Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1938, The American Republics, Volume V

710.H/40

The Chargé in Chile (Frost) to the Secretary of State

No. 890

Santiago, March 2, 1938.
[Received March 8.]

Sir: Referring to the rumors which appear to have gained some slight currency respecting the possible postponement of the quinquennial Pan American Conference at Lima in December, I have the honor to report that informal conversations here with Latin-American diplomatists do not appear to indicate any active danger that a resolution against communism, if intended as an indirect endorsement of totalitarianism, would be successful at the Conference. The Foreign Minister of Chile incidentally expressed this view this morning; and the Brazilian Ambassador adopted a similar line. (The Venezuelan Minister, however, mentioned very earnestly the damage which is being caused to the democratic ideal in Latin-America by the continued relations between the democratic powers and Soviet Russia, the latter being regarded as outside the pale of governmental decency.)

The address delivered by Under Secretary Welles on December 6, 1937, on the need for tolerance respecting the internal organization of the various countries of Latin-America² has made a deep impression in Chile and among the diplomatic corps in Santiago. It seems probable that a number of countries whose present governments are in practical effect far from democratic would consequently rally against any declaration at Lima susceptible of being construed as a moral victory for the European non-democratic group of nations. I venture this opinion with some trepidation in view of my relatively short service in Latin-America; but it is a view which has emerged quite definitely from such observations and conversations as have been possible to me.

Other reasons may exist for the postponement of the Conference; but its postponement out of apprehension as to a resolution of pro-Fascist import would really appear to be unnecessary and might be construed as an indication of weakness by the agents or proponents of non-democratic regimes.

Respectfully,

Wesley Frost

2. On the Need for a Spirit of Tolerance in Inter-American Relationships: Address delivered by the Honorable Sumner Welles, Under Secretary of State, before the Inter-American Center of George Washington University, Washington, December 6, 1937 (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1937).