Evening star., 1938-12-25
Il American Nations Form Front
For Defense Against Aggression;
Roosevelt Pledges Peace Efforts
Brazil Last of n
To Sign Lima
Declaration
BACKGROUND

Ct9HtN FuH-AWeTlCuH IOtJT-
ence opened at Lima, Peru. De-
cember 9 ,Dith main problem
not on agend0-to arriue at
pact or declaration against ag-
gression against the American
republics. United States and
Argentina engaged in prolonged
struggle oper breadth of proposed
declaration. American position
supported by practically all other
delegations.
(TeIt OF Pdn-Americdn Solidarity
Declaration on Page A-5)
By the Associated Press.
LIMA, Peru, Dec 24-The 81 re-
publics of the Western Hemisphere
formed a solid front against agrees
sion tonight by proclaiming their
decision to defend themselves
against all foreign intervention or
activities"
A plenary session of the PAN
American Conference approved the
solidarity declaration of Lima" as
conference leader after leader pro-
claimed its importance in the face
of what Secretary of State Cordell
Hull called a critical world situa-
ton" when resort to persecution,
force and violence are threatening
the peoples of the world with de-
struction and the horror of armed
conflict
Yule Eve Out of Mind.
Because of the rush of work, most
of the delegates had forgotten that
1t was Christmas eve
Afranio de Mellio Franco, head of
the Brazilian delegation and last to
sign the declaration before it was
presented to tonight's session, de-
clared that America continues
united and vigilant in safeguarding
her common interests, in defending
her peace. and in efforts toward
collaboration"
Later the session adopted by
acclamation peace resolution Of
fered by Mello Franco and modelled
on Hull's seven-point program for
a world order based on law.
The principles included: That
maintenance Of peace should be ad-
vocated and practiced constantly;
that nations should refrain from
Use of force and from interference
In the internal affairs of other ma
tions; that they should seek to ad-
just international problems through
peaceful negotiations; that they
should uphold the sanctity of
treaties: that modification of treaties
should be by orderly processes. and
that each nation should respect the
rights of others.
The Declaration of Lima grew out
OF more than fortnight of day and
nigGt conferences to give the decla-
ration It's strongest meaning and
yet preserve the independence of
each signatory nation.
Strongest Step Yet.
1t was the strongest step ever
taken for Pan-American nations to
bind themselves together-taken in
the shadow of influences from Eu-
rope and Asia which many dele
gates regard as incipient threats
to their independence.
Although it was stronger than
anything in the past, Mello Franco,
before he signed the declaration.
issued a statement saying, Brazil
is sure it will be extended in the
future through the continuous work
of Pan-American conferences"
BY their declaration the Western
Hemisphere nations recorded their
continental solidarity and their pur-
pose to collaborate in maintenance
of the principles upon which solidar-
ity is based
They agreed that, Faithful to
the aforementioned principles and
to their absolute sovereignty, they
reafflrm their decision to maintain
and to defend them against all for
eign intervention or activities that
may threaten them
The declaration provides for con-
kultation among foreign ministers or
secretaries of state in case of men
ace to the peace.
Based on Argentine Project.
The solidarity and defense stand
was based on an Argentine oroject.
Hull induced other leaders
to sign by convincing them it con-
tanned both the spirit and substance
of a previous declaration which
practically all had approved.
Several high authorities said to-
night they regarded it as an even
stronger warning to European and
Asiatic totalitarian states because it
was Of Argentine rather than United
States inspiration.
Vast measures of military prepara-
tion in the United States already
were known to totalitarian states, |
(See LIMA. Page A-5.)