Evening star., 1939-01-01

Henry Allen ceSSlVe days o.
little variegated passed, I came tc
see the correctness of the Governor
simile.
The first 10 days the delegates
divided into various committees rep-
resenting the subjects that were to
be treated in the resolutions. The
whole purpose of the conference
finally became that of adopting a
set OF declarations that would COM
prise the Lima compact" and bind
together the Americas in an agreed
statement of common resistance
against totalitarian invasion.
Therefore the most important
business of the conference was the
discussion OF words, an devery day
brought a new sensation as dele
gates from various republics popped
up with something fresh, new and
disturbing. 1t was rather signifi-
cant that most of these exciting
resolutions pointed in about the
same direction. They sought to
bind the United States against any
act OF aggressivenesS toward any
sister Latin republic.
Intervention Right Attacked.
The thought that seemed to be
uppermost emanated from the self
conscious presence of the Mexican
and Bolivian situation, where the
discussion upon large coniscations
OF United States property is an
nounced to begin in dead earnest
soon after the congress adjourned.
The. delegates of various states
were trying to establish the thought
that the United States as a govern
ment should be denied the right of
intervention either by force or di-
plomacy in the collection of claims
created by confiscations. The Latins
held that the good neighbor policy
ought to be a guarantee that we
would handle the subject of confis-
cations without allowing our diplo-
matte temper to rise; that our good
neighboring should not be disturbed
by any selfish facts arising out of
conf1scations.
The United States is Just as sensi-
tive about the matter as are the
Latin states, and every time dele
gate sprang new resolution which
seemed to point at us, headlines
blossomed in English In North
America as they bloomed in Span
1sh and Portuguese south of the
equator.
Then Secretary Hull, whose
strength was in his gentleness, bade
everybody to remember that these
were the preliminary proceedings of
the conference and that no resolu-
tion would pass that did not meet
with unanimous approval.
The atmosphere maintained the
tenseness of the night before the
convention in national political
meeting in the United States. The
air filled with rumors; delegates
grew excited and yelled at each
other. Direct prophecies multiplied.
to all of which the imperturbable
Secretary Of State from Washington
always said: Il am sure everything
will come out all right and that we
shall get together upon a suitable
set OF resolutions"
Women Had Day.
Then as the situation grew calmer
a day was given to the women.
A remarkable session was held in
which three Womens organizations
which had been steadfastly compet-
ing with each other for attention,
were given common day when
representative from each organiza-
tion spoke. Resolutions commend
ing equal suffrage for the women
of South America, improved educa-
tional status, more consideration for
the working girl, and above all,
no war, were passed with every
delegate voting AYE" and oratory
flowing like Niagara of rose water.
The next morning Secretary Hull
said: "It seems as though the con-
vention is getting closer together. /"
The only serious barrier that ever
intruded itself in the making of
an effective international state
ment arose out of Argentina's Euro
pean consciousness. This was nat
ural and did not arise apparently
from any objection Argentina had
to declaring war upon totalitarian
ideals. 1t arose from Argentina S
objection to becoming anti-Euro-
pean upon any occasion. She has
large colonies of Germans, Italians
and Japanese They are involved
in her business, economic and social
life. The Germans particularly have
a great business penetration and
much social power. The strongest
influence probably Is the Britain
connections, because for years Eng
land has enjoyed the lions share
OF Argentina's business. Last year
the United States for the first time
caught up in the mass statement
OF expectations and Germany was
not far behind us, but this year
Britain is forging ahead again.
No Objection From English.
While the English were not offer
Ing any objections to severe
declaration of inter-American CO.
ordination, they were not especially
enthusiastic about it because they
realized that anything which
brought the Americas ;closer to-
gether for self-defensive purposes
bound them little in trade matters
Germany and Italy in Argentina
were profoundly agitated and openly
critical of Argentina's entering into
an all-American compact.
1t was probably good for the con.
vention that this attitude on the part
OF the two dictator states became
? we'll known. 1t stiffened the com.
mon purpose. 1t was unavoidable, OF
course, that some embarrassment ir
the discussion of totalitarianisn