Evening star., 1936-09-16
PEACE ASSURANCE
SOUGHT |NPARLEY

Mexican Envoy Cites Need
for Definite Results at
BuenoS Aires.
This is the ninth of series OF
special articles on the "Nep Pan
Americanism" and the forthcoming
5uenos Aires Peace CongressJ
BY BRENT DOW ALLINSON.
Latin American diplomats are work.
ing zealously both in Washington and
in the other capitals Of the Western
Hemisphere for concrete results III the
Buenos Aires Conference December /.
They are convinced that enlarged and
definite pan-American cooperation is
not only desirable but necessary.
This attitude was clearly expressed
in an interview by DR.. Francisco Cas-
tillo Najera, Mexican Ambassador to
the United States. a member of the
committee of Latin American diplo-
mats which is preparing the agenda
for the meeting.
THE Mexican people and govern
ment," he said, "are very greatly in
terested in the coming special confer
ence of the 81 American republics
that will assemble late this year in the
city of Buenos Aires at the invitation
of President Roosevelt to discuss ways
and means of consolidating the peace
and promoting the economic recovery
of the Western Hemisphere, which
constitutes a large segment Of the
world President Cardenas of Mexico
responded promptly and cordially to
the personal letter of President Roose-
welt, last February; our newspapers
and numerous members of Congress
hail the gathering with universal cor
diality and optimism; and as one Of
three members of committee of Latin
American diplomats in Washington
who are preparing the comprehensive
agenda of the meeting, am working
with real enthusiasm.
Cannot Afford to Fail"
I'VE cannot afford to fail! We
cannot permit this assembly to be
Just one more American confer
ence, with elaborate machinery and
invisible results. Conditions are too
critical now, and the opportunity for
historic American achievement too
great. Peace is endangered beyond the
seas, and our common Amerlcanism
and mutual interest demand coura-
geous and cooperative action, if We are
to overcome the disasters of the world
depression and the growing menace OF
war to us all"
He stressed the view that this con-
ference will not and must not be "a
parade of merely perfunctory or
ardent rhetoric"
I'VE must and can achieve concrete
results" he said. lin increased Sc
curity, enlarged commerce, and better
understanding among the free re-
publics of America, all of which are
historically dedicated to liberty, to
self government and to peace. The
initiative of the United States Govern
ment is, therefore, most opportune and
constructive.
Members of our Congress and Mex
ican newspapers have been discussing
our possible resignation from the
League of Nations because of disap-
pointment at the revealed depravity Of
the European war system, its unabash-
ed imperialism and a feeling in Mexico
that our financial contribution of
about $4,000 annually to the League
might be better expended to promote
the regional security of the Western
Hemisphere, in the face Of the lawless
and unrestrained military aggressions
and colonial conquests now going on
in Europe and Asia"
Objectives Summarized.
The Ambassador summarized for me
in six major categories what he be-
lieves will be the principal objectives
of the forthcoming mter-American
conference. They are:
/. Ratification of many existing
inter-American treaties of arbitration
conciliation and commerce which have
been concluded and signed in the past
but which have never been ratified by
many of the republics. (The record
of the United States and of Mexico Is
outstanding in this respect, each Of
them having ratified most of ths
treaties in question. as compared with
the Argentine Republic, for example
which has apparently ratified only
three of more than a dozen important
inter-American conventions negotiated
and signed at previous conferences)
2. Conclusion Of new treaties. or o1
one multilateral American convention
constituting great Code of Peace. This
may include the "Stimson Doctrine
of non-recognition of territories OF
advantages gained by violence, and q
broadened proclamation Of the Monroe
Doctrine, by and for the entire con-
tinent.
8. Agreement concerning collective
and continental neutrality law and
policy, defining the rights and pro-
claiming q new series of duties Of all
neutral governments toward govern
ments that declare war in violation OF
the Kellogg BRAND pact or wage hos
tilities without declaration, as re-
quired by international law and
treaty-as Japan and Italy have re-
Gently done.
Recognizes Import for Americas.
Senior Castillo regards the move
ment for neutrality revision as new
and fertile field for the defense Of
peace and the future cooperative or
ganisation Of the world against war
r