Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, 1942, The American Republics, Volume V

710.Consultation 3/598: Telegram

The American Representative (Welles) to the Secretary of State

Rio de Janeiro, January 25, 1942—2 p.m.

53. In addition to recommending the severance of diplomatic relations with the Axis Powers, concerning which I have already reported, the Consultative Meeting has already approved a number of resolutions embodying specific and practical measures, including the following:⁷⁸

1. Severance of commercial and financial relations with the Axis Powers drafted in practically the same terms as those drafted in Washington. (While Chile made a reservation of its sovereign rights, and Argentina a reservation applying the measures of control to all non-American belligerents, both countries supported the substance and basic objectives of the resolution);

2. Production of strategic materials for supplying the essential defense needs of the continent;

3. Approval of principles and practices regarding priorities, allocations, and price controls, entirely consistent with our own principles and practices;

4. The improvement of maritime and other communications with emphasis on defense requirements;

5. A resolution regarding the stabilization fund in practically the same form as cleared in Washington;

6. Support for the Inter-American Development Commission;

7. Urging the early establishment of the Inter-American Bank;

8. One major resolution on the control of subversive activities, embodying all points previously agreed to in Washington; and a few other resolutions of a similar character (Smith of Justice is entirely satisfied with the resolution on subversive activities); and

9. A resolution condemning the Japanese aggression, and extending this condemnation to the other Axis powers.

The resolution excluding Axis citizens or companies from civil and commercial aviation has been approved by the subcommittee but not yet reported to the full committee. The same applies to the resolutions on public health, Red Cross, post war problems, and the reorganization of the Inter-American Neutrality Committee. The resolution on telecommunications has been approved in principle but has not yet been approved by the full committee. It is probable that approval will be given these latter resolutions at a session of the full committee scheduled to begin tonight at 8:30.

It will be observed that many of the projects supported by the United States have been given approval along the lines agreed upon prior to the departure of the delegation, and that the remaining ones have progressed favorably so far as the schedule here has permitted.

Welles

78. On January 24 Mr. Welles summarized the measures which the Conference had approved in a broadcast from Rio de Janeiro; for text, see Department of State Bulletin, January 24, 1942, p. 77. For text of the Final Act of the Conference, see ibid., February 7, 1942, p. 117.