Evening star., 1940-06-30
Havana Farley
May Clear Way
For British Fleet
Neutrality Revision
Seen Likely to
Offer New Bases
By GARNETT d. HORNER.

standards of the American Repub-
lies, possibly clearing the way for
offering New World bases to the
British fleet, was indicated in action
of the Pan-American Union gov
erning board yesterday.
The board tentatively listed a
wide range of problems arising
from the European war for discus
sion at the meeting of American
foreign ministers to open in Havana
July 20, including re-examination
of neutrality standards "in the light
of present circumstances"
Consideration of measures for in
creased inter American economic
unity and cooperation to combat
fifth column" activity and pos
sible attempts by Germany and
Italy to seize Allied possessions in
this hemisphere also was recon-
mended to the Havana conference.
The tentative agenda, broad
enough to permit discussion of al
most any conceivable problem con-
fronting the Americas as result
of recent war developments, was
approved by the board here for con-
sideration by the governments of
the 81 American Republics. Final
action on the agenda is scheduled
at board meeting next Friday.
Ministers Expected to Attend.
Meanwhile, State Department Of
ficials said reports from Buenos Aires
that the Foreign Ministers of Ar
gentina. Brazil, Chile and Uruguay
would not attend the Havana con-
ference in person were premature
While some of the foreign affairs
chiefs-inciuding Secretary of State
Hull-are not certain whether they
will be able to attend, most of them
are expected to do so, it was said.
In any event. officials here in
sisted, decision of any foreign min
lister to stay at home because Of
pressing domestic problems would
not necessarily indicate a nom
cooperative attitude or affect sue
cess of the conference.
The tentative agreement to recon-
slider neutrality standards of this
hemisphere at the Havana meet
ing Is in line with a suggestion
advanced last month by Jose Maria
Cantilo, the Argentine Foreign Min
lister. He urged that the Americas
abandon some of their rules and
limitations of neutrality, arguing
that neutrality under international
law implies bilateral obligations"
and Germany violated her obliga-
tions.
United States officials frowned
on his proposal, widely interpreted
as advocating adoption of a mon
belligerent" rather than a neutral
policy, when first put forward be-
cause of a reluctance to give the
appearance of sidestepping any
established principles of interna-
tional law. Apparently the official
attitude here now is more favorable
to the Cantilo suggestion. in view of
rapidly changing conditions.
Hull Presides at Conference.
Secretary Hull yesterday pre-
sided as chairman of the Pan Amer
lean Union Board when it approved
the tentative agenda providing for
examination, in the light of pres
ent circumstances, of the standards
of neutrality set forth in the third
article of the General Declaration
of Neutrality of the American Re-
publics' which was adopted at the
Panama meeting on october 3,
1889"
Under the Panama neutrality
declaration, the American nations
agreed to prevent their territory
being used las bases for belligerent
operations, and their citizens from
enlisting in any belligerent armed
forces or engaging in any other
activities that might affect their
neutrality. Other rules ban the
fitting out or augmenting the
forces of armament" of any bellig-
erent ship in American territory
and limit the number of belligerent
warships that may be admitted to
American ports.
Capitulation of France has been
followed by increasing speculation
that the British fleet might be
forced to seek bases in this hemi-
phere. Without adequate facilities
in Canadian ports, the British war
ships would be banned from ports
of this or other American republics
unless the present neutrality decla-
ration is revised.
Under the general subject OF
(See PAN N-AMERICAN, Page A-10.)