710.H Continental Solidarity/83: Telegram
The Chairman of the American Delegation (Hull) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received December 21—7:34 a.m.]
47. The Chileans this morning confidentially transmitted to us a proposed draft submitted by Cantilo from Chile by which he hoped to meet our views. This draft, as finally authorized, and with certain changes proposed by us, was accepted by the Argentineans. It reads as follows:
“The Governments of the American Republics.
“Declare:
- “First. That they reaffirm their continental solidarity and their purpose to collaborate in the maintenance of the principles upon which it is based;
- “Second. That faithful to the democratic principles inherent in their institutional regime, and to its absolute sovereignty, they reaffirm their determined will to maintain them and to defend them against foreign (extraña) intervention or activity that may threaten them;
- “Third. And in case the peace, safety, or territorial integrity of any American Republic is thus threatened by circumstances of any nature that may impair it, they proclaim their common concern and their determination to make effective their solidarity, coordinating their respective sovereign wills by means of the procedure of consultation, established by conventions in force and by declarations of the inter-American Conference, using the measures which in each case the circumstances may make advisable. It is understood that the governments of the American Republics will act independently in their individual capacity, recognizing fully their juridical equality as sovereign states;
- “Fourth. That in order to facilitate the consultations established in this and other instruments of peace, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the American Republics, when deemed desirable and at the initiative of any one of them, will meet in their several capitals [Page 84] by rotation and without protocolary character. Each government may, under special circumstances or for special reasons, designate a representative as a substitute for its Minister of Foreign Affairs;
- “Fifth. This delegation [declaration] shall be known as the ‘Declaration of Lima’”.
If you have any comment please cable at once. The decision upon this draft may depend upon the interpretation of the word “extraña” which Argentina may claim means from within or without America.
The contest between Bogotá and Caracas as to the seat of the next conference was settled today by the withdrawal of Caracas. Bogotá will presumably be named.
The resolution covering the Inter-American Commission of Women is still in committee though it seems likely to pass. A Cuban resolution on tolerance has been stiffly opposed chiefly by Rosalina Miller27 though we have reason to hope that the revised proposal will be adopted.
The resolution calling on governments to attend the Indian Conference at La Paz likewise passed the Economic Committee today. A plenary session is called for tomorrow.
The subcommittee has reported recommending reference of the copyright convention to the Pan American Union for study.
- Mrs. Rosalina Coelho Lisboa de Miller, Brazilian delegate.↩