710.Consultation (2)A/51
The Director General of the Pan American Union
(Rowe) to the Secretary of
State
Washington, April 15, 1942.
My Dear Mr. Secretary: I beg to send you
herewith a copy of the resolution on the Inter-American Commission for
Territorial Administration, approved by the Governing Board of the Pan
American Union at the session held on April 6, 1942.
The Government of the United States has already ratified the Convention
on the Provisional Administration of European Colonies and Possessions
in the Americas, and has designated its representative on the
Inter-American Commission for Territorial Administration. For your
information, however, I am attaching hereto a statement12 on the present status of the
Convention.
I beg to remain [etc.]
[Enclosure]
Resolution on the Inter-American Commission for
Territorial Administration Approved by the Governing Board of
the Pan American Union at the Session Held on April 6,
1942
The Second Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the
American Republics held at Habana in July 1940 adopted the “Act of
Habana” concerning the Provisional Administration of European
Colonies and Possessions in the Americas. At the same time there was
signed the “Convention on the Provisional Administration of European
Colonies and Possessions in the Americas”, to come into effect when
two-thirds of the American Republics should have deposited their
respective instruments of ratification.
[Page 5]
The Act of Havana created an Emergency Committee, composed of one
representative of each of the American Republics. It was further
stipulated that the powers and functions of this Emergency Committee
should be transferred to the “Inter-American Commission for
Territorial Administration” as soon as the Convention should come
into effect.
The Convention has been ratified and the respective instruments of
ratification deposited by fourteen, or two-thirds of the signatory
Governments and consequently has become effective. While it is clear
that the authority and functions of the Emergency Committee, set up
under the Act of Habana, shall be transferred to the Inter-American
Commission for Territorial Administration provided for in the
Convention, it is not clear whether the members appointed to serve
on the Emergency Committee also shall be considered as members of
the Commission for Territorial Administration.
With a view to clarifying the question thus presented it is
recommended that the following interpretation and resolution be
adopted by the Governing Board:
- 1.
- That until the respective Governments shall communicate to
the Pan American Union the name of another representative,
the member designated to serve on the Emergency Committee
created by the Act of Habana shall be considered to be a
member of the Inter-American Commission for Territorial
Administration.
- 2.
- That the Governments which have ratified the Convention,
but have not named a representative on the Emergency
Committee or the Inter-American Commission for Territorial
Administration, be urged to designate their member on the
latter Commission as soon as possible.
- 3.
- That those Governments that have not yet ratified the
Convention on the Provisional Administration of European
Colonies and Possessions in the Americas be urged to give
early consideration to such ratification.
- 4.
- That the representatives of those Governments that have
not yet ratified the Convention but have appointed members
on the Emergency Committee, be considered as eligible to
attend any meetings that may be held by the Inter-American
Commission for Territorial Administration pending
ratification of the Convention by their respective
Governments.
- 5.
- That the Government which desires to convene the
Commission, as provided for in the Convention, shall
communicate this desire to the Pan American Union,
indicating the city in which the meeting is to be held, and
the Union shall notify the members of the Commission and
shall inform all the other States, parties to the
Convention.
