it devolved the responsibility of providing for the future security of the American continent in a war-torn world, and also of meeting the difficult and delicate problems that the Republics of America will be compelled to face in making the transition from a war economy to a peace economy. To solve these problems the Governments of the American Republics sent to Mexico their most distinguished statesmen, including not only the Ministers of Foreign Af

fairs of the respective countries but also outstanding leaders in political and economic life. Furthermore, the Conference met in an atmosphere of good will, mutual confidence, and cooperation which contributed much to the solution of the most difficult problems. The constructive results of the Conference may be summarized as follows:

1. The adoption of measures tending to assure the present and future security of the American Republics against aggression.

The broadening of the activities of the Pan American Union, including changes in its organization.

3. Action to safeguard the economic structure of the American Republics in the transition from a war to a peace economy. Action with reference to the Argentine Republic.

The measures adopted to assure the security of the American Republics, which will no doubt be regarded as the outstanding achievement, are embodied in an instrument to which the designation Act of Chapultepec was given. Under the provisions of the Act not only will aggression against an American State by a non-American power be regarded as an act of aggression against all the republics, but what is equally important, any act of aggression of one American State against another is placed in the same category and will give rise to immediate action by the other American Republics to repel such aggression.

At the suggestion of the United States Delegation the period covering such united action is divided into two parts. Until the close of the war, the American Republics will take action under the war powers of their respective governments. For the postwar period, provision is made for the negotiation of a treaty under which such united action wll be taken. The purpose of this modification was to safeguard the constitutional prerogatives of the Senate of the United States with reference to the use of military force.

In order that the procedure envisaged by the Act of Chapultepec may be integrated with the world organization contemplated by the San Francisco Conference, it was provided that action taken by the American Republics should be exercised in harmony with the procedure that may be established for the maintenance of world peace.1

Of almost equal significance was the adoption of the proposal of the Mexican Delegation that the Conference designated The Declaration of Mexico. This instrument reaffirms the juridical equality of the American Republics, prohibiting any interference in the internal affairs of one State by another;

'The text of the Act of Chapultepec is reproduced in the appendix to this article, p. 254.

asserts the inviolability of the territory of
the American States; and emphasizes that
any aggression against any American State
constitutes an aggression against all of them.
The Declaration also stresses the necessity of
coordinating all interests to create an econ-
omy
of abundance in which natural resources
and human labor will be employed to raise
the standard of living of the people of the
respective American nations.2

As regards the functions and organization of the Pan American Union, the Conference made a number of important changes.3 In the first place, the time-worn distinction between political and non-political functions was abolished, and the Conference placed under the jurisdiction of the Pan American Union "every matter that affects the effective functioning of the Inter-American System and the solidarity and general welfare of the American Republics." The authority of the Union in these matters was made subject L to the limitations imposed by the International Conferences of American States and the Meetings of Ministers of Foreign Affairs.

The most important change in the organization of the Pan American Union is in the constitution of the Governing Board. Heretofore, the Board has been made up of the diplomatic representatives of the respective Latin American countries accredited to the Government of the United States, together with the Secretary of State of the United States. Under the provision of the Mexico City resolution the members of the Governing Board will, after November next, be representatives ad hoc; in other words, special representatives with the rank of Ambassador appointed by each of the American

The text of the Declaration of Mexico is reproduced in the appendix, p. 256.

The text of the resolution on the Reorganization, Consolidation, and Strengthening of the Inter-American System is reproduced in the appendix, p. 257.

Republics will give full time to the work of the Pan American Union. The resolution specifically prohibits the appointment of members of the diplomatic missions at Washington as members of the Governing Board. It should be noted in this connection that ever since the Habana Conference of 1928, the governments have been free to appoint such special representatives, but have not availed themselves of this privilege.

An Inter-American Economic and Social > Council was also established under the immediate direction of the Governing Board of the Pan American Union. This Council is given far-reaching powers in furthering united action by the American Republics in the solution of economic and social problems and in furnishing information looking toward a higher standard of living for the masses of the people, a vital necessity that the delegates had constantly in mind. This all-pervading purpose expressed itself in a number of resolutions adopted by the Conference.

In addition to the above-mentioned innovations, the resolution relating to the Pan American Union indicates a distinct tendency to make the Union the coordinating organ for the activities of the many inter-American organizations established from time to time by the Pan American Conferences. Duplication of effort will thus be avoided.

With respect to the measures intended to safeguard the economic structure of the American Republics, it was evident at the outset of the Conference that this matter was uppermost in the minds of all the delegates. Practically every Latin American delegation laid emphasis on the fact that a sudden reduction in the purchase of raw materials by the United States would have a disastrous effect upon its economic structure, resulting in widespread unemployment and consequent political unrest. The Economic Charter adopted by the Conference was intended as

a first step toward avoiding these dangers. While the terms of this Charter are general in character, the delegation of the United States gave assurance that every possible effort consistent with the basic interests of the United States would be made to avoid a sudden decline in the purchase of raw materials. The general principles contained in the Charter will have to be implemented by more specific and concrete measures, but the assurances given by the United States served to allay the most serious apprehen

sions.

With reference to the Dumbarton Oaks Proposals the Conference contented itself with reaffirming the desire of the American Republics to cooperate in the organization of a world system for the maintenance of peace. It was also decided to forward to the San Francisco Conference as well as to all the nations participating therein a copy of the specific amendments proposed by the respective American governments. The resolution made it clear that the American Republics desire:

1. To amplify and make more specific the powers of the General Assembly.

2. To extend the jurisdiction and competence of the international tribunal or court of justice. 3. To create an international agency specifically charged with promoting intellectual and moral cooperation between nations.

4. To solve controversies and questions of an inter-American character preferably in accordance with inter-American methods and procedures, but always in harmony with those of the General International Organization.

5. To have an adequate representation given to Latin America on the Security Council.

Mention should also be made of the fact that the Conference devoted much attention to the social problems confronting the American Republics, especially those con

nected with the welfare of women and children. In addition to the establishment of the Inter-American Economic and Social Council as an integral part of the Pan American Union, provision was made for the preparation of a basic charter on the protection of women and children to be submitted either to an International Conference of American States or to a meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the American Republics.

Finally, on the closing day of the Conference the Steering Committee or, as it was known, the Committee on Initiatives, made up of the respective Chairmen of the twenty delegations, squarely faced the situation created by the request of the Argentine Government for a meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the American Republics. Action on this request had been postponed by the Governing Board of the Pan American Union in view of the approaching meeting at Mexico City. Although the Committee

on Initiatives did not take definite action until the closing day of the Conference, an informal interchange of views had been in progress for a number of days.

The resolution as finally adopted approached the situation in a most friendly spirit, expressing the earnest desire of the American Republics "that the Argentine Nation will cooperate with the other American Nations, identifying itself with the common policy which these nations are pursuing, and orienting its own policy so that it may achieve its incorporation into the United Nations as a signatory to the Joint Declaration entered into by them."

It was also provided that the Final Act of the Conference be "open to adherence by the Argentine Nation, always in accordance with the criteria of this resolution."

It is gratifying to add that on March 28 the Argentine Government notified the Pan American Union that a decree had been is