Evening star., 1934-09-30
BY GASTON NERvAL.
INTERVENTION has been for dec.

r INTERVENTION has been for dec.
ades the paramount problem Of
inter-American relations. Most OF
i the resentment prevailing in Latin
America against the policies Of
the United States is based on the
Intervention of the great northern Re-
public in the domestic affairs Of some
of the small countries Of the Carib-
bean area. And much of the suspicion
and lack of confidence which, even
today, prevent a better understanding
between Anglo-Saxon and Latin
American is due, mainly, to the sad
memories of foreign Intervention and
the fear of their probable repetition in
the future. Intervention is the night
mare Of Pan-American advocates.
That is, probably, the reason why q
correspondent writes inqliring why
this column has not reported the
final ratification by this country of
the Montevideo Convention on Rights
and Duties of States, in which inter-
vention was specifically outlawed. As
the inquirer seems to think that there
might have been biased intention on
our part to overlook or underrate the
achievements" of the Pan-American
Conference at Montevideo, a brief ex-
PLANTATION is in order.
The Convention on Rights and
Duties Of States, mentioned here, be-
fore, as one of the academic ac-
conference, has been ratified by the
United States, it is true, but it has
been ratified with an important res
ervation-more important, indeed,
than most people seem to have realized.
Sovereignty Upheld.
In its original form, the Convention
on the Rights and Duties of States
represented a subordination of the
problems which most often appear in
inter American relations to the prin-
ciples and rules of law and diplo-
macy. Among its provisions were
several which sanctioned the equal
ity of states and upheld the sover-
eighty Of small countries, two of the
cornerstones of international Law
which have repeatedly been overlooked
in the relations of the American re-
publics.
In doing so, in formally recogniz-
ing these rights Of the smaller as
well as the stronger members of the
American community of nations. the
signatory governments were supposed
ly setting them as norms for their
own conduct in the future. They were
sanctioning as concrete standards OF
international morale principles which
until now have been generally advo-
Gated by individuals but disregarded
by governments. Implicitly, they were
promising to abide by them in the
future.
In glancing through the high lights
OF the Montevideo convention, the
person familiar with the history o1
inter-American relations could easily
recall situations in the past which
they were intended to avoid in the
future and which had undoubtedly
inspired them.
Article 3 provided that "the politi.
cal existence of the state is inde-
pendent of the recognition of the
other states" Even before recogni-
ton the state was conceded a right tt
defend its territorial integrity and in.
dependence, provide for its preServa'
ton and prosperity and to organize as
it believes best; to legislate regarding
its interests and to determine the
jurisdiction and competence of its
courts.
Article s Significant.
Article proclaimed that the states
are juridicaly equal, enjoy the same
rights and have the same capacity fol
exercising them. THE rights of each
one do not depend on the power pos
sessed to insure the exercise of those
rights, but upon the simple fact of its
existence as an entity in internationa,
law"
Article 8, the most significant of all