Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1939, The American Republics, Volume V

760D.61/609: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in Panama (Muccio)

[Washington, December 5, 1939—3 p.m.]

118. Your 144, December 3, noon. The Ambassador of Ecuador⁴ yesterday morning in a conversation with the Under Secretary referred to the possibility of a move to be undertaken upon the initiative of each country based upon the fourth article of the Resolution adopted at Panama. It was not understood that he had in mind the procedure outlined in your telegram.

In reply to the inquiry made by the Ambassador of Ecuador the Under Secretary stated that the Government of Ecuador had undoubtedly already seen the statement made by President Roosevelt some days ago⁵ condemning the Russian action and that he understood several other governments of this continent had already taken similar official action. Mr. Welles stated, however, that this Government would be glad to join with the other American republics in a joint statement provided all of the republics so desired in order that the declaration might be a continental declaration and not a partial inter-American declaration.

Welles

4. Capitán Colón Eloy Alfaro.
5. Statement of December 1; for text, see telegram No. 259, December 1, 1939, to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union, Foreign Relations, The Soviet Union, 1933–1939, p. 799.