740.00111A.R.–N.C./18a: Circular telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chiefs of Diplomatic Missions in the American Republics
A resolution recently adopted by the Neutrality Committee now in session at Rio contains an inquiry as to the competence of that Committee to deal with the problems arising from the Declaration of Panama and is being submitted by the Pan American Union to the Governments of the American Republics through their representatives at Washington.
The Department feels very strongly that it would be highly desirable to remove at once any doubt as to the competence of the Neutrality Committee to deal with such an important matter since it appears to be ideally equipped rapidly to study and coordinate the proposals made by the other American Republics with a view to making definitive recommendations on the subject. You are requested in your discretion to make known these views informally to the appropriate officials of the government to which you are accredited. The Department understands that the Brazilian Government is also issuing instructions to this general effect to its representatives in the other American republics.