Evening star., 1936-04-26
NEUTRALITY POLICY.
SOUGHT BY LOPEZ.
Formulation of Joint Plan
for Americas at Argentine
Session Proposed.

Session Proposed.
Formulation OF a joint neutrality
policy for the Americas at the forth
coming Pan-American Conference at
Buenos Aires was proposed last night
by Don Miguel Lopez Pumarejo. Min
lister from Colombia, in appealing to
American statesmen for greater faith
and frankness In treaties.
Senor Lopez addressed the Ameri-
can Society of International Law at
its banquet at the Carlton Hotel,
closing a three-day session of the
thirtieth annual convention. Other
speakers were Senator Ebert D.
Thomas. Democrat, Of Utah; Dr.. E. A.
Walsh, S. j., regent Of the Georgetown
Foreign Service School. and George
S. Messersmith, American Minister
to Austria.
The Colombian diplomat emphasized
the necessity for preparation for neu-
trality during peace. and cited the diff
ficulties experienced by Colombians as
ucud dio uUlIiik I2ic VOlio WoA'
Cooperation is Urged.
'It is universally recognized" he
declared, that while large, powerful
nation acting alone may be partly
successful In safeguarding neutral
rights, the measure Of success will be
greatly increased If neutral policies
can be promulgated and protected by
joint cooperation.
If war unfortunately comes on a
large scale in other parts of the world,
mankind demand that we stay out Of
it, and this means to be prepared for
neutrality. The prime purpose Of q
joint neutrality policy Of the Amer
icas would be to keep the nations Of
the Western Hemisphere out Of any
world conflict"
DR.. Walsh denounced the unreal
and exaggerated claims Of certain
peace movements" as q threat to the
cause Of international peace
While commencing their high arc
laudable idealism, he considered that
they often set a standard impos-
sible Of swift achievement. and which
should have been preceded by a
generation of patient and laborious
education to higher standards OF
international morality"
Canada Invited.
Senator Thomas called upon Can
ada to occupy the place left vacant
for her in the Pan-American Union
and urged that she do so before the
conyocation of President Roosevelt s
peace conference at Buenos Anes
He claimed for the Dominion the
status Of an American republic as the
result Of the statute of Westminster
Messersmith, who is visiting the
United States on leave from hi,
Vienna post, painted a picture OF
present-day Austria as the outgrowth
OF the war and the resulting treaties
Contrary to the beliefs of econ
omists in the early postwar years,
Austria has proved that she can
exist and, In better world condi-
tions, even prosper. he declared.
DR.. James Brown Scott was elected
president of the society for the eighth
consecutive term yesterday morning
Elihu Root remains honorary presi-
dent. Honorary vice presidents chosen
we're Newton D. Baker, Philip Mar
shall Brown, Charles Henry Butler,
Frederic r. Coudert, James w. Garner.
Manley o. Hudson, Charles Evans
Hughes, Cordell Hull. John Bassett
Moore, jackson H. Ralston, Leo 8
Rowe. Henry L. Stimson, Charles
Warren and George Grafton Wilson.
Active Vice Presidents.
Active vice presidents chosen are
Chandler p. Anderson, Senator
Thomas Of Utah and Jesse s. Reeves.
George A. Finch was elected secretary,
Lester H. Woolsey treasurer and Mr.
Butler chairman Of the Executive
Council.
The Executive Council Is composed
Of Charles G. Fenwick, Francis Colt
de Wolf, Edwin D. Dickinson, H. M
Colvin, Howard lie Roy, Robert r.
Wilson, w. r. Valance and Herbert
Wright.
simultaneously with Don Lopez's
proposal for q joint pan-American
neutrality policy, it was indicated in
informed circles last night that the
State Department will welcome at the
Pan.American Peace Conference this
Summer the presentation of . solid
front by the Western Hemisphere on
neutral rights and duties.
Secretary Of State Hull Is looking
ahead to . formal modernization of
the status of neutrality In interna-
tional law. In fact, this will be one
Of the chief objectives at the con-
ference as far as the United States Is
concerned, according to disclosures
made In tentative discussion Of the
a0enda