Evening star., 1940-08-01

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described action taken along these
lines as demonstrating to the world
the Americas "unalterable determi-
nation to strengthen continental
unity and solidarity.
This spirit was clouded only by
what were considered officially as
technical reservations by the dele
gates of Argentina, Chile, Colombia
and Venezuela to their signatures
to the act of Havana. In effect,
their reservations made participa-
ton by the four countries in steps
authorized by the act for inter-
American provisional administration
of imperiled European possessions
subject to later decision by their
governments.
Argentine spokesmen at Havana,
Opposing at first any turn of-pre-
ventive action against danger of
Germany gaining control of French,
Dutch and possibly British terri
tory in this hemisphere. explained
there was some doubt of constitu-
tional authority to delegate such
powers as granted by the Act of
Havana to the emergency commit
tee created by it.
No Delay Expected.
Possible delay in participation on
the committee by the four countries
signing the act with reservations
was not expected to impair its ef-
fectiveness, however, since it is pro-
vided that the committee shall be
considered constituted when two
thirds QD of the American repub-
lies appoint representatives to it.
Any American nation may take
whatever emergency action neces-
sary and refer it to the committee
later.
In companion measure to
recommendations to the individual
American governments for suppress
sion of subversive activities and ex-
pulsion of foreign diplomatic or
consular agents violating rules
against political activity, the Ha-
vana Conference also urged sig
niflcantly tnat each of the Ameri-
can republics effectively prohibit
every political activity by foreign
individuals, associations, groups or
political parties, no matter what
form they use to disguise or cloak
such activity"
Such action was called for under
resolution reiterating previous
declarations that the American gov
ernmentS should take the neces-
sary measures to eradicate from the
Americas the spread of doctrines
that tend to place in jeopardy the
common inter-American ideal"
Conceivably, carrying out of the
conference recommendation by the
United States would involve out
lawing of the Communist party and
the German-American Bund in ad-
dition to banning any political
speeches or propaganda by aliens in
the country.
United Action.
Another declaration adopted at
Havana bound all the American re-
publcs to consider "any attempt on
the part of a non-American state
against the integrity or inviolability
of the territory, the sovereignty or
the political independence of an
American state" as an "act of ag-
gression" against them all. This
amounted to a definite mutual as
sistance pact to resist any form of
aggression from abroad.
If stach aggression should develop,
it Is provided that the republics will
consult about measures ''it may be
advisable to take" The way is
cleared for more concrete military
pacts among individual nations by
provision for two or more or all of
the American republics to proceed
to negotiate Complementary agree
ments so as to organize cooperation
for defense and the assistance that
they shall lend each other in the
event OF aggressions