Evening star., 1939-11-14

unfounded.
Text of the Declaration.
cannot help but feel that the
majority of such commentators
| upon the Declaration of Panama
have not taken the trouble to read
it, and since it is relatively brief,
am going to read to you the text of
the declaration, which is as follows:
THE governments of the American
republics meeting at Panama have
solemnly ratified their neutral status
in the conflict which is disrupting
the peace Of Europe, but the present
war may lead to unexpected results
which may affect the fundamental
interests Of America, and there can
be no justification for the interests of
the belligerents to prevail over the
rights of neutrals, causing disturb
ances and suffering to nations which
by their neutrality in the conflict and
their distance from the scene of
events, should not be burdened with
its fatal and painful consequences.
During the World War of 1914
1918 the governments of Argentina,
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and
Peru advanced, or supported, indi-
vidual proposals providing in prin-
ciple declaration by the American
republics that the belligerent nations
must refrain from committing hostile
acts within reasonable distance
from their shores.
THE nature of the present con-
| n Nf &c oil
lamentable proportions, would not
justify any obstruction to inter-
American communications which,
engendered by important interests,
call for adequate protection. This
fact requires the demarcation of
zone of security including all the
normal maritime routes Of commu-
nication and trade between the
countries of America.
TO this end it is essential as a
measure of necessity to adopt i'm
mediately provisions based on the
above mentioned precedents for the
safeguarding of such interests, in
order to avoid repetition of the
damages and sufferings sustained by
the American nations and by their
citizens in the war of l914-19l8.
There is no doubt that the gov
ernments of the American republics
must foresee those dangers and as a
measure of self-protection insist
that the waters to reasonable dis
tance from their coasts shall remain
free from the commission of hostile
acts, or from the undertaking of
belligerent activities, by nations en-
gagged in war in which the said
governments are not involved.
For these reasons the govern
ments of the American republics
resolve and hereby declare:
q. AS a measure of continental
protection, the American repub-
hes, so long as they maintain their
neutrality, are as of inherent right
entitled to have those waters ad-
jacent to the American Continent,
which they regard as of primary
concern and direct utility in their
relations, free from the commission
of any hostile act by any nom
American belligerent nation, wheth-
er such hostile act be attempted or
made from land, sea or air.
Such waters shall pe defined as
follows. All waters comprised with
in the limits set forth hereafter ex-
cept the territorial waters of Canada
and of the undisputed colonies and
possessions of European countries
within these limits:
There then follows the technical
geographical definition of the zone.
q. The governments of the Amer
ican republics agree that they will
endeavor, through joint representa-
tlon to such belligerents as may now
or in the future be engaged in hos
tllltles, to secure the compliance by
them with the provisions of this
declaration, without prejudice to
the exercise of the individual rights
of each state inherent in their sov-
ereignty.
Provide for Consultation.
"3. The governments of the
American republics further declare
that whenever they consider it
necessary they will consult together
to determine upon the measures
which they may individually or COL
lectlvely undertake in order to
secure the observance of the pro-
visions of this declaration.
a. The American republics, dur
ing the existence of a state of war
IN which they themselves are not in
volved, may undertake whenever
they may determine that the need
therefor exists, to patrol, either in
dividually or collectively, as may be
agreed upon by common consent,
and insofar as the means and re-
sources of each may permit, the
waters adjacent to their coasts
within the area above defined"
I wish to emphasize that while
the American republics thus de-
clare their rights as they have de-
fined them, the second article of
the declarations makes it equally
apparent that they are solely obh-
gated to endeavor to obtain as
surances, by means of joint rep
resentations, from the belligerents
that these rights will be respected.
Many complex problems arise which
must necessarily be discussed at
length with the belligerents in
order to achieve the equitable solu-
ton of such questions. Should the
belligerents refuse to observe the
provisions of the which
may frankly state do not as
sume-the declaration further pro-
vides that in such contingency the
American republics will consult to-
gether to determine what steps they
may then individually or collectively
take. There is no implication in
this agreement of a determination
on the part Of any American repub-
lie to undertake to exercise force
in order to procure observance of
its terms.
Insofar as the question Of the
patrol Of the waters within the secu-
rity zone is concerned, the patrol
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