Office of the Historian

Final Act of the Ninth International Conference of American States, Bogotá, March 30–May 2, 19481

March 30, 1948 to May 2, 1948
[Extract]

XXXV. Exercise of the Right of Legation

Whereas:

The American States have taken countless practical measures to strengthen their cooperation in economic, social, political, cultural, juridical and military matters;

The Charter of the Organization of American States recognizes the mutual advantages derived from inter-American solidarity, and affords the Organization permanence and continuity;

The development of the activities and the full benefits of inter-American cooperation can be realized more effectively if continuous and friendly relations are maintained among the States.

The Ninth International Conference of American States Declares:

1.
That continuity of diplomatic relations among the American States is desirable.
2.
That the right of maintaining, suspending or renewing diplomatic relations with another government shall not be exercised as a means of individually obtaining unjustified advantages under international law.
3.
That the establishment or maintenance of diplomatic relations with a government does not imply any judgment upon the domestic policy of that government.

  1. Ninth International Conference of American States, Bogotá, Colombia, March 30–May 2, 1948: Report of the Delegation of the United States of America with Related Documents (hereinafter cited as USDel Report), p. 271. See also paper of the Policy Planning Staff, March 15, 1948 entitled “To Establish the Policy of the Department Regarding the Recognition of New Governments”, p. 17.↩