710.G/95½
The Director General of the Pan American Union (Rowe) to the Assistant Secretary of State (White)
Memorandum
At the informal meeting of the Governing Board held yesterday afternoon, the Ambassador of Brazil announced that it was his intention at the session of the Board this afternoon to move for the postponement of the Conference.
During the discussion that followed, the Ambassador of Cuba, the Ambassador of Chile and the Ambassador of Mexico expressed themselves in favor of postponement. The Ambassadors of Chile and Mexico had evidently in mind the postponment for a few months rather than a longer period. The only decided opposition to any postponement came from the Minister of Haiti. The Ministers of Colombia and Ecuador insisted that if any postponement were proposed good reasons for the postponement must be adduced.
Finally, after nearly three hours discussion the Minister of Colombia submitted a resolution which he suggested be presented at the meeting this afternoon and which provided that, in view of the motion presented by the Ambassador of Brazil, the Chargé d’Affaires of Uruguay should be requested to inquire of his government whether any objection would be raised to a postponement of not more than one year.
The Ambassador of Cuba then proceeded to ask each member present as to his attitude toward such a resolution. All those to whom the question was put voted in favor of the resolution except the Ministers of Haiti, Panama and the Dominican Republic who abstained from voting. The Ministers of the Dominican Republic and Panama refrained from voting because of lack of instructions from their governments.
[Page 3]The situation at the meeting this afternoon is that there is nothing on the agenda of the Board relating to the forthcoming Conference.
Should the Government of the United States desire postponement, I would strongly recommend a definite expression of this desire be made at the session this afternoon. One of the reasons which may be given for desiring such postponement is that one of the most important questions to come before the next Conference is that relating to the codification of international law. It is evident that neither the Commission of International Law at Rio de Janeiro nor the American Institute of International Law will have the projects prepared in time for careful study by the respective governments prior to the December Conference. It would therefore be entirely appropriate for the Secretary at the meeting this afternoon to suggest that, in view of the desirability of further preparation, inquiry be made of the Government of Uruguay whether it will be agreeable to the Government of Uruguay to postpone the Conference until December 1933.