710 Consultation (3A)/4–2646: Telegram
The Ambassador in Uruguay (Dawson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:15 p.m.]
260. For Dreier9 from Boal.10 Following translation of summary being released to press by CPD April 27, noon.
“EACPD, created by meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of [at] Rio de Janeiro11 and composed of members appointed by Brazil, [Page 82] Chile, Mexico, Peru, United States, Venezuela and Uruguay, the presiding member approved a resolution in its last plenary session which recommends measures to eradicate remaining centers of Axis influence in Western Hemisphere and which has already been submitted to consideration of American Governments. Despite victory of Allied forces, Axis agents and fifth columnists expect, by every means within their reach economic, cultural and political to reconstruct their centers of influence, continue to disseminate their pernicious ideology, and create discontent and disagreement among American republics. Resolution VII of conference of Mexico City12 already recommended adoption of measures to prevent continued residence in hemisphere of those persons who may endanger American security and charged committee with task of preparing recommendations for purpose. Com. points out in its new resolution that confident hospitality which in past permitted action of Axis agents cost many lives and endangered independence of American republics. Therefore it expresses hope that adoption of measures recommended will prevent recurrence of these events which we have so bitterly experienced. In this resolution Com advocates measures to insure that those individuals, especially Germans and Japanese who remain faithful to Nazi Fascist ideology are no longer able to endanger security of Western Hemisphere. To this end it is recommended that all American republics adopt uniform standards for determining dangerousness from standpoint of continental security of aliens and naturalized persons who engage in pro-Axis activities. Expulsion of former and denaturalization of latter are recommended whenever such dangerousness is shown after careful and exhaustive investigations. With regard to those who according to such standards reveal lesser danger, it is recommended that expulsion be withheld when certain circumstances are present, for instance, having a spouse or children of American nationality or being in such precarious state of health that application of measure would endanger life. In order to give measure of expulsion continental scope it is recommended that no American republic admit any person who has been expelled by another American country for any of reasons indicated in resolution or any dangerous person outside continent who wishes to enter therein. To facilitate uniform action on matter, Com likewise recommends that every American republic transmit to all others names and particulars of those persons whose residence in hemisphere it deems dangerous. Application of Com’s resolution will constitute a guarantee to peaceful inhabitants, nationals of Axis states, who have not engaged in any kind of subversive activity, that they will not be disturbed, since they cannot be confused with persons who have participated in such activities. As can be seen, system recommended constitutes an application, in keeping with democratic standards of fundamental principle of continental political defense, that interest of every American republic, when properly understood, requires of each the obligation to protect security of all the others.”
Dawson
- John C. Dreier, Chief of the Division of American Republics Analysis and Liaison.↩
- Pierre de Lagarde Boal, American member of the Emergency Advisory Committee for Political Defense.↩
- For documentation on this meeting, see Foreign Relations, 1942, vol. v, pp. 6 ff.↩
- For text, see Pan American Union, Final Act of the Inter-American Conference on Problems of War and Peace, Mexico City, February–March, 1945 (Washington, 1945), p. 38.↩