Evening star., 1939-12-06
Inter-American
Conference Explores
Solidarity actors
Trade and Education
In Tonieht's Topics
At 6. W. u.

education in protection of inter-
American solidarity will be dis
cussed tonight at 8 o'clock in the
second session of George Washing
ton University's inter American
conference at the United States
Chamber of Commerce.
More than 300 persons attended
the opening of the three-day ses-
sions last night at which Army,
Navy and State Department spokes-
men outlined past and present mill
tary cooperation between the
American republics and contrasted
the European turmoil with the
growing friendship between the
countries of this hemisphere.
Development of sea power, an
open Panama Canal denial Of bases
to foreign countries, and a small
mobile defense army, were urged as
essential to hemisphere defense.
But no hemisphere navy" is being
planned, it was stated.
Without such bases, 1t was pre-
dicted, aggressors would be limited
to little more than hit-and-run
raids and interference with COM
merce.
Berle Among Speakers.
spokesmen on the opening night
Of the conference, which is the
third to be held under the auspices
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university, were Brig. Gen. G. V.
Strong, assistant chief of staff Of
the War Department: Rear Admiral
G, w. Nimitz, chief of the Bureau of
Navigation of the Navy Department,
and A. A. Berle, jr., Assistant Secre-
tary of State.
Youthful appearing and vigorous,
Mr.. Berle made no effort to conceal
the indignation in his voice when he
referred to the aggressive tactics Of
certain European nations, with
their tendency to play up internal
hatreds and trump up excuses to
take advantage of weakness. Against
this he held up the apparently
smooth -functioning machinery of
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Montivideo conference, through the
conference of Lima and recently the
meeting at Panama at which the
solidarity of the hemisphere was
reaffirmed He warned that the
progress of solidarity depends on the
will of the participants, but felt that
inter- American relations were "the
hri1Hfocf 1ic1ot IN, tho yynrlI fnHou ~
Mr.. Berle denied as "short-sight-
ed" any Interpretation of United
States interests now as primarily
motivated by desire to take over
trade previously enjoyed by other
foreign powers. The fundamental
objective, he indicated, is under
standing between the peoples of the
hemisphere so that resulting unity
would make any attempt to dis
rupt or dominate" any American
nation necessarily an attack on
Ill American nations"
In response to a question by DR..
George Howland Cox, director of
the center and general chairman of
the conference, Mr.. Berle said he
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the Mexican Supreme Court on the
oil appropriations as "an impassa-
BILE" barrier to improved relation
ship.
Military Cooperation Cited.
Both Gen. Strong and Admiral
Nimitz pointed to the naval and
military missions and recent act
of Congress throwing open the
military academies and technical
schools to Latin American officers
as significant military cooperation.
Gen. Strong also referred to pend
ing joint resolution which would
pave the way for sale of armaments
to the Latin American republics.
Gen. Strong revealed there are 16
officers belonging to military es.ab-
lishments of other American repub-
lies now taking instruction at North
American service schools. He indi-
Gated there are military missions
involving some 20 top-notch officers
In six countries.
Admiral Nimitz told the group
there are United States naval mis-
sions today in Brazil, Argentina,
Peru and Colombia. He added that
four officers of the Colombian Re-
public are now serving on United
States destroyers on the Atlantic
Coast.
In emphasizing sea power as the
best hemisphere defense, he said
he meant by "sea power" ships and
bases backed up by nations which
have a strong community of inter-
est" Answering a question from a
member of the panel, he said he
knew of no efforts to develop a
hemisphere navy"
Denies Missions "Undermined."
Gen. Strong, in response to a
query, indicated his opinion that
North American missions to the
Latin American countries are not
being in any way undermined or
neutralzed" by missions from other
foreign countries.
Members of the panel included
Prof. Howard Maxwell Merriman,
Roy T. Davis, former Minister to
Panama, and Philip M. Bail, presi-
dent of Chevy Chase Junior Col
lege.
Mr.. Davis told the audience he
thought he had been robbed" as
he came expecting Mr.. Berle to talk
about trade agreements and had
prepared questions along that line.
Mr.. Berle responded with a smile
that he would be glad to talk trade
agreements any time Mr.. Davis had
Q free evening.
The meeting was opened with
short talk by President Cloyd Heck
Marvin of the university, who dis
eussed the origin and work of the
inter er-American center and then
turned over the Craftsmanship to
Dr.. Cox.
Tonights speakers include Lloyd
j. Blauch Of the United States Of
dee Of Education, Senorita Mercedes
anaFra of the PEOPLES Mandate