Evening star., 1940-07-21
Basis Will Be Sought at Havana
For Solution of War Problems
Neutrality, Hemisphere Protection and Economic
Cooperation Are the General Matters
to Be Dealt With
By Garnen D. H0rner,
star star Correspondent.

HAVANA, July 2O.-A feeling OF hope
Tor security through unified action,
mingled with apprehension at the al
most overwhelming magnitude of the
war-born problems confronting them,
overhangs the Meeting OF the Ministers
of Foreign Affairs Of the American Re-
publics that opens here tomorrow.
There was general realization that
continued development of the Americas
as family of free and independent
nations may depend to a large extent
upon the decisions reached at this con-
ference-upon whether they result in
the creation of unified and total de-
fense against the totalitarian aggressors.
1t is one thing for the 81 American
governments to realize. as they have
signified they do by participating in this
conference, that they must do some
thing about the dangers confronting
them as the result of the German drive
toward domination of all Europe. It
is another and more difficult thing,
however, for them to reconcile differing
views about exactly what should be done
and agree upon a practical and effective
program of action.
Hull Is Recognized Leader.
The tremendous task of bringing
about a meeting of minds among 81
men, some of them representing coun-
tries eager to cooperate in almost any
way with the United States and some
Of them jealous of their own national
freedom Of action and prestige, falls
squarely on the shoulders of Secretary
Of State Hull. AS the delegate of the
United States, which issued the call
for this second consultative meeting of
must bear most of the burden of any
scheme of hemisphere defense, he is
the recognized leader of the conference.
Keeping in the background as much
Us possible, giving little ground here
and gaining little there, placating
first one delegation and then another.
Mr.. Hull hopes to lead the conference
toward flrmer basis for a solidarity
Of the Americas which will be able to
withstand any repercussions of the Eu-
ropean war that may menace the New
World.
No one should expect any panacea for
all the troubles of the Western Hemi-
sphere to emerge from the consulta-
tions here, however. Secretary Hull and
his opposite numbers" from the for
eign offices of the other 20 American
republics cannot achieve miracles. It
would be disastrous wishful thinking to
expect them to do much more than
lay the groundwork for what they hope
may be successful approaches to the
numerous and complicated problems
that must be coped with by the govern
ments from day to day.
Three Glasses of Problems.
These problems fall into three general
neutrality-suspicious. of neutral
ity, protection Of the peace of this hemi-
sphere and economic cooperation.
Under those general headings, subjects
listed for consideration at the meeting
here include:
Neutrality-Possible revision "in the
light of present circumstances" of the
strict standards of neutrality based
upon international law that have been
practiced by the Americas; fifth COL
umn" or other activities that tend to
endanger the common American demo-
cratic ideal" and humanitarian activi-
ties for the benefit of refugees and other
victims of the war.
Protection of Peace of the Western
Hemisphere-Dangers arising from pos
sible attempts to transfer territory In
this hemisphere from one non-American
power to another; measures to insure
observance of the Pan-American neu-
trality zone and to insure continental
security and improvement of the ma
ehinery of American consultation.
Economic Co-operation-Measures pro-
posed by the Inter- American Financial
and Economic Advisory Committee and
additional measures for immediate
adoption or reference to the committee.
Cartel and Colonies.
The formal program phrased in such
broad terms that almost any conceivable
action affecting security of the Amer
lean nations could be taken under it.
Most attention centers around pro-
posals for economic unity. including
President Roosevelts suggested program
for an inter- American trading corpora
ton to handle all the exportable sur
pluses of the American nations, and the
possibility of concrete plan of action
concerning French, Dutch and British
colonial possessions in this hemisphere.
Danger of the Allies being forced to
surrender some or all of their American
territories to Germany and Italy was the
principal thing that impelled the United