740.00111A.R.–N.C./152
The Under Secretary of State (Welles) to the American Member of the Inter-American Neutrality Committee (Fenwick)
My Dear Professor Fenwick: I was delighted to receive your letter of October 21 regarding the work of the Inter-American Neutrality Committee. I note that Dr. Podestá Costa’s place is to be taken by Señor Labougle, the new Argentine Ambassador at Rio. I have always had the highest regard and esteem for Dr. Podestá Costa, and I hope that this change will not affect your work unfavorably.
I understand that Señor Jimenez, the Costa Rican member of the Committee, was recently in Caracas on his way to Rio, where I assume he has now arrived.
I am asking Mr. Duggan and Mr. Hackworth to assemble and make available to you any material which they may have concerning the project presented by the Uruguayan delegation at Habana regarding the extension of territorial waters.9
Your program for handling the work of preparing a draft convention covering the whole field of the law of neutrality appears to me a wholly logical one, and I shall be interested in learning of developments. If there is any way in which the Department can be of assistance to you in this matter, please let me know. It is a source of real satisfaction to the Secretary and to me that you are taking such an important, constructive part in the work of the Committee.
With cordial personal regards,
Sincerely yours,
- See Second Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the American Republics, Habana, July 21–80, 1940, Report of the Secretary of State, pp. 16, 67.↩